Gilman City will coop in three different sports with Tri-County, both schools announced Thursday, effective with the 26-27 season. They will coop in softball, basketball, and baseball. Gilman City will oversee softball, basketball, and junior high softball. Tri-County will oversee junior high basketball and varsity baseball.
Gilman City extended its school record with its 16th win Thursday and held off a dangerous Pattonsburg squad 6-3 to advance in district play to face Albany. In the first meeting between the teams, Pattonsburg had crushed the Hawks, but Gilman City kept their errors to a minimum this time and kept mistakes from snowballing into big innings.
After making no errors until the game was decided the first time, Pattonsburg made two in the first inning this time. Khloey Sperry apparently struck out, but the ball got away from catcher Isabella Burger and she reached first safely. Avery Gregg hit a pop fly in no-man’s land between the mound and shortstop and it dropped in for a base hit as Sperry took second. Tenley Griffith popped out. Alli Burke struck out, but on the play, Sperry stole third and Gregg second. Kayleece Puls hit a towering drive into the lights in left field. Claire Christensen lost it in the lights and it dropped in as two runs scored and the Hawks took a lead they would not relinquish.
Isabella Burger answered in the bottom of the first with a blast to center field for a home run. It was her third career home run.
Cheyenne Miller caught Caitlynn Chalfant’s line drive in the second and Kaitlyn Estes, who had carried Pattonsburg so often with her bat, did so with her glove as she made a diving grab of Ellie Smith’s pop fly to keep the Hawks off the board.
Rosalynn Cameron hit a drive into the gap in right-center, but Avery Gregg made a running catch to take extra bases away in the Panther second.
With two outs, Kayleece Puls hit the first of two big blows as she crushed a double into the left-center field gap. Parker Crabtree hit a pop fly over third base that dropped in for a base hit; Puls, off on contact with two outs, scored. Caitlynn Chalfant walked and Emily Chalfant hit a sinking line drive to the backhand side of Cheyenne Miller at second that dropped in fair for a double as Crabtree scored to make it 4-1.
Hawk pitcher Tenley Griffith was missing a lot with her outside pitches, but got a lot of strikeouts as Pattonsburg was chasing her high heat. Cheyenne Miller nearly had a base hit as her pop fly behind first dropped in just foul. Jayden Goble roped one into the right-center field cap, but once again, Avery Gregg ran it down for an out.
With one out in the fifth, Rosalynn Cameron caught hold of a high pitch and singled to right-center. Cheyenne Miller forced her at second, but Jayden Goble hit a fly ball that left fielder Hailey McClure couldn’t get to. It caromed off her knee brace and rolled all the way into right field as Goble reached third and Miller scored to make it 4-2.
It looked like the Panthers would get a big inning in the sixth after Isabelle Burger got jammed and hit a pop fly just fair over Parker Crabtree’s head at second. Kaitlyn Estes beat out a grounder into the hole at short, and Emsleigh McCrary hit a high chopper that somehow found its way into center for another base hit. Avery Gregg made a great stop to keep a run from scoring.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Vanessa Weigand struck out chasing Tenley Griffith’s high heat, as did Kara Bernardino. Six out of Griffith’s seven strikeouts were from batters chasing her high heat. Rosalynn Cameron hit a pop fly that looked like it would drop in no-man’s land, but Avery Gregg made a running catch behind second to get the Hawks out of the inning with no damage done.
With one out in the Hawk seventh, Alli Burke caught hold of a high and outside pitch from Addie Iddings and crushed one into right field. Kara Bernardino, playing in her last softball game as a Panther, made a great play to hold Burke to a single. Kayleece Puls got her second big blow, hitting a triple to left field as Burke scored. The throw home got away and Puls came in to score as well, making it 6-2.
