Newton softball can’t hold pair of leads against Chariton

CHARITON — The Newton softball team couldn’t hold two different leads during its non-conference road game against Chariton on Friday.

The Cardinals scored first and then broke a tie in the third inning, but the Chargers rallied with a big inning late during a 9-6 victory.

The game was tied at 4-all after two and Newton led 6-4 until the hosts scored five runs in the fifth to go in front for good.

The Chargers out-hit the Cardinals 8-7 and both teams committed four errors.

Ava Williams led Newton (15-15) with two hits, one double, two runs, three RBIs and two walks.

Mack Sims, Chloe Swank and Kadance Ahn all had one hit and one run, Sims and Ahn each walked once and Sims stole two bases.

Paige Benson and Sloan Brodersen each tallied one hit and one RBI, Hailey Sumpter was hit by a pitch, Peyton Durr drove in one run and BrookLynn Britton scored one run.

Sims leads the Cardinals with a .439 batting average and an on-base percentage of .522. She also has a team-best 72 total bases and her 41 runs rank tied for sixth in Class 4A and her 24 steals sit tied for eighth.

Sumpter (11-12) took the loss in the circle but only three of the nine runs she allowed were earned. She surrendered seven hits, one walk and two hit batters and struck out one in 4 2/3 innings.

Leileigh Hammons tossed the final 1 1/3 innings and allowed no runs and one hit and hit one batter.

Mallory Willis led Chariton (14-8) with two hits and two RBIs. Addie McGee tallied two RBIs and was hit by two pitches, Bailey McGee cranked out two hits and Ava Krutsinger finished with three RBIs.