RUPERT- After taking a 1-0 lead on Brooklyn Adkins’ rocket launch of a homerun, the Greenbrier West Lady Cavaliers battled neck-and-neck with Midland Trail before eventually falling in the ninth inning 3-2 on Friday, May 8.
The Lady Patriots took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on an RBI groundout that was aided prior by a Cavalier miscue.
The score stayed the same for the next several frames as Brill Redden and Midland Trail’s Stephanie Harrell battled back-and-forth in a good old fashioned pitcher’s duel.
Then, the Lady Cavaliers created some good drama in the bottom of the final inning. Elliana Deitz led off with a single, but Kaelyn Bevins and Gracie Rhodes each got out following that hit. But Layla Williams, the freshman who hit a grand slam the game before, ripped an RBI double to tie the contest at 2-2 and send it to extras.
Redden was removed from the game for an apparent injury soon after, but Trail’s Maddie Rader scored on a passed ball in the top of the ninth, and Greenbrier West went down in order in the bottom half to seal the Patriots win.
Deitz was the only West player with multiple hits and went 2-4 with a run scored. Adkins’ homerun and Williams’ run scoring double were the other offensive highlights. Before Redden exited the game, she pitched seven innings, gave up 11 hits, one earned run, and struck out six.
Jessi Mooney went 4-5 for the Lady Patriots and Rader was 3-5.
The Cavaliers will now head to regional play and face Webster County. West will be the 2-seed in the tournament.