In the Panther seventh, Cheyenne Miller hit a hot shot off Tenley Griffith’s glove that nearly got away from her, but she recovered in time to get her on a close play. Jayden Goble beat out Kayleece Puls’ throw from short and reached second when the throw got into the dugout. Addie Iddings grounded out to advance Goble to third. Isabelle Burger walked to bring up the tying run to the plate in Kaitlyn Estes. She crushed one to the right field wall, but Ellie Smith made a great play to get it in and Estes was held to a single as Burger took second. Emsleigh McCrary went after the first pitch, but popped it out to Caitlynn Chalfant in foul territory for the final out.
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.
Led by the bat and the pitching of Tenley Griffith, Gilman City salvaged their last two games of the George Scurlock Tournament in Princeton Saturday and made strides along the way, even though the scoreboard didn't always show it. They won their 13th and 14th games of the year, assuring themselves of a winning season for the second year in a row. The focus of the team this year was learning to hit fast pitching, and they finally started doing it as the tournament progressed.
After struggling for many years to even put a team on the field, struggling to win more than two games, and struggling to finish seasons, the Hawks have finally managed to turn things around. Starting with 2020, the COVID-19 year, the Hawks surprised everyone by turning around a dormant program by winning nine games that year and going 9-8. They won 12 games two years ago, 13 games last year with a winning season, and have 14 and counting this year. They have won their third straight HDC conference title. The Hawks have a strong junior high contingent coming up, so there is no reason to think it won't continue.
Last year, the Hawks won two games in a JV tournament at Putnam County; the MSHSAA website lists them as JV games.
The week started off inauspiciously as the Hawks played a good game defensively, only committing three errors against a solid Putnam County team, but they only managed three hits in a 3-2 loss. They finally got going in the bottom of the seventh, scoring both their runs. Tenley Griffith had two hits and Khloey Sperry one. Griffith had a triple and a stolen base and did all she could with her arm as well, striking out a career-high 13 batters.
Pitted against the host Princeton Tigers in the first game of the tournament Saturday, they jumped all over them in the first three innings, building a 5-0 lead. But Princeton drew the #2 seed in districts for a reason, they bounced right back to tie it in the fourth and walk it off in the fifth to win 7-6.
Avery Gregg had two hits. Khloey Sperry, Alli Burke, Kayleece Puls, and Emily Chalfant each had one. Alli Burke had a double, Avery Gregg had a triple, and Avery Gregg, Ellie Smith, Khloey Sperry, and Tenley Griffith each stole a base.
In the second game, Lathrop jumped all over Gilman City early and often, scoring seven in the first and never looked back in getting a 14-3 win. Alli Burke and Caitlynn Chalfant were bright spots for the Hawk lineup, getting two hits each. Hailey McClure added one. Chalfant had a double. Avery Gregg had a steal.
There was no rest for the weary as the Hawks had to play a rapidly improving Maysville squad, which gave Worth County all it could handle two nights previously. When Ellyette Sobotka reached on an error and stole second, it looked like another long game for the Hawks. Savannah Moyer reached on a dropped third strike as Sobotka took third and then Sobotka scored on a passed ball as Moyer took second. Madi DeShon reached second on an error as Moyer scored to make it 2-0. Sam Gripka grounded out as DeShon took third. Yet another Hawk error allowed Skylar Nalle to reach third and DeShon to score to make it 3-0. It looked like the Wolverines were well on their way.
But after playing one of their worst innings of the year, the Hawks turned around and played five of the best innings they've played all year, starting with the bottom of the first. Khloey Sperry turned on the first strike she saw, singling to start the frame. Sperry stole second and Avery Gregg singled her home to cut the deficit to 3-1. Tenley Griffith hit a line drive over the right field fence for a home run, and all of a sudden, the Hawks were back in the fight, tied at 3-3.
Aurora Sweiger stretched a single into a double to start the Wolverine second, but Tenley Griffith struck out Paisley McClamroch. Ellyette Sobotka grounded to Kayleece Puls, who cut down Sweiger trying to advance to third. Griffith struck out Moyer to get the Hawks out of the inning. Maysville threatened again in the third, loading the bases with two outs. But then Gentry Sweiger tried to score on a passed ball and was thrown out stealing and the game remained tied.
