Addison Gray's Walkoff Triple Stuns Stanberry 9-8

Several months ago, Addison Gray played the hero in the school play, donning a red wig for a few nights and played Orphan Annie. On Tuesday night, she did it again, this time on the ball diamond, crushing a three run walkoff triple as the Tigers stunned Stanberry 9-8 in a game that featured many twists and turns. Worth County still has to pull for outside help as Princeton remained unbeaten in the GRC West with their 9-1 win over Pattonsburg. But they are in a much better position now than they were the week before, as they have now won their third straight to go to 5-2.

Tasha Stoll grounded into a fielder's choice as a run scored to start the game as Stanberry led 1-0. But Tiger catcher Audrey Runde picked Stoll off first to kill the rally. Worth County got the run back and was seemingly in control for the next few innings. Riley Ridge got a slap hit to start the inning and Kambree Briner walked. Kristen Tracy flied out to left, but then Briner and Ridge took second and third on a passed ball. Audrey Runde singled in Ridge to tie it at 1-1. Kambree Briner later came around to score on a passed ball to make it 2-1 and Megan Tracy reached on an error as Runde scored to make it 3-1.

The lead stood there for some time. Keira Hardy made a catch at third and shortstop Rylee Ruckman made a catch as well in the Stanberry third to kill a rally. Right fielder Rayleigh Smith had a catch in the fourth inning. 

Ruckman made another catch in the fifth for Stanberry's second out, but then all hell broke loose as Harper Heyde reached on an error, Manley walked, and Tasha Stoll homered to put Stanberry back up 4-3.

Worth County got the runs back as Keira Hardy doubled to left to lead off the inning. Rayleigh Smith grounded out to move her to third and Riley Ridge got a base hit. Stanberry tried unsuccessfully to throw home to get Hardy and Ridge took second as the Tigers tied it at 4-4. Kambree Briner grounded out to short to put Ridge on third and Kristen Tracy singled to score her as Worth County regained the lead at 5-4.

But then Stanberry tied it right back up when Danielle VanDraska doubled and Allie Schieber doubled her home to tie it at 5-5 in the Stanberry sixth. Josi Moffat reached on an error, putting her on first and Schieber on third. Ellie Dias walked to load the bases. Schieber scored on a passed ball to break the tie and put Stanberry up 6-5.

Megan Tracy singled to center and went to second on an error to lead off the Tiger sixth. She was nearly stranded as Addison Gray popped out and Rylee Ruckman lined out. But Keira Hardy got her second hit and Tracy scored to tie it at 6-6. 

But Stanberry had been in this sort of situation throughout the tournament in Albany, walking off North Andrew and then King City and beating Albany in their conference matchup. Sure enough, Tasha Stoll walked and Alyssa Wallace reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Danielle VanDraska struck out, but Brookelynn Robinson singled to load the bases. Allie Schieber doubled in two to break the tie and make it 8-6 and Stanberry looked to be on the verge of breaking it open with runners on second and third and one out. But Josi Moffat grounded out to Kristen Tracy and nobody could advance. Ellie Dias popped out to Ruckman at short to stop the bleeding.

When Stanberry finally got Riley Ridge out to start the seventh, they had to feel pretty good, but Kambree Briner caught hold of a 0-2 pitch and singled to right to bring the tying run to the plate. Kristen Tracy grounded to short and they tried to go to second for the force, but Briner beat it out and everybody was safe. Audrey Runde popped out to second and the Tigers were down to their final out. But Megan Tracy walked to load the bases and Addison Gray caught hold of the first pitch she saw and came through with the biggest hit of her life.

Kristen Tracy, who had been fighting the strike zone during their losing streak, finally cut down on her walks and only issued three passes while striking out six.