With the regular season coming to a close in girls 7-9 softball at Pete Holt Field on Monday night, Netherton Dentistry took on Carbide CrossFit and both teams were looking to gain momentum heading into the tournament.
Netherton Dentistry went back-and-forth with Carbide CrossFit the entire game as both teams exchanged leads throughout, but Netherton Dentistry built a four-run lead in the top of the fifth inning and Carbide CrossFit managed to only score three in the bottom of the inning to give Netherton Dentistry the close victory, 8-7.
Lily Smith led all batter for Netherton Dentistry, going 3-for-3, with three runs scored. Allie Melton, Lauren Hinshaw and Abigail Netherton added two hits in the win.
Aniston Smith led the way at the plate for Carbide CrossFit, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Netherton Dentistry got the scoring started in the top of the first thanks to Melton’s RBI triple, 1-0. Later in the top half of the inning, Netherton Dentistry added another run to its lead courtesy of Hana Parsley’s RBI double, stretching the lead to two heading into the bottom of the inning.
The Netherton Dentistry lead didn’t last long when Carbide CrossFit came up in the bottom of the inning and scored three runs thanks to a solo home run by Maddux Adams and a 2-RBI double by Ruby Denning, 3-2, after one.
Both teams failed to score in the second and Netherton Dentistry took back its lead in the top of the third. An RBI triple by Hinshaw and a RBI double by Parsley helped Netherton Dentistry regain the lead, 4-3.
Carbide CrossFit tied the game in the bottom of the inning as it quickly scored on an Abby Fann RBI single, 4-4, after three.
Susanna Netherton came up clutch in the top of the fourth as she hit a 2-RBI double to break the tie, 6-4. Carbide CrossFit didn’t have an answer in the bottom of the inning as Netherton Dentistry clung to the two-run lead heading into the final inning of play.
Netherton Dentistry added two runs to its lead to stretch it to four in the top of the fifth to a 2-RBI double by Haley Smith, 8-4, leaving Carbide CrossFit with a final chance to tie or win the game in its final at-bat.
Carbide CrossFit saw three runs cross the plate in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn’t enough as Netherton Dentistry ultimately won the game by one, 8-7.