The Niceville Lady Eagles made senior night a memorable one Thursday, dominating Navarre 10-1 to extend their winning streak to eight games and strengthen their case as a 5A state title contender.
- Chloe Bailey went the distance in the circle for Niceville, striking out six and allowing just three hits while scattering Navarre’s offense across seven innings.
“I’m just so happy for the seniors, but to have a good outing against a quality team and put up some good numbers,” Niceville head coach Danny Hensley said. “First couple innings we kind of struggled a bit, but we made some swings, defense is playing really well, made some plays. We’re getting good jumps on balls. That’s taking pressure off of Chloe pitching. She knows she doesn’t have to strike everybody out right now.”
Niceville got on the board in the first inning after Bailey retired the side in order. Quinn Graham and Briana Noles reached on errors before Bailey singled to score Graham for a 1-0 lead.
Navarre answered in the third when Natalia Taylor’s two-out single scored Nadia Rivera to tie the game, but Bailey got Taylor Sullivan out to end the inning.
Then came the fourth, when the Lady Eagles broke the game open.
Sydney Hann singled, Valerie Malley walked and Krissa Troutman singled to load the bases. Graham drew a walk to bring in Hann, and Noles followed with a two-run double that plated Malley and Troutman to make it 4-1. Bailey singled, and Carnley Summerlin followed with a two-run single scoring Graham and Noles.
Molly Mayfield then reached first on an error that brought home Coley Gatwood, running courtesy for Bailey, pushing the lead to 7-1.
The fifth inning added more damage.
Troutman walked, and Graham laid down a bunt that scored Troutman. A series of Navarre errors on the play allowed Graham to come around as well. Noles later reached on an error that scored Troutman. Summerlin and Mayfield each singled to keep the inning alive before McKissack grounded out to end the threat.
Niceville tacked on its final run when Noles reached second on a series of errors that scored Troutman. Navarre went down in order in the seventh to close out the game.
“We’re on the roll we’re hoping for,” Hensley said. “We got a couple of people back who were out most of the season. We’ve strung together eight in a row, we’ve moved up to the No. 1 spot in 5A, so if we can keep taking care of business, everybody has to come here to play us, and all we have to travel for is state time. That’s a major advantage. If we can stay healthy and stay hungry, we have a good shot at it.”
Bailey said the team is finding its rhythm at the right time.
“I feel really good, I feel really confident in my team,” Bailey said. “I feel like we’re starting to play together, and we’re starting to hit the ball hard.”
Niceville (16-6) hosts Choctaw on Friday and travels to Northview on Monday.
Navarre (12-8) will travel to Pace for its season finale Tuesday.
