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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets opened up their home slate in style as they blew past the Pell City Panthers thanks to a big game in both the circle and batter’s box from Emma Parmley.

She finished with a complete-game win in Chelsea’s 7-1 win over the Pell City Panthers on Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Chelsea Sports Complex, earning 12 strikeouts against one run, four hits and two walks while hitting a two-run home run in the sixth.

Parmley dominated the first inning with a one-two-three frame and worked around a walk and single to start the second inning by fielding a sacrifice bunt herself and grabbing back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Chelsea missed an opportunity to score in the bottom of the second as a runner got out advancing to home with two outs. Pell City capitalized, drawing a lead-off walk in the top of the third before earning a two-out RBI double to go up 1-0.

That would be the Panthers’ only run of the game as Parmley shut down the offense from there, allowing just one hit in the remaining four innings.

Katie Hopson put the Hornets on the board in the bottom of the third as she hit a one-out double and then stole third and home during the ensuing at-bat.

Chelsea didn’t break the deadlock in the fourth inning but got a golden opportunity to in the bottom of the fifth. A lead-off single from Alaysha Crews, an error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases.

While the next batter struck out after a pitching change, a wild pitch followed by a two-run double from Palfreeman gave the Hornets a 5-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

The next inning saw Parmley get her own run support. She followed up a lead-off walk with a two-run home run to increase the lead to 7-1, and she finished off the win with a one-two-three top of the seventh.

Palfreeman was the lone Chelsea player with multiple hits as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

The Hornets will kick off tournament play at Hewitt-Trussville against Gardendale and St. Clair County on Friday, Feb. 28 before bracket play on Saturday, March 1.