SUBMITTED BY BRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL COACHING STAFF

 

After being rained on Monday afternoon, the Washington Irving Lady Hill toppers and Bridgeport Lady Braves were ready start play in the 2018 Harrison County Middle Softball Championship Tournament. The two teams battled at the Bridgeport Softball Field.

 

The Lady Hill toppers started the seesaw affair by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.  In the bottom of the first, BMS responded with two runs of their own. Leadoff hitter Gabby Reep walked and stole second and third. Sydney Snyder followed with a walk. Reep scored on a wild pitch and Snyder moved to second. Rachel Mason reached safely on a throwing error and that allowed Snyder to score. After one, it was WIMS 4 and BMS 2.

 

WIMS extended their lead by to 6-2 in the top of the second. Three walks and a double contributed to the scoring. In the bottom of the inning, BMS sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs. Key hits were singles by Maddie Garner, Mackenzi Matheny, Reep, Makenna Smith, and Maci Cook and walks to Emma Jones, Mason, and Garner. After two innings of play, BMS had an 11-6 advantage.

 

The third inning saw the Lady Hilltoppers cut the BMS lead to 11-8 and to within one run by scoring twice in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, BMS scored three times after two outs. Sparking the attack were consecutive singles by Reep, Snyder, Mason, and Via. The scoreboard now read BMS 14 and WIMS 10.

 

The top of fifth inning saw WIMS score eight times. Two doubles, three singles, and four BMS errors aided in the scoring. The Lady Hilltoppers now owned an 18-14 lead.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, Cook singled to start the frame. Garner bunted safely and advanced to second on a throwing error, with Cook taking third on the play. Jones singled to score Cook and Garner took third. Matheny reached on a WIMS error that allowed Garner to score and Jones to make it to third. Matheny then stole second. Reep reached safely on a fielder’s choice and Jones scored on the play and Matheny moved to third. Reep stole second with Snyder at the plate. Snyder struck out, but a drooped third strike let Snyder reach first and Matheny scored on the play and Reep moved to third. Snyder then stole second. Mason grounded out to short and Reep crossed the plate and Snyder moved to third.   Katie Via reached on a fielder’s choice and that plated Snyder. The Lady Braves had now had a 19-18 lead.

 

The Lady Hilltoppers were held scoreless in their half of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Matheny reached first on a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. One out later, Snyder crushed a home run to right center field and that gave BMS insurance runs and a 21-18 lead.

 

In the top of the seventh, a leadoff walk and a batter hit by a pitch started the top of the seventh. Both runners advanced a base via the stolen base. An infield ground out saw one runner cross the plate.  The next batter singled to drive home another run that brought the Lady Hilltoppers within one run. With tying run on first with one out, the next batter hit a line drive to the pitcher that was caught by Smith. She then turned a threw to first base to complete a double play and end the game. The final score was BMS 21 and WIMS 20.

 

With the win, the Lady Braves advanced to play in a semi-final game of the middle school softball championship tournament. They will travel Shinnston to play the Lincoln Lady Wildcats this afternoon at 5 p.m.

 

Editor's Note: Photos submitted by BMS softball coaching staff.