Bexlie Busby Triples as Junior High Bluejays Drop Bulldogs 10-3

Bexlie Busby got a key triple to salt the game away as Northeast Nodaway's junior high overcame an early deficit and beat East Buchanan 10-3 Monday. 

It looked like a long day after one of the Bulldogs circled the bases to start the game after a single got away and rolled to the wall. But Bluejay pitcher Audrie Villegas got out of the inning and the Bluejays started working the pitch count, getting on at will in the first two innings. Emma Wilmes walked, and Maddie Faustlin was plunked. A wild pitch was thrown around, allowing both to score and putting the Bluejays up 2-1. Ellie Jackson and Kiley Yost singled and Bexlie Busby crushed a triple down the left field line, scoring both and making it 4-1. Audrie Villegas walked, and Aubrey Wilmes hit a pop fly between the mound and third that dropped in. Bexlie Busby, showing the same sort of daredevil skills as her older sister Baylie, made a dash home and was safe to make it 5-1. For the Bluejays, three of their hits came with two strikes, including Busby's blast.

Josie Jago grounded out to score Jeanie Houghton to cut it to 5-2 for the Bulldogs in the second.

Two more two-strike hits set up the Bluejay second. Eryn O'Connell beat out an infield hit and Khloe Burns grounded out to move her to second. Emma Wilmes hit a pop fly that dropped in between second and right field to score O'Connell to make it 6-2. Maddie Faustlin caught hold of her first pitch and crushed one off the left fielder's glove for a base hit as Wilmes took second. Ellie Jackson caught hold of another first pitch and reached on an error when the shortstop held the ball. Kiley Yost reached on an error when the Bulldogs tried to get a force at third, but the third baseman's foot was off the bag. A run scored on the play to make it 7-2. Bexlie Busby was plunked in the foot to force in a run to make it 8-2 and Aubrey Wilmes grounded one into center. East Buchanan got the force at second, but two runs scored to make it 10-2.

Northeast subbed freely in the third, getting some new players some looks. East Buchanan pulled off a successful double steal of second and home in the fourth to cut it to 10-3, but Bexlie Busby successfully started a rundown to get out of the inning.