Errors, lack of timely hitting doom Chaffee

BENTON, Mo. -- Errors and a lack of timely hitting halted Chaffee's softball season in the first round of the Class 2 District 1 tournament on Wednesday.

The fifth-seeded Red Devils were defeated 6-0 by fourth-seeded Portageville at Kelly High School.

"Overall, we got better from Day 1," Chaffee coach A.J. Horn said. "We really improved. Just our Achilles' heel all year is defense. We couldn't stop beating ourselves."

Chaffee committed seven errors against the Bulldogs.

Kaitlin McFerron started and pitched four innings for the Red Devils, allowing six runs on eight hits. She struck out two and walked three.

"Our pitcher threw a heck of a game," Horn said. "We just had a few errors behind her, and we couldn't make plays. That was about it."

Hannah Seyer pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing no runs and no hits. Chaffee had a few opportunities to cut into Portageville's lead, including with the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning.

"We always hit the ball well, and we hit the ball well today, we just couldn't plate any runs," Horn said.

Chaffee had six hits in the loss.

Taylor Tiffany earned the win for Portageville. She pitched all seven innings and had 16 strikeouts.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the first inning, then broke things open with a four-run fourth inning.

The Red Devils finished their season with a record of 8-17.

"We just let them know they worked hard all year, and we've got to get better in the offseason and come back ready for next year," Horn said.

Portageville faces top-seed Kelly at 4 p.m. today in the semifinals.

Chaffee 000 000 0 -- 0 6 7

Portageville 200 400 x -- 6 8 0

WP -- Taylor Tiffany. LP -- Kaitlin McFerron. Leading hitters -- Portageville: Alison Pepper 2-4, 2 2B, 3 RBIs; Lauren Durbin 2-3; Destiney Crossno 2 RBIs. Records -- Portageville 13-8, Chaffee 8-17.