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Red Level gave a great effort but fell just short to Brantley, 6-2, in eight innings of a varsity softball area game Monday, April 10.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 15-6 overall and 4-0 in 1A Area 3, while the Lady Tigers dropped to 8-8 on the year and 2-2 against area competition.

Campbell Hawthorne had a one-out single in the visiting first and scored the first run on a two-out RBI double from Alex Grimes. Elizabeth Cross led off the home half with a double, but Kaylee Navarre picked up two strikeouts and preserved the 1-0 lead after one inning. Cross needed only 15 pitches for a 1-2-3 top of the second. Amaya Williams took first on an error in the bottom of the frame, and Caroline Blackwell followed with a walk. Navarre responded back and struck out the next three batters as the score remained 1-0.

Cross worked around a two-out miscue and stranded Hawthorne in scoring position in the third. The pitching duel continued as both starting pitchers were locked in a groove and saw the score stay 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Kennedy Lord led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlyn Beverly. After walks to Summer Beverly and Alyssa Lee loaded the bases, S. Beverly scored the tying run on an error. The score remained tied at 1-1 when Navarre ended the inning with a strikeout.

BHS regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Grimes took second on a miscue and stole third with one out before a sacrifice fly by Marley Kilcrease made the score 2-1. RLS refused to go away quietly and evened the score at 2-2 with a two-out rally. Cross reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and third base, and scored on another error. K. Beverly kept the inning alive with a single, but Navarre delivered a called third strike and sent the game into extras.

Hope Richardson earned a leadoff walk in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double by Emma Crawley. A mistake allowed Crawley to score and double the margin to 4-2. Anna Free drove home Hawthorne with a double as Free crossed the plate on an RBI single from Grimes for a 6-2 lead. Navarre then popped into an inning-ending double play but earned redemption with three straight strikeouts and capped the game in the bottom half.

K. Beverly, Lord, and Kiley Caine each went 1-for-3 for the Lady Tigers. Cross finished the day with a 1-for-4 showing at the plate and allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in an eight-inning complete game.

Hawthorne and Grimes were both 2-for-4 for the Lady Bulldogs, while Crawley and Free each went 1-for-4. Navarre gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and collected 16 strikeouts in the win.

Red Level remains home for a matchup against Baker (FL) Thursday, April 13, beginning at 5 p.m.