Tenley Griffith grounded out to start the Hawk third, but then the error bug started to bite Maysville as Alli Burke reached on a dropped pop fly. She stole second and Kayleece Puls doubled to break the tie and put Gilman City up 4-3. Parker Crabtree reached on an error as Puls took third. Crabtree stole second and Kayleece Puls later scored on a passed ball as Crabtree took third. Caitlynn Chalfant flied out to right to score Crabtree to make it 6-3.
Maysville had more traffic in the fourth as Aurora Sweiger reached on an error, Ellyette Sobotka walked, and they took second and third on a passed ball with one out. But Tenley Griffith struck out Savannah Moyer and Gentry Sweiger grounded out to end the threat.
The Wolverines finally broke through in the fifth inning when Ashlyn Clark singled in Skylar Nalle to cut it to 6-4.
But then Gilman City got the bottom of their order to come through as Kayleece Puls singled to right and Parker Crabtree beat out an infield hit to put runners on first and second to start their half of the fifth. Caitlynn Chalfant grounded into a fielder's choice. Maysville tried to get the force at third, but Puls beat it out and everybody was safe. Hailey McClure flied out to center as Puls scored, Parker Crabtree took third, and Caitlynn Chalfant took second. Ellie Smith singled in Parker Crabtree as Caitlynn Chalfant took third. Ellie Smith stole second and the lineup turned over as Khloey Sperry beat out an infield hit. Caitlynn Chalfant scored to make it 9-4 and Ellie Smith took third. Sperry stole second and Tenley Griffith doubled home two more to make it 11-4.
The Hawks grabbed their school record 14th win with their last game of the afternoon, downing a dangerous La Plata squad 9-5. The Bulldogs had been streaky all year; they are capable of beating anyone on a given day and capable of losing to anyone on a given day. They dropped a game to South Shelby (2-20) one day, only to turn around and beat them 27-1 later the same day. They have broken the 10-run barrier nine times and the 20-run barrier four times. On the same day as this game, they beat Albany 3-1.
Gilman City manufactured a run in the top of the first when Khloey Sperry reached on a dropped third strike. She stole second and third and scored on Tenley Griffith's sac fly to make it 1-0.
But then La Plata manufactured one of their own when Emmagin Travis reached on a bunt single. Ashlynn Lewis singled her to second and stole second. Travis scored on a passed ball to tie it at 1-1. Layne Mack grounded out to the mound as Lewis took third. Hannah Mitchell grounded out to score Lewis to put the Bulldogs in front 2-1. Two more errors threatened one of those snowball innings that La Plata has relied on all year, but Tenley Griffith struck out Macy Davidson after a long battle and the Hawks were still breathing.
Both teams went quietly in the second, but with one out in the third, Khloey Sperry reached on an error and stole second. Avery Gregg singled home Sperry to tie it at 2-2 and went to second on the unsuccessful throw home. Gregg took third on a passed ball and Tenley Griffith reached on a four-pitch walk. Griffith stole second and then Avery Gregg scored on a passed ball as Griffith took third. Alli Burke reached on an error as Tenley scored to make it 4-2. Kayleece Puls flied out for the second out, but then Burke stole second and Parker Crabtree reached on an error as Burke scored from second to make it 5-2.
Gilman City got two batters out to start the Bulldog third as Avery Gregg made a catch in center. But then Tenley Griffith walked Layne Mack to keep the inning going. Walks lead to runs and sure enough, Hannah Mitchell doubled and Emma Ralston singled to cut it to 5-4 and the dangerous La Plate bats were coming to life. Ralston stole second and third and the tying run was 60 feet away. Macy Davidson hit a tricky grounder in front of the plate, but catcher Khloey Sperry threw her out and the Hawks were still in front.
The Bulldogs needed to get the eighth and ninth batters out in order to neutralize the heart of the Gilman City order, but that was not forthcoming as Emily Chalfant walked after being down in the count 1-2. Walks lead to runs and sure enough, Ellie Smith hit a pop fly single over second and Hailey McClure (running for Chalfant) scrambled safely to second. Khloey Sperry hit another pop fly that was just beyond the reach of the La Plate infielders and the bases were loaded.
