Pitching Dominance Leads CCS Past Baylor, 1-0

Chattanooga Christian senior Kylie Black strikes out 11 in a complete game victory over Baylor.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:52am

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An abstract, cubist-style painting depicting the deconstructed motion of a softball pitcher, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of navy, crimson, and gold colors representing the power and precision of the pitcher's delivery.Kylie Black's pitching mastery fuels Chattanooga Christian's 1-0 victory over Baylor.Chattanooga Today

Chattanooga Christian senior left-hander Kylie Black dominated in the circle, striking out 11 batters in a 1-0 victory over Baylor. Black, a Lipscomb University signee, allowed just two hits and two walks as she improved to 12-1 on the season with a 0.96 ERA. The lone run of the game came on an unearned run in the third inning when Hannah Smith scored on an RBI single by Nyla Halfacre.

Why it matters

This was a battle between two of the top teams in Tennessee high school softball. Black's dominant pitching performance against one of the area's most dangerous lineups showcases her elite skills and ability to lead her team to victory.

The details

Black opened the game by striking out the side and fanned four batters in the third inning. Her biggest out came in the fifth when she struck out Baylor sophomore slugger Xahara Willis with the bases loaded. Baylor junior Adison Wallington was also sharp, allowing just one unearned run on five hits while striking out eight.

  • Black struck out 11 batters in the complete game victory on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The lone run of the game was scored in the top of the third inning.

The players

Kylie Black

A senior left-hander for Chattanooga Christian School who has 812 strikeouts over the past four seasons. She is a Lipscomb University signee.

Xahara Willis

A sophomore slugger for Baylor School who came into the game batting .525 with 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs.

Hannah Smith

A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee who is the leadoff hitter for Chattanooga Christian and is batting .527 on the season with 33 runs scored.

Adison Wallington

A junior pitcher for Baylor School who allowed just one unearned run on five hits while striking out eight in the loss.

Nyla Halfacre

A senior for Chattanooga Christian who drove in the game's lone run with an RBI single in the third inning.

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What they’re saying

“Pitching has been my love ever since I was little. I remember in rec ball they were like, 'Who wants to pitch?' and I was like, 'Do I get the ball every time?' I wanted it.”

— Kylie Black, Chattanooga Christian Senior Pitcher

“Kylie has a great rise ball, and the difference in speed between her off-speed and fastball is so big that it makes her really tough to hit. Her changeup just falls and hits the dirt, too.”

— Steven Rogers, Chattanooga Christian Head Coach

What’s next

Chattanooga Christian will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host Baylor in the rematch on April 23rd.

The takeaway

Kylie Black's dominant pitching performance against one of the top teams in Tennessee showcases her elite skills and ability to lead her team to victory. Her combination of speed, movement, and command makes her one of the most dominant pitchers in the state.