For much of its history, the Niceville-Crestview softball rivalry has been fairly one-sided in favor of the Lady Eagles.
- But for the second straight season, Crestview has won at Hensley Stadium, this time taking down Niceville 3-1 on Tuesday night during the Lady Eagles’ military appreciation night, where the team wore special jerseys celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
“Huge win. Couldn’t be more proud of the girls,” head coach John Toolan said. “Made a couple of mistakes, but early, and overcame them, and Cambell pitched spot on.”
The game quickly became a chess match between pitchers Cambell Toolan of Crestview and Chloe Bailey of Niceville.
In the third inning, Niceville struck first when Quinn Graham reached on an error by Makenzie Muse. Graham advanced to second on a fielder’s choice from Annabelle Shackelford, then snuck home on an RBI single from Bailey to put the Lady Eagles up 1-0.
But that would prove to be the only run Niceville would score.
In the fifth, the Lady Bulldogs began their rally. Ava Secor hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Taeia Schriner to tie it at 1-1.
Following a three-up, three-down inning from Niceville, Crestview took the lead. In what John Toolan called the turning point of the game, Cambell Toolan doubled, and Secor came on as a courtesy runner.
- “I saw their infield shift, and I took it that way,” Cambell Toolan said.
Anna Parker then doubled to score Secor and give Crestview a 2-1 lead. Makenzie Toth followed with a bunt single to score Parker, extending the advantage to 3-1.
Shackelford nearly answered with a home run in the seventh, but an incredible effort by Secor denied it and handed Shackelford the out, ensuring momentum stayed with the Lady Bulldogs. Crestview made the plays necessary to close out the upset.
“If I could win one, I’d want it to be right here. It’s Crestview-Niceville. It’s why you play the game, it’s why you spend hours coaching and playing,” John Toolan said. “Nights like these just make it worth it.”
“It’s everything,” Cambell Toolan added.
Crestview (11-5) hosts Jonathan Alder (Ohio) at home Thursday.
Niceville (8-6) hosts Pace on Thursday.
The two teams meet again Monday, April 7, at Crestview.