The table was set and Avery Gregg turned on the first pitch she saw, singling to right field to score Ellie Smith and Hailey McClure. Sperry took third and Gregg second on the throw home to make it 7-4. Tenley Griffith singled to right to score Gregg and Sperry to make it 9-4.
Hailey McClure, who came in as a pinch runner in the top of the fourth, played lights-out defense in the bottom half, catching a line drive and a fly ball in left field. Khloey Sperry added a catch behind the plate to keep La Plata off the board. McClure once again carried the Hawks down the stretch; after La Plata used a double and an error to cut the lead to 9-5, she made a hustle play, snagging Hannah Mitchell's pop fly in foul territory for the second out. Caitlynn Chalfant snagged Emma Ralston's grounder for the final out to limit the damage.
Kayleece Puls made a catch in the field in the sixth as the Hawks worked around an error to lead off the inning.
Khloey Sperry and Tenley Griffith went deep the first game of the HDC Tournament Saturday, Kayleece Puls went deep the second game, and Gilman City ran the table at the tournament, beating Braymer 15-0 in the first game and East Harrison 8-1 in the second, avenging a regular season loss to the Bobcats. With the win, the Hawks have won four out of their last five going into a brutal stretch of games including Putnam County, the Goerge Shurlock Tournament in Princeton, and Gallatin.
In the Braymer game, Tenley Griffith tossed a two-hitter with eight strikeouts. The Hawks bashed out 11 hits. Khloey Sperry, Avery Gregg, Tenley Griffith, and Alli Burke all had two hits while Kayleece Puls, Caitlynn Chalfant, and Emily Chalfant all had one. Avery Gregg and Khloey Sperry had doubles. Alli Burke and Kayleece Puls had triples, and Tenley Griffith and Khloey Sperry went deep. The Hawks only committed one error on defense.
After Griffith worked around a one-out single in the first inning, Khloey Sperry led off the bottom of the first with an inside-the-park home run to make it 1-0, crushing it to left field and circling the bases. Avery Gregg singled to center and stole second, taking third as the ball got away. Tenley Griffith drew a walk on a 3-2 count and stole second. Kayleece Puls sacrificed and reached on an error as Avery Gregg scored and Tenley Griffith advanced to third. Tenley Griffith stole home.
Ellie Smith walked to start the second inning. Walks lead to runs and sure enough, Khloey Sperry doubled to left to put runners on second and third. Avery Gregg doubled to left and Smith and Sperry scored, with Gregg taking third on the throw home to make it 5-0. Tenley Griffith singled to center to score Gregg to make it 6-0 and the ball got away as Griffith took second and third. Alli Burke tripled to center and scored Griffith to make it 7-0. Parker Crabtree grounded out to score Burke to make it 8-0.
With one out in the Bobcat third, Harper Hendley singled to left and the ball got away as Henley took third. Farrah Guffrey grounded to Tenley Griffith on the mound; she tried to pick off Hendley at third, but Hendley was safe and Guffrey reached on the fielder’s choice. But Griffith struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Avery Gregg reached on an error to start the Hawk fourth and Tenley Griffith got an inside-the-park home run in the massive Tri-County field to make it 10-0. Alli Burke singled and then Kayleece Puls caught hold of the first pitch she saw and tripled to left to score Burke to make it 11-0. Parker Crabtree reached on an error as Puls scored to make it 12-0. Caitlynn Chalfant grounded to third. They tried to go to second for the force, but Crabtree was safe. They took second and third on a passed ball. Emily Chalfant singled to score Crabtree to make it 13-0 as Caitlynn Chalfant took third. Ellie Smith reached on an error as the last two runs scored to put Gilman City over the 15-run mark.
In the East Harrison game, Tenley Griffith set down a dangerous Bobcat lineup, holding Avarie Thompson, Sloane McClain, and Khloe Ponjavic, who had combined for 10 hits in the North Harrison game, to just one hit each. She fanned nine batters while Gilman City put together eight hits in the win and took advantage of key errors.
