Worth County's six game winning streak and season both came to an end Thursday night as they lost the rubber game to Albany 1-0. With the loss, the Tigers snapped a six game winning streak, their longest since 2005. They also won 10 games, their most since 2005. They won their first tournament since that time as well.
It was one of those games in which nobody wanted to see their season end. Albany pitcher Katie Kemper kept getting out in ahead in the count and throwing strikes; consequently, Worth County could not get a baserunner on. The Tigers clung by their fingernails through most of the game before Albany finally broke through in the seventh. Numerous outstanding defensive plays by Worth County kept Albany off the board until then.
In the Warrior second, Madalyn Rainey reached on third baseman Adrian Fletchall's bobble. Lauryn Brown hit a grounder up the middle off pitcher Rikky Hunt, but it caromed right at shortstop Sidney Troutwine, who stepped on the bag for a force. Brown advanced on a wild pitch, and then Taylor Bain hit a fly ball to Abbi Caddenhead in center. As Abbi made the catch, Brown tagged up, but then wandered too far off second and Abbi picked her off in a rundown. Coach Dave Gilland may have just found himself a new outfielder as the Tiger freshman was not fazed at all playing in varsity action.
Tiger pitcher Rikky Hunt walked the bases full in the third with two outs. Abbi made a running catch of Sarah Poppa's fly ball to prevent any damage. Rikky uncorked a wild pitch; the long distance from the plate to the backstop meant it was potentially easy for a runner to score from third. But the ball bounced right back to catcher Payton Adwell, and Abbey Wilson headed back to third. In the middle of the chaos, Maryeah Martin was slow getting back to first and Adwell picked her off; Martin was tagged out in a rundown for the third out before Wilson could cross the plate.
Worth County was in hot water again in the fourth. Kemper helped herself out by getting a single between third and short. The ball took a bad hop, but left fielder Dominique Findley recovered in time to take extra bases away. Rainey hit a drive over right fielder Rachael Gardner's head, but courtesy runner Kaleigh Janssen held up to make sure it wouldn't be caught and only made it to second, meaning Rainey only managed a single. Lu Lu Brown forced Janssen at third and then Rainey got tangled up with Troutwine, who was trying to field a grounder at short and was called out for interference. Abbey Wilson was called out on strikes to end the threat.
The Tigers finally started getting some good swings in the bottom of the fourth. Adrian Fletchall hit a shot in the left center field gap run down by Marian Martin, but one out later, Payton Adwell finally got on base when she doubled into the gap in left. She was stranded, but Dave Gilland's team had finally broken the ice.
Dave Gilland's squad continued to be in hot water as Sarah Poppa singled to lead off and advanced on a wild pitch. She took off for third as Lauryn Shoush squared up to bunt, forcing third baseman Adrian Fletchall to come charging in. But shortstop Sidney Troutwine came rushing in from short and snagged Payton Adwell's throw, making a diving tag of Poppa. That loomed up strongly as Riley Houts reached on an error, Maryeah Martin singled, and Katie Kemper walked with two outs to load the bases. Madalyn Rainey hit a screamer that looked like it would be headed for extra bases and break the game wide open given the low-scoring nature of the contest. But Adrian Fletchall snagged it for the third out to keep the game scoreless.
Worth County got its most promising threat in the sixth as Victoria Moore was plunked to lead off, never a good sign. Troutwine was called out on strikes, but Adrian Fletchall singled and Rikky Jo walked to load the bases. Payton Adwell was up next, but she hit a soft line drive to Poppa and Rachael Gardner grounded out to end the threat. Albany finally broke through in the top of the seventh as Lauryn Shosh beat out an infield hit, stole second, and came home on Martin's single. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Hailey Hunt singled up the middle, but Kennedy Galanakis struck out to end the game.
"I was disappointed that we lost, but proud of the way you played," said Coach David Gilland after the game to his players. "Nobody lost the game, we just missed some opportunities. It's been a good season."
The Tigers warmed up for this game by coming from behind to beat future GRC foe North Andrew 15-13 Monday, erasing a 13-6 deficit in the process. The Tigers were down 13-6 after three innings, but then proceeded to chip away, coming back to tie it in the seventh and win it in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, with a runner on base, Troutwine caught a screamer that looked like it would head for extra bases for the final out. "That was as high as I've ever seen her jump," said Gilland. Troutwine had two bunt hits and one hit swinging away as she carried the team that day. Payton Adwell played well behind the plate and Adrian Fletchall played well on both sides of the field. Over the course of their last two games, the girls put together an 11 inning scoreless streak, which was ended in the seventh inning of the Albany game.
The game was the last for seniors Rikky Hunt and Adrian Fletchall. Worth County could be a team to beat next year with nearly everyone else coming back and a strong eighth grade contingent to join them.
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