The second matchup between Gondola and Clean Machine in the girls 9-10 junior league was a chance for each team to take sole possession of the top spot in the league standings. With that much on the line, both teams came to play and it took until the final pitch to figure out a winner.
Gondola (4-1) won 3-2 when Rhealee Johnson forced a bases-loaded groundout in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game.
Clean Machine (3-2) was trying to make an improbable late rally when the sixth inning started and the team trailed 3-1. Johnson, who was coming off a no-hitter in her last outing, had entered in relief in the fourth inning and quickly struck out five while extending her streak without allowing a hit to six innings.
Gretchen Stuart started the sixth by drawing a walk, finally giving Clean Machine a glimmer of hope. Johnson forced the next batter to fly to first, but followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out.
Sensing the game slipping away, Johnson locked in and struck out Savannah Copely to get one out away from another victory. The third out wouldn’t come quite as easily.
Ginger Majors drew the fourth walk of the frame to score Stuart and draw Clean Machine within one at 3-2. Kinslee Grissom came up with a chance to be a hero, but her shot back up the middle was gloved by Johnson and thrown to first as Gondola won the pressure-packed game.
Gondola took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when Aleya Esparza, Clean Machine’s pitcher, struggled momentarily with walks. Johnson started the second inning with a single, then Ella Bond and Kaydee Rains followed with walks to load the bases. Esparza would alternate strikeouts and walks the rest of the inning, but the two free passes were enough to allow Johnson and Bond to score and give Gondola the lead.
Clean Machine answered back in the third inning. Elia Atterson got on with a one-out double and was able to score on a single by Stuart to cut the lead to 2-1.
Rains pushed the advantage back to two – and ultimately scored the winning run – when she hit a one-out triple in the fourth inning and was able to take home on a passed ball.
Clean Machine made a game of it in the final inning, but wasn’t able to come up with the big victory.
Rains earned the victory by pitching three innings and striking out six, including sitting down the side in the first inning. Johnson finished with six strikeouts as well in three innings of work. Esparza finished with nine strikeouts in the loss.
Rains, Johnson and Hailey Collett each had one hit in the win for Gondola. Atterson led Clean Machine with two hits while Stuart had one hit.
In game two Thursday at Hoover and Millraney Field, McMinnville Aluminum moved to 3-2 this season with a 12-2 victory over L&M Floors.
Madison Hollis led the way with two RBI doubles while also pitching five innings and striking out 13. Kylie Young led the McMinnville Aluminum offense with three hits and three RBIs. Taylor Swan and Journey Cowan added two hits each.
Bella Cantrell and Taylor Peterson each had hits and scored for L&M Floors. Sadie Simmons and Kaylee Sullivan also had hits in the loss.