The Hawks had eight hits; they got three from Kayleece Puls, two from Alli Burke, and one each from Avery Gregg, Khloey Sperry, and Tenley Griffith. Khloey Sperry and Tenley Griffith had doubles while Kayleece Puls had a home run. Alli Burke and Avery Gregg stole bases. The Hawks played errorless ball in the field. For the day, they committed one after they committed several in the Pattonsburg loss.
Gilman City hit the ball hard in the first inning, but right at people. East Harrison wasted Avarie Thompson’s leadoff double as Avrey Gregg in center field and Emily Chalfant in left field made catches and Tenley Griffith struck out Aspen Zerbe to keep them off the board.
Alli Burke reached on an error to start the second inning when second baseman Addy McFall dropped her pop fly. Kayleece Puls singled to left and Burke went from first to third and was safe. Puls took second on the throw to third. Caitlyn Chalfant reached on another error as Puls and Burke scored to make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the second, Sloane McClain roped one hard, but right at Kayleece Puls at short. That meant Phoenix Ratliff’s single was harmless. Parker Crabtree made a catch at second to get the Hawks out of the inning.
Khloey Sperry started the third with a double to left. Avery Gregg reached second on an error as Sperry scored to make it 3-0. Gregg took third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0.
East Harrison mounted a threat in the fourth when Lainey Thompson walked. She took second on a passed ball. Aspen Zerbe flied out to Gregg in center field. Sloane McClain beat out an infield hit as Thompson took third and all seemed set up for a big inning with Sloane on the basepaths. But the first of two outstanding defensive plays by the Hawks occurred when Thompson tried to come home on a passed ball and Tenley Griffith raced home to cover the throw from Sperry for the second out. McClain took second on the play. Sloane stole third and Phoenix Ratliff hit a tricky grounder between first and second. But first baseman Caitlynn Chalfant snagged it and threw to second baseman Parker Crabtree covering for the third out to keep them off the board.
With one out, Avery Gregg singled after fouling off five pitches and stole second. Tenley Griffith walked on a 3-2 count after fouling off two pitches. Walks lead to runs and sure enough, Alli Burke singled to left as Gregg scored and Griffith took third. Alli Burke took second on the throw. Kayleece Puls provided the dagger when she lined it into left field for an inside-the-park home run to make it 8-0.
Kayleece Puls made a catch at shortstop to prevent a one-run inning by the Bobcats into becoming a big inning. Taylor Whitaker tripled after fouling off four pitches and scored when Lainey Thompson singled to make it 8-1. Anything could happen with Sloane McClain coming up, but Tenley Griffith struck out Aspen Zerbe and McClain to get out of further trouble.
East Harrison had one last chance in the seventh. Phoenix Ratliff struck out after a seven-pitch at bat. Khloe Ponjavic beat out an infield hit, but Jalyn Cain grounded into a force at second. Griffith struck out Addy McFall on three pitches for the final out.
Nova Smith had a big day for Gilman City's junior high squad, hitting two home runs in the Hawks' 14-3 win over Pattonsburg Thursday.
Pattonsburg got on the board first when Kiara Tucker scored on a wild pitch in the first inning to make it 1-0.
That lead stood up until the second inning, when Emmery Smith reached on an error for the Hawks. Reagan Crump forced her at second, but Hannah Arndt reached on another error. Arndt and Crump took second and third on a wild pitch. Colby Robertson and Mallory Chalfant walked to force in a run to make it 1-1-. Hannah Arndt came home on a wild pitch, and she made a hard takeout slide that knocked the ball away from the pitcher and she was safe to make it 2-1. That sparked the Hawks, who pulled away after that.
Nova Smith followed with a two out three run home run over the left fielder's head into the corner to make it 5-1. Carsynn Robertson and Aspen Wyatt walked and Emmery Smith singled home Robertson to make it 6-1.
