Alli Burke Goes Deep, Kayleece Puls Gets Two Hits, Hawks Play Errorless Ball in Win

Alli Burke went deep and Kayleece Puls had a big night at the plate Monday as Gilman City won its 15th game and dropped Gallatin 6-1 in its last game before districts. The game denied Gallatin a winning season; Gallatin has had quality wins over Lafayette, South Harrison, and Princeton. They have also taken Albany to 15 innings. But they also went through a stretch where they lost eight out of nine.

Tenley Griffith shut down Brynn Bird, Gallatin’s prize hitter, holding her hitless. Gallatin only got three hits. Griffith only struck out three batters, but got a lot of soft contact and balls hit right at people. She only needed 83 pitches to get through seven innings, throwing 50 strikes.

With one out in the first, Avery Gregg reached on an error, took second on a passed ball, and Tenley Griffith singled her home to make it 1-0. Griffith took second on the throw home. Kayleece Puls got the first of her two hits after a 7-pitch at bat, getting a single to center to plate Griffith to make it 2-0.

Second baseman Parker Crabtree and shortstop Kayleece Puls made catches in the field in the Gallatin first. Center fielder Avery Gregg snagged a screamer in the second.

Avery Gregg hit a shot off pitcher Brynn Bird and got a scratch hit. Tenley Griffith walked. Walks lead to runs and sure enough, Alli Burke turned on the first pitch she saw and crushed one over the center field fence to score three runs and put Gilman City in control up 5-0.

Gallatin got some traffic in the third as they tried to get back in the game, but Hawk catcher Khloey Sperry threw out a runner stealing third and right fielder Ellie Smith made a catch to end the frame. They got a leadoff single to start the fourth and a sac bunt to put her on second, but Kayleece Puls and Avery Gregg made catches in the field to strand her there.

Gallatin finally got on the board as a leadoff walk came back to bite Gilman City in the sixth. A double with one out made it 5-1, and the Bulldogs were finally making some noise. But Kayleece Puls and Avery Gregg made catches in the field and the Hawks were still in control.

Tenley Griffith walked to start the Hawk seventh. Alli Burke grounded out to advance her. Griffith took third on a wild pitch and Kayleece Puls flied out to score her as Gilman City got the run back.

Catcher Khloey Sperry and second baseman Parker Crabtree made catches in the field in the seventh to finish Gallatin.

Ten of Gallatin’s 21 outs were from catches in the field.