Worth County's girls gave Stanberry all they could handle Thursday night before falling 7-5 to drop to 2-4 on the season. They went 1-2 at the Albany Tournament following their opening day win over North Nodaway and dropped a Tuesday match to South Harrison. Stanberry and Maysville are rated to be among the top of the pack in the GRC now that Hamilton has left, so the game represented another step in the right direction for Worth County after having won one game last year. However, they still have to keep getting better, working on their throwing and getting the big hit.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 after the first inning, but batted around and got five in the third. Brianna Fletchall hit a pop fly behind the mound that dropped out of reach and she was safe at first to start the inning. Rikki Hunt reached on an error when she got down a perfect bunt and the catcher threw the ball away for a two-base throwing error to put runners on second and third. Claire Andrews singled, hitting a hard line drive off the shortstop's glove to tie it at one. Haven Schottel was hit by a pitch and Kristen Andrews walked in a run to put Worth County up 2-1. Rebecca Moore and Katie Mullock struck out, but Kaitlyn Davidson singled up the middle to score two and Kacey Smyser hit a slow roller just past short that scored Kristen Andrews on a close play to make it 5-1.
Worth County made six errors in the game and four of them in the fourth as Stanberry scored three times to cut it to one. Three of them were on airmailed throws that got away and allowed runners to advance. Kristen Andrews played lights-out defense at second during the game and she caught a line drive to keep the Tigers in front.While airmailed throws were a major issue in the game, there were some outstanding defensive plays as well; Rikki Hunt caught a pop fly that looked like it would drop in and doubled a runner off first in the second to erase a leadoff walk. And first baseman Kacey Smyser made a running catch of a pop fly that looked like trouble after Stanberry had gotten a scratch hit to start the third.
But Worth County could not get the big hit to add to their lead or to catch Stanberry after they got ahead. Haven Schottel hit a pop fly single behind the second baseman; everyone was playing her in because of her ability to bunt for a hit and she took advantage Thursday evening, dropping two flares just past the infield for hits. She stole second, but the Tigers could not get her home.
With one out in the fifth, the Tigers loaded up the bases as Katie Mullock singled past the second baseman as she knocked it down but didn't have a play. She stole second and Kaitlyn singled her to third. Kacey Smyser popped out, but Brianna Fletchall was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Kali Cameron struck out to end the inning.
With one out, Stanberry loaded the bases on an error and two walks. They then hit a rocket to Haven in center. She tried to make the shoestring catch but missed and it got by her for a two-run double. Worth County threw into Rebecca Moore to get a third run out at the plate, but Moore airmailed a throw to third as the runner on second advanced on the throw home and Stanberry took advantage to make it 7-5. Sidney Davenport made an outstanding defensive play in left by making a running catch to prevent any further damage.
Worth County kept right on battling, but could not get the big hit to get the game tied. With one out in the sixth, Haven Schottel got her second flare hit behind short and Kristen Andrews battled and drew a 10-pitch walk. But Rebecca Moore grounded to short and the shortstop tagged Haven running past her as the runners had to go on a grounder with runners on first and second. Katie Mullock then grounded out to end the inning.
Stanberry looked for an insurance run in the top of the seventh as they walked their leadoff batter, always a danger sign. But Katie Mullock made an outstanding defensive play with a running catch of a pop foul and Brianna Fletchall caught a line drive in right to take extra bases and a possible run away. Kaitlyn Davidson was hit by a pitch and Kacey Smyser grounded out to advance her, but Worth County could not get her home in the seventh.
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