Pattonsburg made a bid to get back in the game when Taylor Mason singled, and Kiara Tucker doubled to put runners on second and third. Kelsey Tucker walked to load the bases. Hawk pitcher Emmery Smith struck out the next two batters, but with two strikes on her, Kentley Plymell hit a pop fly single over first base that dropped in for a base hit as two runs score to cut the Panther deficit to 6-3.
But the rest of the game belonged to Gilman City after Colby Robertson walked, and Mallory Chalfant reached on a dropped throw as Colby went from first to third. Shaleigh Webb beat out an infield single and as the ball got away from the first baseman, Chalfant took third as Robertson scored to make it 7-3. Chalfant scored on a wild pitch as Webb took second. Nova Smith hit a carbon copy of her first home run, a long drive to the left field wall, and circled the bases for a two-run home run to make it 10-3. Carsynn Robertson walked, and Aspen Wyatt was plunked. Emmery Smith singled home Carsynn Robertson, and Wyatt took second. Smith and Wyatt took second and third on a wild pitch. Reagan Crump crushed one to Panther shortstop Kiara Tucker, who made a great catch for an out. But Hannah Arndt walked, and Wyatt scored on a wild pitch, putting Arndt on second and Smith on third. Colby Robertson hit a pop fly that was uncalled and dropped, scoring Smith to make it 13-3. Arndt came home on a wild pitch to make it 14-3 before time was called.
Roselynn Cameron went deep for the red-hot Pattonsburg squad, which has won six out of its last seven games, while Avery Gregg swiped her 100th career base for Gilman City, which put together a frantic rally in the seventh before falling 12-6 Thursday. Gregg, the lone senior on the Hawk squad, was honored after the game, and a large delegation of family members and former teammates were there to honor her. Avery plans to attend Culver-Stockton, where she will play basketball and track. Her favorite memory was getting caught in the fence last year at Gallatin but robbing someone of a home run in the process. With the win, Pattonsburg has gone over the .500 mark, going to 10-9 for the year.
Jayden Goble put Pattonsburg on the board first when she caught hold of a two-strike pitch and singled into right center. She stole second and Kaitlyn Estes singled to center. Avery Gregg made a leaping stop to hold Estes to a single, but Goble scored on the plate.
Gilman City got the run back when Khloey Sperry nearly took out pitcher Addie Iddings' knees out and singled to center. She stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-1.
But then Rosalynn Cameron kicked off a monster night for Pattonsburg when she crushed a home right into the right field corner and circled the bases to make it 2-1. It was her second career home run; she earlier hit one in the North Platte Tournament at the start of the year. Cheyenne Miller, who also had a big night batting ninth, singled to center. Jayden Goble hit a fly ball into left center. Avery Gregg came on the dead run and nearly got there but dropped it as Miller scored to make it 3-1.
With two outs in the Hawk third, Gilman got one back as Khloey Sperry worked a walk after a long battle with Iddings. Avery Gregg singled to right center and Sperry came all the way around from first to score to make it 3-2.
Jayden Goble, who stole three bases in the Mercer game, got picked off after a base hit, but made it to second for a stolen base in the Panther fourth. Isabelle Burger singled her home to make it 4-2. It would have been worse had not Kayleece Puls fielded Emersyn McCrary's hard grounder and thrown her out at first.
In the Hawk fourth, Kayleece Puls hit it hard, but right at shortstop Jayden Goble. That was a big item as Parker Crabtree beat out a slow roller for a base hit and Caitlynn Chalfant singled to right with two outs. Addie Iddings blew one by Hailey McClure for strike three for the third out.
Pattonsburg threatened in the fifth after Tenley Griffith plunked Cameron and Cheyenne Miller singled. But Jayden Goble hit it hard, but right at Alli Burke at third, who stepped on the bag for the third out.
The floodgates for Pattonsburg finally opened in the sixth when a dropped throw and a dropped fly ball put runners on second and third. Emsleigh McCrary, who has gotten much quicker as the season progressed, beat out a high chopper to score Claire Christensen (running for Isabelle Burger) and put Kaitlyn Estes on third. McCrary stole second and Vanessa Weigand reached on a dropped third strike to load the bases. Kara Bernardino, who showed some newfound ability to hit the ball hard Thursday, hit one hard but right at Tenley Griffith on the mound, who threw home for a force for the second out. But Rosalynn Cameron crushed a double to right center to drive in two and Cheyenne Miller singled to drive in two more to make it 9-2. It would have been worse had not Hawk right fielder Ellie Smith ran down Jayden Goble's screamer for the third out.
