DIVISION III SOFTBALL: Chandler homers twice as Needles drops Bobcats

Relying on the saying “Father knows best,” Needles softball coach Sandy Chandler has relied heavily on his daughter Abby in hopes of building a successful program.

The Mustangs benefited from that direction Thursday with an 11-7 victory over White Pine in the Division III state tournament at The Meadows.

“Abby — she’s big for us. We often go how she goes,” Chandler said. “The girl can play any place. I put her at shortstop even though she’s probably not a true shortstop, but she plays well for us. She pitches for us when we need her, and she’s our stick. It was a big day for her.”

Abby Chandler smacked two three-run home runs and provided sparkling defense with several sharp putouts at shortstop.

Leading 5-4, Chandler’s first homer was an inside-the-park shot against the left-field fence to key a six-run fourth inning. White Pine’s left fielder Trasie Heggie fell over the mesh fence as the ball stayed in play, allowing Chandler to follow two teammates home.

After the Bobcats closed the gap to 8-6, Chandler sent an inside pitch over the center-field fence to give Needles an 11-6 lead.

“I was feeling confident at the plate today, but I hadn’t faced her (White Pine starting pitcher Bailey Moore) since my freshmen year,” Abby Chandler said. “I knew we had a job to do as a team and that I needed to fill my role. Her drop was working, but she gave me two inside pitches that I just went with.”

White Pine’s Shania Hall supplied a leadoff homer in the top of the seventh for the game’s final margin. Needles starting pitcher Dakota Lillard got three straight groundouts to end the game.

Hall also had a double, and teammate Amanda Allred finished 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Alli Huntington added two hits, a run and an RBI for White Pine.

Lillard had six strikeouts and earned the win. Meghan Mann, Andrea Merchain and Allissa Rentas had two hits apiece for Needles.

Lincoln County 14, Yerington 8 — At The Meadows, Jessica Shoup went 5-for-5 with a double and an RBI as the Lynx outslugged the Lions.

Lincoln County will face Needles in a winner’s bracket game at 2 p.m. Friday at The Meadows.

Kaylee Teel notched two hits, and Ellie Scott earned the win in the circle for the Lynx.

Leah Jim supplied a three-run homer and a walk for the Lions, who got two hits and two runs from Angela Sciarani.