After losing its first district game of the young season last week against unbeaten City View, the Chico High School softball coach Mike May had a chance Thursday to see how his team would react to adversity against Jacksboro

The Lady Dragons showed no ill effects from the setback. In fact, they delivered a defensive gem and battered the Tigers' defense with 12 hits en route to a 16-1 road victory in a game that ended in the fifth inning via the mercy rule.

The game was far from over despite a 6-0 Chico lead in the fourth inning. Four of Jacksboro's six hits fell for doubles and triples which proved that the hosts were capable of scoring at any moment.

In the fifth inning, however, the Lady Dragons crushed any rally hopes that the Tigers might have entertained. They neared batting around twice while posting 10 runs and the game was called soon afterwards.

"The girls played well in this game and did a better job of hitting with runners in scoring position. We also played a littler better defense than we have been lately," said CHS coach Mike May. "We're improving, but we have some real tests coming up in the district race as we must play four straight games against Henrietta, Alvord, Nocona and Olney, which all can make the playoffs."

The win allowed Chico to stay tied with Olney for second place at 3-1. The Tigers slipped to 1-3.

The Lady Dragons did not slack any on offense, but it was the defense that stole the show. They did not commit an error and left six base runners stranded in scoring position.

"This was our best game defensively so far this year," said standout second baseman Rachel McKinley. "I think we are a first or second-place team and we are starting to play like it. We just have to keep getting better and stay focused."

After a scoreless first inning Chico finally found its offensive touch by scoring two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings to build a 6-0 advantage. The lead was safe thanks to another good performance by pitcher Jessica Coffman.

Things got ugly in the top of the fifth inning when the Lady Dragons scored nearly a dozen runs. The biggest hit of the of the inning came from Stephanie Stephens who blasted her first home run of the season. Shelby Barnes, Nikki Weatherly and Kaci Walker pounded out doubles to lead the way.

Kela Allen and Coffman had several hits in the inning while McKinley was hit by a pitch twice and eventually scored to help make it a 16-0 ball game.

The Tigers only scored one of seven runs needed in the bottom of the fifth to avoid the mercy rule.

Chico came out victorious again on Friday when it hosted Henriette. Despite a defensive lapse with three errors, CHS scattered seven hits and scored four times in the second and sixth innings to take a 9-4 win.

Rikki Richardson had the biggest hit of the day when she laced an RBI triple to the outfield wall.