Disaster nearly struck Pattonsburg when Alli Burke worked a walk after a 3-2 count, and Kayleece Puls' pop fly dropped in behind second for a base hit, and they took second and third on a wild pitch. Parker Crabtree hit a sharp grounder to Vanessa Wiegand at third, who didn't have a play as Parker got a scratch hit. The Panthers contended Crabtree's hit was foul, but to no avail and the bases were loaded with one out. But Caitlynn Chalfant popped out to first baseman Kaitlyn Estes and Emily Chalfant grounded into a force at second as the Panthers got out of the inning.
The floodgates continued for Pattonsburg in the seventh as Addie Iddings hit a shot off Tenley Griffith's glove for a scratch hit, Isabelle Burger hit a pop fly to right that dropped in for a base hit, and Kaitlyn Estes doubled home Iddings and Claire Christensen (running for Burger) to make it 11-2. Emsleigh McCrary grounded out to advance Estes to second and Vanessa Weigand singled her home to make it 12-2. Caitlynn Chalfant stopped the bleeding when Kara Bernardino was robbed of a hit again; she hit a screamer right at Chalfant, who stepped on the bag to double off McCrary.
Pattonsburg, which had averaged five errors earlier in the year, committed its first error all night when Cheyenne Miller bobbled Ellie Smith's grounder to open the floodgates for the Hawks. Khloey Sperry was jammed by Iddings but lofted one over Goble at short for a base hit. Avery Gregg hit a high chopper that Goble snagged but had no play. Tenley Griffith stretched what looked like a routine single into a double as all three runs scored to make it 12-5. But then Pattonsburg made a pair of strong defensive plays to get out of the inning. Alli Burke hit a pop fly that catcher Isabelle Burger caught up against the screen; it was the kind of play that Baylie Busby made in her sleep for NEN during her playing days. Kayleece Puls was robbed again when her pop fly behind the bag at second was snagged by Rosalynn Cameron. Rosie had carried Pattonsburg all night with her bat and carried them with her glove in the seventh. Parker Crabtree walked, and Caitlynn Chalfant got her second hit to score Griffith to make it 12-6, but Emily Chalfant grounded out to Estes for the final out.
Tenley Griffith struck out her 100th career batter and hit two triples, and things got back to normal for Gilman City as they went home early against Grundy County, beating them 14-2 Tuesday, September 30th. The Hawks scored in every inning but the fifth in the win and stole 13 bases. Alli Burke showed herself to be a capable backup, pitching the last two innings for the Hawks.
Alli Burke got three hits in the game. Tenley Griffith, Avery Gregg, and Khloey Sperry got two. Parker Crabtree, Caitlynn Chalfant, and Hailey McClure got one each. Only one batter struck out. Avery Gregg, Caitlynn Chalfant, Hailey McClure, and Khloey Sperry had doubles. Tenley Griffith had two triples. Alli Burke went deep.
Khloey Sperry had 3 steals. Alli Burke, Avery Gregg, and Tenley Griffith all had 2. Caitlynn Chalfant, Hailey McClure, Kayleece Puls, and Parker Crabtree had 1.
Sperry reached right away on an error to start the game after putting it in play with two strikes and that opened the floodgates. Sperry stole second and Avery Gregg singled to center to score her to make it 1-0. Gregg stole second. Tenley Griffith got two strikes on her but crushed the first of her triples to right field as Gregg scored to make it 2-0. Alli Burke turned on the first pitch and singled as Griffith scored to make it 3-0. Alli Burke stole second. Kayleece Puls had a long at bat, but struck out. Parker Crabtree picked her up, turning on the first pitch and singling to right as Burke scored to make it 4-0.
