GIVING IT THEIR BEST TRY: Opp Lady Bobcats 8U All-Stars fight to the end
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, July 12, 2017
- Riley Thrash makes a play on a ground ball at second base. Josh Dutton/Star-News
The Opp 8U Lady Bobcat All-Stars battled mightily through the Dixie Darling State Tournament, but were eliminated on Monday night after falling to Montgomery America at Johnson Park.
OPP 6,
GREENHILL 1
In the opening round of the tournament, the Lady Bobcats grabbed an early lead and cruised to a 6-1 victory over Greenhill.
Crislyn Birge got things started with a single for the Lady Bobcats in the bottom of the second inning.
A single from Lilli Sumblin then put runners on first and second for the Lady Bobcats.
The Lady Bobcats then loaded the bases when Breyenne Kelley roped a single.
Ashlyn Henderson followed with a single to put the Lady Bobcats up 1-0.
Two batters later, Lyla Bruce drove in a run with a single and then Gracie Rhodes ripped a double to put the Lady Bobcats on top 4-0.
The Lady Bobcats added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a few more solid hits.
Riley Thrash led off the frame with a single and then scored with ease when Birge laced a triple into the outfield.
Birge then came around to score on a single from Kelley.
Henderson then ripped a double that pushed Kelley around to third, but Greenhill was able to keep Opp from scoring another run.
TAYLOR 19,
OPP 8
The Lady Bobcats put up a strong fight, but a late rally wasn’t enough as they fell 19-8 to Taylor/Rehobeth in second-round action.
Taylor/Rehobeth and Opp both came out swinging the bats well, but the hits were finding gaps for Taylor/Rehobeth, where as the Opp hits only found the defenders’ gloves.
Trailing 19-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Bobcats finally began to find holes in the defense.
Correline Spears got things going for the Lady Bobcats when she ripped a pitch to fence and motored around the bases for and inside-the-park home run.
Thrash kept it going with a single and then moved to second when Henderson followed with a single.
The Lady Bobcats continued to find holes as Birge loaded up the bases with a single.
Kelley then drove in a run with single to make it 19-2.
Sumblin followed with a double to the gap that drove in a pair of runs for the Lady Bobcats.
The Lady Bobcats’ bats remained hot as Bruce drove in a run with a double of her own.
Rhoades then followed with a double to give the Lady Bobcats another run.
Ryan Lanier then drove in the final Lady Bobcat run with a triple to the outfield, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going.
OPP 15,
TROY 12
The Lady Bobcats earned a spot in the semi-finals after knocking off Troy 15-12 in the quarter-final match.
Opp went down in order in the top of first inning and then Troy responded with six runs to go up 6-0.
In the top of the second inning, Kelley got the inning started with a single and then moved to second on a single from Birge.
Spears followed with a single to load up the bases for the Lady Bobcats.
Bruce then drove in the first run of the game for the Lady Bobcats.
Fielder’s choice ground balls from Rhodes and Lanier trimmed Troy’s lead down to 6-4.
The Lady Bobcats then added one run in he top of the third inning when Bella Lashley scored on triple from Sumblin.
Troy answered with four runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 11-5.
Birge started of the top of the fourth with a hit and than advanced to third on single from Spears.
Bruce then drove in a pair of runs when she drove a pitch in the outfield.
A few batters later, Lashley drove in Bruce and then later came around to score off a Troy error to cut Troy’s lead down to 11-9.
The Lady Bobcats kept Troy off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth and then went back to work with the bats in the top of the fifth.
Lashley got things going with a hit and came around to score a few batters later.
Sumblin, Henderson, Kelley, Birge and Spears each singled and later came around to score to put the Lady Bobcats on top 15-11.
Troy was able to add one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough to over come the Lady Bobcats.
MONTGOMERY 13, OPP 3
In the semi-final game Monday night, the Lady Bobcats put forth a big effort, but fell 13-3 to Montgomery-American.
Montgomery-American would go on to win the state championship.
The Lady Bobcats got on the board first when Sumblin hammered a pitch to outfield fence and turned on the burners as she flew around the base path for an inside-the-park home run.
Henderson and Kelley then got back-to-back singles, but the Lady Bobcats were unable to tack on any additional runs in the opening frame.
Spears got things started in the right direction in the top of the second inning when pulled into third with a triple after sending a ball sailing into the outfield.
A single from Lanier gave the Lady Bobcats their second run of the game.
The Lady Bobcats final run of the game came in the top of the third inning when Henderson drove in Lashley with a single.