CMA Beats Osborn 13-12 to Claim PSL Gold Division Softball Championship
On Tuesday, May 21, the Communication & Media Arts (CMA) Pharaohs faced the Osborn Knights for the PSL Gold Division Softball Championship at the Gary L. Bryce Field at Wayne State. These teams split the series in the regular season with Osborn winning the first game 8-5 and CMA taking the second game 5-4.
The championship game did not disappoint as it had more total runs than the first two combined. The scoring started early for the Knights as second basemen, Autumn Crump helped two runs come in with a 2 RBI infield single to give Osborn a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Then after a throwing error to first, Crump scored increasing the Osborn lead to 3-0. However, the Pharaohs would respond quickly with some aggressive baserunning by Khia Lowery as she stole home due to some fielding errors, cutting the Knights lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first. The excellent baserunning continued as Alana Dickerson ran home due to a wild throw to third base. CMA continued their quick bounce back as Robinson and Daveigh Nelson both rounded the bases home capitalizing on more errors by the Osborn defense. At the end of the first inning, the Pharaohs led 4-3.
In the second inning, the Knights were shut out in the top due to some great pitching by Lowery, but the Pharaohs continued to pour runs in. Scoring first in the inning for CMA would be Lowery as she continued to dominate the game with her baserunning stealing home giving CMA a 5-3 lead. Then, Robinson hit an infield single that brought Dickerson home to increase the CMA lead to 6-3. The defense woes in the second inning would continue for the Knights as Robinson and Nelson were able to come home due to errors – increasing the Pharaohs' lead to 8-3. Then to complete the five-run inning for CMA as Daija Favors hit an RBI infield single that brought Jacquette Blanks home giving CMA a 9-3 lead at the end of the second inning.
Despite struggling in the second inning the Knights continued to fight in the top of the third. Jayla Tucker got the ball rolling for the Knights in the third inning with an RBI infield single that allowed Faith Patterson to run home cutting the CMA lead to 9-4. Then, pitcher Amber Vawters hit an RBI single to left field and Tucker scored and the Pharaoh lead was now 9-5. Crump added to the Knights wonderful third inning with an RBI infield single which due to a fielding error allowed two more runs to score as CMA now only led 9-7. Due to a catching error and a walk, two more runs came in for the Knights scored by Crump and Harmoni Harris tying the game at 9-9. The onslaught would continue for Osborn as three more runs were walked in giving the Knights a 12-9 lead.
The Knights nine-run inning secured a late three-run lead, leaving the Pharaohs with one final chance in the bottom of the third to tie or win the game. The Pharaohs achieved this comeback using the same strategy they used to build their big lead: baserunning. Their leader, Lowery kicked off the rally in the bottom of the third as she caught the pitcher sleeping and stole home. Then a throwing error to second allowed Dickerson to score cutting the Knights lead to 12-11. From there, a walk with the bases loaded allowed Robinson to score another run tying the game at 12-12. Favors then hit a walkoff RBI groundout that brought Nelson home sealing the championship for the Pharaohs.
Congratulations to the CMA Pharaohs for winning the 2024 PSL Gold Division Softball Championship!
By Ellington Smith