Gilman City overcame a pair of errors in the first inning as Tenley Griffith struck out the last batter looking after a long battle. Avery Gregg made a catch in center field in the frame.
Back to back doubles by Khloey Sperry and Avery Gregg put the Hawks up 5-0 in the second. Griffth lined out to short and Gregg was doubled off, but Alli Burke picked her up by crushing a home run to make it 6-0. Back to back errors came back to cost Grundy County as Caitlynn Chalfant doubled home Kayleece Puls and Parker Crabtree to make it 8-0.
A pair of walks led to Grundy County's first run, but with one out in the Hawk third, Khloey Sperry singled and Avery Gregg walked. Tenley Griffith tripled again with two strikes on her to score both runs to make it 10-1. Alli Burke singled home Griffith to make it 11-1. Kayleece Puls walked, and they took second and third on a passed ball. Burke scored on a passed ball to make it 12-1 as Puls took third.
In the fourth with one out, Tenley Griffith walked, stole second, and went to third on a passed ball. Alli Burke walked to set up a first and third situation and the Hawks pulled off a successful double steal of second and home to make it 13-1. Caitlyn Chalfant was out on an infield fly and an automatic out, but the ball got away and Burke scored to make it 14-1.
Gilman City started off with a nightmarish week after their game with Braymer last Thursday was cut short. Gilman City was leading the Bobcats 7-0 when the rain came and the game was washed out. Long layoffs can kill momentum, and sure enough, the Hawks went into a tailspin to start the week, falling 8-2 to Princeton Monday, September 22nd and 3-1 to East Harrison Wednesday. Still hung over, and playing on back-to-back nights, they let Mercer hang around three innings, only leading them 5-3 at that point. But then, they broke out of their slump with a vengeance, scoring 14 runs and putting the Cardinals away 19-3.
When the dust had settled, the bottom of the order led the resurgence of the Hawks, with Caitlynn Chalfant and Ellie Smith both getting three hits for them. Khloey Sperry and Hailey McClure both went deep, Tenley Griffith added a triple, and the Hawks stole 11 bases as a team in a match that resembled the Coyote and the Roadrunner. The Coyote thought he was close to the Roadrunner, only for the Roadrunner to put on a burst of speed to leave the Coyote in the dust.
The game did not look like it would be an early trip home for the Hawks, as they killed two rallies with baserunning blunders before Alli Burke finally singled a pair of runs home in the second to make it 4-1. Seven Hawk errors in the game allowed Mercer to hang around as they cut it to 5-3 after the third.
But Tenley Griffith crushed a triple to start the Hawk fourth to right field. Alli Burke reached second on a dropped fly ball to score Griffith and make it 6-3. Kayleece Puls was plunked and Parker Crabtree walked to load the bases. Caitlynn Chalfant and her magic bat came through, singling to center to bring home Kayleece Puls and Alli Burke to make it 8-3. Emily Chalfant walked and Ellie Smith singled, scoring Parker Crabtree to make it 9-3.
Caitlynn Chalfant scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-3 and then Khloey Sperry crushed a three run inside the park home run to break it open and make it 13-3. The floodgates were not closed as Avery Gregg followed with a single and then stole second and took third when the throw got away. Tenley Griffith walked and stole second. Alli Burke grounded out to score Gregg to make it 14-3 as Griffith took third. Kayleece Puls hit a pop fly single over first as Griffith scored to make it 15-3.
Parker Crabtree reached on an error, putting Puls on second. Caitlyn Chalfant singled and Puls was safe on a throw home as Parker Crabtree took third and Chalfant second. Hailey McClure unloaded an inside the park home run to make it 19-3.
Khloey Sperry, Caitlyn Chalfant, and Ellie Smith all had three hits. Avery Gregg, Tenley Griffith, Alli Burke, Kayleece Puls, and Hailey McClure all had one. Caitlynn Chalfant had 3 steals. Avery Gregg and Ellie Smith had 2 and Alli Burke, Khloey Sperry, Parker Crabtree, and Tenley Griffith had 1.
