With most games on hold or just plain cancelled due to weather and holiday festivities, Centertown ballpark was booming with excitement on three fields. The junior league teams were in action on the back field and it was all or nothing between Keith’s Nursery and Ponytail’s Auto Repair.
Ponytail’s Auto Repair offense started off slow in the early innings and by the time the offense gained momentum it was too late. Keith’s Nursery started hot and continued throughout with the exception of the second inning. Keith’s Nursery defeated Ponytail’s Auto Repair by a final score of 14-10.
In the top of the first, Ponytail’s Auto Repair's Nathan Lemmons led the inning off with a base hit over the infield. Preston Young connected on a deep fly-ball that dropped in and Young held up at third base with a triple. After the first out was made Maleke Ramirez hit a line-drive though the infield for a single and Ponytail’s Auto Repair held a 2-0 lead. Ramirez was left stranded on base after back-to-back outs were made to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Keith’s Nursery started the inning off with a lead-off out. Brittany Mason beat out the throw to first to earn her way on to first base. Page Duke pulled the ball opposite field for a double over the first baseman’s head. With runners at third and second, David Nicholas stepped to the plate and crushed a pitch over the outstretched hands of the left-centerfielder. The ball rolled to the fence and Nicholas cleared the bases with an inside-the-park home run and a 3-2 lead for Keith’s Nursery. Dakota Nicholas smashed a triple to right-field. He was driven in by Trevor Walker who beat out the throw and was awarded second base. The third out was made and Keith’s led 4-2.
Ponytail’s Auto Repair's troubles came at the bottom of the lineup. Three of the four batters in the top of the second inning were outs. The only offense was a huge double hit by Alena Muncey. The third out was made with Muncey left on second.
Keith’s Nursery followed suit in its bottom of the line-up. The only difference being Keith’s went three up, three down with zero offense in the bottom of the second inning.
Ponytail’s Auto Repair appeared to be off on the right foot when Kolby Simons led the inning off with a double. Keith’s Nursery had the offense on the ropes after two quick outs after the double. Isaiah Pollard gave the offense a second-wind with a base hit single up the middle. Ramirez was back to the plate and ripped a line-drive shot for a triple. Taylan Bain singled followed by Jacob Bain connecting for an extra base hit that landed him at second base. After the third out and all the runs had crossed the plate Ponytail’s Auto Repair reclaimed the lead at 5-4.
The bottom of the third Keith’s Nursery opened up and unloaded a bevy of base hits. Gage Shockley pounded out an extra base hit for a double. Mason hustled down to first and beat out the attempt made by the defense. Duke connected for her second double of the game and Shockley scored to knot the game at 5-5. David Nicholas hit a blast over the infield and Mason and Duke crossed the plate to take a 7-5 lead. Taylor Turner singled for Keith’s Nursery and Dakota Nicholas hit a line-drive through a hole in the infield for a double. Shayla Crawford reached first base with a single and that’s when the wheels rolled off and Keith’s Nursery made three consecutive outs to end the inning but led 10-5.
The Ponytail’s Auto Repair offense disappeared in the top of the fourth inning with a one, two, three inning. It was not what the team needed to make a run at the lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Keith’s Nursery picked up an out to lead-off the inning but went right back to the top of the line-up. Shockley and Mason connected again for a pair of hits. After a second out David Nicholas and Turner reached base on a single and a double. Dakota Nicholas went long distance again for his second triple of the game and cleared the bases. The third out followed the triple but Keith’s took a commanding 14-5 lead.
Simons started Ponytail’s Auto Repair offense with a huge shot deep into the outfield for a triple. Young singled to reach first base and score Simons from third base. Pollard dialed up a long-distance bomb for an inside-the-park home run and Ponytail’s trailed 14-8. Ramirez singled and Taylan Bain doubled for Ponytail’s Auto Repair. With two runners on base and two outs, Matthew singled to first base and another run crossed for a score of 14-9. Cassidy Judkins singled and Alena Muncey hit a ground ball to short-stop and Judkins was called out at second base on a fielder’s-choice to end the game.
The second and the fourth inning really did Ponytail’s Auto Repair in on the offensive side of the ball and Keith’s Nursery held on to win by a final score of 14-10.