SUBMITTED BY COACH BILLY ESTOK

 

Last Thursday, May 12, you could not have asked for a better day weather-wise to play for the 2022 Harrison County Middle School Softball Championship. The number one seed, the Lincoln Lady Wildcats, hosted the Bridgeport Lady Braves, the number two seed in this year’s tournament.

 

Lincoln won a competitive contest and the county title by a 7-4 score.

 

This was the third meeting on the season between these two teams. In the first two games, the Lady Wildcats were the victorious team.

 

The game was a pitchers duel between Lincoln’s Adriana Elder and Bridgeport’s Chloe Barlow. Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning.

 

In top of the second, BMS scratched out the first run of the game. Alyson Clifton reached second on a Lincoln infield throwing error. A passed ball advanced her to third.  Kyra Shafer followed with a walk. Shafer then stole second and the throw to second was wide and Clifton scored on the throw.

 

The Lady Indians added another run in the top of the third. Mia Shaughnessy started the inning with a solid single to center. Addison Veigel followed with a walk. The Lady Braves attempted a double steal, but Shaughnessy was cut down on the front end of the steal. Brie Stoneking then ripped a triple to right field scoring Veigel and giving BMS a 2-0 lead.

 

In their half of the fourth, the Lady Braves tallied another run. Barlow helped her cause when slashed a line drive down the right field line for an inside-the-park home run. The Lady Braves were now up 3-0.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Wildcats got on the scoreboard. With two out and Ava Eakle on first, she moved to second on a wild pitch. Gracie Hardesty moved Eakle to third on single. A passed ball allowed Eakle to score the Lady Wildcats first run.

 

Both teams did not score in the fifth inning.

 

In the top of the sixth, Mahaylee Messenger lead off with a double to left. She went to third on a wild pitch. Barlow, once again helped her cause, as brought Messenger home on a ground out second to first. The Lady Braves had regained their three run advantage.

 

Elder lead off for Lincoln in the bottom of the sixth. She reached second on a two-base BMS throwing error. Eakle singled Elder to third and then stole second uncontested.  Hardesty walked to load the bases. Chloe Zimmerman followed with a walk to plate Elder. Reese Bennett walked to bring home Eakle. One out later, Kerstyn Leggett singled to left and the ball eluded the BMS outfield and three runs scored on the play. With two out, Addison Moore singled to center and Leggett scored on the play. In all, the Lady Wildcats score d six runs and owned a 7-4 lead.

 

The Lady Braves were retired in order in the top of the seventh to complete the game.

 

The win gave the Lady Wildcats the 2022 Harrison County Middle School Softball Championship. The Lady Braves were the runners-up.

 

Both Elder and Barlow pitched complete games for their respective teams.

 

At the conclusion of the game, the respective head coaches each spoke to the opposing teams players and congratulated them on a good season and a thrilling championship game.

 

The BMS Lady Braves players and coaches thank the BMS administration, the parents, and fans for their support during the 2022 season.  The Lady Braves also thank Connect-Bridgeport for publishing our game summaries throughout this season

 

BMS summer softball conditioning will take place the week of June 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at the softball field located behind BMS. All attendees will be required to have a physical form completed for the 2022-2023 school year prior to participating in the conditioning program.

 

Editor's Note: Photos used with this story, and in the gallery below, are courtesy of Vernon Louk and Lincoln Middle Coach David Mazzei.