The emergence of eighth-grade shortstop Chayse Gilliland has given the University Heights Academy softball program a shot in the arm this season. It has also led the Blazers to a chance at a district title. Once again riding Gilliland’s hot bat, No. 3-seed Heights hung on to defeat No. 2 Fort Campbell, 6-4, in an 8th District Tournament semifinal Monday at Christian County High School.
Gilliland homered, doubled and drove in four runs to help UHA advance to Tuesday’s district title game and next week’s 2nd Region Tournament. It’s University Heights’ first appearance in the 8th District final since 2021 and third time overall since 2017.
Prior to Monday’s tilt at CCHS, the Blazers had dropped all three games to the Falcons in 2024 by a combined score of 38-20. During the teams’ postseason matchup, however, Heights got huge pitching performances out of Katherine Wood and Gilliand to keep its season alive and well.
Woods went four innings, walked three and allowed just one hit in her four-inning start. She left with FCHS holding a 2-1 lead. After Gilliland’s two-run double gave her squad a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning, however, she took over in the circle and proceeded to strike out six during three hitless innings.
The Falcons, who were seeking a second straight trip to the 8th District final, loaded the bases with nobody out in their final at-bat, and scored on a two-out wild pitch to pull within 6-4 of UHA, but a groundout by Baylee Backes would eventually end the rally attempt and the game.
Fort Campbell (7-14) struck first in the contest after Amare Moore walked and scored on Jordan Wilkerson’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning. Moore delivered again in the second inning with an RBI single to put the Blazers in an early 2-0 hole.
UHA finally got on the board in the top of the third, when Brooke Hancock drew a lead-off walk, advanced to third base on Krista Keller’s single, and scored on a Madison Williams RBI groundout to make it 2-1. In the fifth, after Hancock and Keller reached on consecutive singles, Gilliland lined the first pitch she saw into center field, scoring a pair to give Heights the lead for good.
Another Williams RBI groundout eventually made it 4-2. After Fort Campbell cut the UHA lead to 4-3 in the bottom half, Gilliland came through in the clutch again with a two-run bomb in the top of the seventh to dramatically give the Blazers a 6-3 cushion. It’s her team-leading fourth home run of the season and comes in just her 27th at-bat of the year.
Gilliland, who earned her fourth pitching victory of the season, also finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk. Minus the RBIs, lead-off-hitter Keller finished with the same line. Wood added two hits. Hancock and Gracie Ausenbaugh had the others.
Moore (4-8) struck out eight in six innings of gritty work. The seventh-grader also walked five, gave up eight hits and allowed six runs. Hailey Herron retired all three batters she faced in an inning of relief. Moore also led the Falcons offensively with three walks and three runs scored.
University Heights Academy (5-9) advances to play Christian County (20-15) in Tuesday’s 8th District Championship. The Colonels defeated Hopkinsville 16-0 in the other semifinal Monday. CCHS has a 13-game winning streak against the Blazers since 2015. County and UHA played just once this season; that April 26 matchup was won by the Cols, 15-0, in three innings.
