After a long layoff, the girls 7-8 machine-pitch league got back to action Thursday night with three games in the postseason tournament.
Foust Construction started action with a thrilling 10-9 victory over First National Bank, highlighting a night of close finishes. Big Mo’s followed with a 13-10 win over Prater Electric before First National Bank finished the night by topping Hullett’s Nursery 11-10.
Foust Construction, the tournament’s top seed, needed a sixth-inning rally to avoid an upset in the opening round. Jesse Young got to be the hero as her double brought around Molly Smith for the game-winning run. It was part of a four-hit night for Young, who drove in three runs on four doubles.
Young’s big knock in the bottom of the sixth inning came after Mia Hobbs led off the frame with a game-tying, inside-the-park home run. It was the team’s second home run of the contest. Molly Smith, who also had a 4-for-4 night at the plate, hit a round-tripper in the fourth inning that broke a 6-6 tie.
First National Bank went into the fifth inning trailing 8-6 after a Brooklyn Cope RBI double, but the visitors knotted the score on run-scoring singles by Sadie Duggin and Karigan Bost. Duggin supplied another RBI single in the sixth inning to push her team ahead, but ultimately Foust Construction had just enough offense to claim the victory.
Cope finished 3-for-3 in the win for Foust Construction, including a two-run single in the first inning. BriAnna Harris, Abby Sullivan, Camdyn Porter and Bella Stiles added one hit each.
Kyra Perkins supplied the biggest punch in the First National Bank order with four hits, followed by Duggin, Trisley Scruggs, Kyren Damon and Layla Bouldin with three hits apiece. Bost and Makalie Hobbs had one hit apiece.
In the second contest, Big Mo’s used a six-run first inning and a five-run second frame to get by Prater Electric.
Lily Ann Smith was a rally starter in each frame as she finished the game 3-for-3 from her lead-off position for Big Mo’s. Kimberly Ortega, Alyssa Mosley and Mary Grace Martin also had three hits, the biggest being Martin’s bases-clearing triple in the first inning.
Jenna Newby added two hits, followed by Hailey Childress, Loren Hinshaw, Bella Bain and Kaylan Adams with one hit apiece.
Paisley Wanamaker and Kora Forbes tried their best to keep Prater Electric alive with three hits apiece at the top of their team’s order. Dallis Melton, Andrea Jefferson, Abigal Fann, Jordan Veach, Page Sweeton, Christa Cowan, Mackenna Hillis, Regin Grissom, Avery Peterson and Ciara Johnson also had hits for Prater Electric.
In Thursday night’s finale, Damon had the night’s second walk-off hit when she drilled a two-run double to lift First National Bank to a win over Hullett’s Nursery. It was part of a sensational five-hit performance from First National Bank’s lead-off batter.
Bouldin and Perkins also had four hits to help First National Bank avoid elimination in the tournament. Scruggs, Hobbs, Duggin and Moore had two hits apiece.
Hullett’s Nursery was led by Halle Dru Smith’s four hits. Halle Lowe, Kennedy Pegg, Maddi Jones and Lauren Mansfield followed with three hits each while Karrigan Smith and Kaliea Stewart had two base knocks apiece.
Action continued in the girls 7-8 tournament Saturday, but scores were unavailable at press time. A champion is scheduled to be crowned Monday night at Hoover and Millraney Field.