Softball Recap: Ponce De Leon Starts Season with Loss at Home

Ponce De Leon unfortunately couldn't capitalize on their home-field advantage in their season opener. They took a 10-7 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Chipley Tigers on Monday. The Pirates were given a dose of their own medicine in this game as the Tigers apparently hadn't forgotten their loss the last time these teams played back in April of 2024.

Kiyann Alford spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and four unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up seven Ks.

At the plate, Ponce De Leon saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aubrey Murphy, who scored two runs while going 3-for-3. What's more, Murphy posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Clara Martin was another, scoring two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Chipley's win ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-2.

Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Ponce De Leon will square off against Bethlehem at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. This will be Bethlehem's first chance to prove their worth in the conference. As for Chipley, a feisty cat fight will be fought as Chipley Tigers face off against Paxton Bobcats at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. They are strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.7 runs per game this season.