Illini West and West Hancock squared off in pool play Saturday afternoon, April 6, at the Lady Tiger Softball Showcase and it would be West Hancock getting the 14-6 victory.
Kaelyn Ferrill bunted and reached on an error. Ella Shutwell sacrificed to Jadyn Climer at third base. Ferrill advanced to second. Elly Krieg doubled to center field, scoring Ferrill for a 1-0 lead. Jordyn Climer struck out Olivia Johnson swinging for the second out. Corin Robinson reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Krieg for a 2-0 lead. Payton Downs grounded out to third base to end the inning.
Jordyn Climer doubled to center field open the home first inning. Lakinn Larson lined out to center field for the first out and Climer advanced to third after tagging up. Abbie Stanley drew a walk and advanced to second on a defensive indifference. Cami Montgomery drew a walk. Bailie Montgomery reached on catcher’s interference and Climer crossed the plate to make it 2-1. Isabel Brown reached on an error by the shortstop and Stanley scored to tie the game at 2-2. Hattie Wood struck out Aubree Karle and Jadyn Climer both swinging to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Kennedy Gunning reached on an error by the pitcher, but then the Chargers went in order to end the inning. Jadyn Climer singled with one out, but was left on as Wood struck out Larson and Stanley both swinging to end the inning.
The Chargers’ third started with Ella Shutwell striking out swinging. Krieg popped out to the pitcher. Olivia Johnson reached on an error by the first baseman. Johnson stole second and scored on a Robinson double for 3-2 lead. Ava Shutwell came in as a courtesy runner for Robinson. Downs hit a ground ball and reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Shutwell for a 4-2 lead. Gunning grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning. Cami and Bailie Montgomery got back-to-back singles to left field. Brown walked to load the bases. Karle singled to center field. Camie and Bailie Montgomery both scored to tie the game at 4-4. Jadyn Climer singled on a bunt to the pitcher and Brown scored for a 5-4 Lady Titans lead. Jaiyden Huston singled to center. Karle scored and then Climer scored on an error by the center fielder for a 7-4 advantage. Huston stole third base and scored on an error by the third baseman to make it 8-4. Jordyn Climer walked and stole second. Larson singled to right field and plated Climer for a 9-4 score and Larson advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. Stanley grounded out for the first out to the pitcher. Larson advanced to third. Cami Montgomery singled to left, scoring Larson for a 10-4 lead. Bailie Montgomery singled on a bunt to the pitcher and Cami Montgomery advanced to second. Brown grounded into a fielder’s choice and everyone one was safe. Karle grounded out to third base, scoring Cami Montgomery for an 11-4 lead. Jadyn Climer popped to the catcher for the third out.
The Chargers and Lady Titans failed to score in the fourth inning.
Ella Shutwell doubled to open the top of the fifth inning for the Chargers. Krieg lined out for the first out. Shutwell stole third. Raina Flynn grounded into a fielder’s choice. Shutwell held at third. Robinson grounded out to the pitcher for the second out and Shutwell scored to make it 11-5. Flynn advanced to third on a passed ball. Natalie Wibbell singled to center field and Flynn scored to make the score 11-6. Gunning popped out to the pitcher to end the inning. Cami Montgomery walked to open the Lady Titans’ fifth inning. Bailie Montgomery singled on a bunt and Cami advanced to third. Brown singled to left field and both Cami and Bailie scored for a 13-6 Lady Titans lead. Karle doubled to center to score Brown and end the game as time ran out and gave the Lady Titans the 14-6 win and advance them to the championship game against Carrollton. Climer was the winning pitcher. She gave up six hits and six runs, just two earned, and struck out three. Wood took the loss, she surrendered 14 hits and 14 runs, 11 of them earned. She struck out five and walked six.
Bailey Montgomery was three of three at the plate and had a run batted in. Karle went two of four with four runs batted in. Brown was one of three with two runs batted in. Robinson was the Chargers leading hitter going one of three with two runs batted in. Krieg, Downs and Wibbel each had a run batted in.
