Alli Burke, Tenley Griffith Triple Twice as Hawks Beat Polo 11-1

Gilman City got back on the winning track Thursday as they beat Polo 11-1 Thursday. Alli Burke and Tenley Griffith both hit two triples in the effort. Previously, they traveled to Putnam County to face one of the top pitchers in the area in Rory Gilworth. The Hawks dug themselves into a hole that was too big to climb out of, striking out 19 times and getting behind 6-1 before falling 9-4 to the Midgets. They tried to make things interesting in the last few innings, scoring runs in each of the last three innings, but fell short. Alli Burke had a double, while Tenley Griffith, Kayleece Puls, Emery Smith, and Caitlynn Chalfant all got hits as well. Griffith stole a base.

But the Hawks seemed to benefit from facing one of the fastest pitchers in the area, as they promptly jumped on Polo in the bottom of the first. Tenley Griffith crushed the first pitch she saw for a triple to left. Kayleece Puls hit a fly ball that dropped in for a base hit as Griffith scored and Puls took second on the throw home. Alli Burke tripled to center and Puls scored on the play. Just four pitches in, the Hawks had a 2-0 lead as they got back to the aggressive approach at the plate that had broken them out of earlier slumps. Nova Smith fought through an eight-pitch at bat before singling to left to score Alli Burke to make it 3-0.

Gilman City continued attacking early in the count as Hailey McClure singled to start the Hawk second. Kayleece Puls beat out an infield hit to put runners on first and second. Alli Burke tripled to right, going after the second pitch to put the Hawks up 5-0. Nova Smith singled to right to score Burke to make it 6-0. Emmery Smith singled to left to put Kameron Mars (running for Nova Smith) on second. Mars stole third. Emmery Smith advanced to second on defensive indifference. Avery Chadwick singled home Mars as Emmery Smith took third. Emmery Smith got caught in a rundown and was thrown out, but Emily Chalfant singled home Avery Chadwick to put the Hawks up 8-0.

Willow Kelley singled and Khloe Lucassen doubled in the fifth to put Polo on the board.

Tenley Griffith roped a double to start the Hawk fifth, chasing the second pitch she saw. Kayleece Puls reached first on an error, going after the first pitch, as Griffith scored to make it 9-1. Alli Burke reached first on another error to put Puls at second. Nova Smith walked to load the bases on a 3-2 count. Emmery Smith beat out an infield hit to score Kayleece Puls to make it 10-1. Avery Chadwick was plunked to force in Alli Burke, and the Hawks went home early.