Story and photos by Chet Piotrowski Jr.

Charleston seniors Kailyn Wilson and Karah Moore drove in three runs apiece to power the Trojans past Paris, 10-3, on Wednesday afternoon in softball action. 

Caradan Hoffman’s two-run home run off Moore gave the Tigers (10-13) a short-lived lead in the first inning before Moore’s first-pitch towering 3-run shot over the center field fence put the Trojans ahead. 

Charleston (18-3) wasn’t done scoring, however, as Blair Ritchey later singled in Wilson for the fourth run of the inning.

Moore settled down after the first inning, allowing just one more run the rest of the way, striking out eight , allowing 11 hits and issuing one walk.

Moore is now one game shy of tieing Charleston’s all-time win record set by Emily Price her junior year in 2019 with 40. With the precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Price and her teammates did not have a season in 2020.

Charleston’s Maci Mayhall saves a ball from heading into right field deep in the hole at second base against Paris Wednesday afternoon. Mayhall got the ball to Addison Shrader at first for the out.
Charleston’s Blair Ritchey congratulates Maci Mayhall on fielding a ball deep in the hole at second base against Paris Wednesday afternoon. Mayhall got the ball to Shrader at first for the out.

Senior Maci Mayhall made arguably the play of the game in the top of the second when she dived for a ball deep in the hole before firing to Addison Shrader at first for the out.

“It kind of tipped off Addison’s glove a little bit,” Mayhall said. “I always dive for everything whether I get it or not. It’s just fun for me to get dirty. 

“We have a washer at home,” she added, laughing. “I like to get dirty. That was big and there was a lot of adrenaline.”

Mayhall said the fielding play energized the team.

Charleston scored at least one run in each inning they batted except the sixth. Sophomore Brie Tomlinson led the team in hits, going 3-for-3, scoring two runs and driving in a run.

“Brie always comes through in the clutch,” Mayhall said. “She’s always hitting, sacrificing herself.”

Mayhall said the win was just the game needed to get things going again after the emotions of Friday’s doubleheader against Effingham.

“That was a rough day for everybody,” she said. This game was definitely a bounce back.”

Charleston ended the game Wednesday on a bizarre double play. Paris’ Kaitlyn Coombes smashed the ball right to Wilson in centerfield who threw to Mayhall at second base, getting the force-out double play on Rayah Smith for not tagging up.