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From BleckleyProgress.com High School Sports
This time, it was different. This time, the Lady Royals didn’t see their season end in heartbreak. Rather, it'd be the hearts of Berrien County fans who were broken.
Not to say it was easy. Leading 3-0 after two innings, the Reblettes had drawn within 3-2 by the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth (Bleckley had won the coin toss, thus the home team) Abbey Sims two out, two-run double made it 5-2. Tori Long’s third hit of the game with two outs in the sixth gave BC what appeared to be a comfortable four-run lead.
Berrien though loaded the bases with one out. They scored twice. But a line out to Caroline Thrower and a grounder to Emily Sanders preserved a 6-4 win.
Bleckley clinched their first elite eight berth since 2011. Long went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI. Aliyah Whitehead was 2 for 3 with a sac fly and 1 RBI. Caroline Thrower went 2 for 4 with 1 RBI. Landa Dominy was 1 for 2.
The win broke a two-year streak of losing a close third sweet 16 game after splitting the first two. Head coach Teresa Gray said the team came together when needed. “They pepped themselves up and knew they had to win.” Gray said pitcher Bailey Odom finding her focus after Berrien had scored twice in the seventh was key in holding on for the win.
“Bailey (Odom) buckled down and new she had to get the job done.” Gray pointed to the ground balls Odom induced when she was hitting her spots.
Bleckley will play Monticello in Columbus October 26 at 3 pm. All games will be played at the Columbus Softball Complex. © Copyright 2015 by BleckleyProgress.com |
