Anna Gladstone Steals Home; Junior High Tigers Escape Albany

Anna Gladstone stole home and the Junior High Tigers kept their season intact by escaping an Albany rally in the last inning to win 7-6. The action started in the first inning, with Worth County up 1-0 after Kristin New had scored on a wild pitch. Anna Gladstone was on third when she came halfway down the line, successfully drew a throw, and escaped the ensuing rundown to score for Worth County. Three more runs came home for Worth County in the inning; Kaylee McElvain scored on a wild pitch and Anna Spainhower hit a slow roller that somehow got past the shortstop to score two more. 

The game had just begun as it was a typical Albany game; like their varsity, their junior high had a lot of short players who simply stood at the plate and took balls. Worth County pitcher Braidy Hunt began fighting the strike zone and walked four Albany batters in the second; two runs scored on a "panic play," where everyone was throwing the ball around; another scored on an infield fly that dropped and rolled away. Anna Gladstone replaced Hunt and uncorked a wild pitch to score Michaela Martin, but settled down and got out of the inning with Worth County still up 5-4.

Worth County scored two insurance runs in the next two innings. Jill Hardy grounded into a fielder's choice and Kristin New beat the force play home in the second. Braidy Hunt grounded out to score Anna Spainhower in the third. Anna Gladstone uncorked two wild pitches as Albany cut it to 7-6 in the fourth and final inning, but then induced two groundouts to get out of the inning.