North County wins MAAA tourney title

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

STE. GENEVIEVE — The same excellent pitching that lifted North County to its first conference title in softball during the regular season helped the team collect an MAAA Tournament crown on Wednesday night.

Jennifer Hackworth responded to an early unearned run by retiring 12 consecutive batters, and finished 2-for-3 at the plate as the Lady Raiders edged resurgent Potosi, 3-1 in the championship final at Ste. Genevieve.

Hackworth scattered four hits plus a walk while recording 12 strikeouts just one day after senior teammate Katie Gibson fanned a dozen in a semifinal shutout over Central. North County improved to 17-2 overall with the victory.

“This is a huge accomplishment for our program,” said 8th-year head coach Steve Elam. “Many of these girls have been working hard for this since they were freshmen, and I’m very proud of their effort.”

North County amassed only three hits against Potosi starter Ali Rhodes, but manufactured the decisive run after Hackworth singled to open the fourth inning. Courtesy runner C.C. Carron advanced to third on a bunt by Jamie Bullock, and scored on a Jenna Dennison sacrifice fly for a 2-1 advantage.

Hackworth preserved the lead in the fifth by charging a slow chopper off the plate with the potential tying run at third base. Potosi then answered with a brilliant defensive play of its own during the home half.

Brittani O’Connell singled and Erica Inman walked to load the bases with one out for Gibson, but Jinnger Rogers caught her fly ball and fired a perfect running throw to catcher Ashley Duncan, who tagged Holly Gallagher for a big double play.

Hackworth again helped her own cause by slamming a double on the first pitch of the North County sixth, and two wild pitches allowed Carron to tally a needed insurance run.

“We have played in several close games like this, and have managed to keep our focus,” added Elam. “I believe that is a sign of maturity, and the girls having confidence in each other.”

The Lady Trojans stranded the bases full after taking a 1-0 lead on a two-out error in the opening frame, then handed back the equalizer on two dropped balls during the bottom of the first.

Rodgers finished 2-for-3 overall while Kayti Stone singled and scored a run for Potosi. Rhodes allowed no hits through three innings, and struck out five while walking two in defeat.

Both teams made their initial finals appearance since the league formed in 2003. Potosi (13-8) has already clinched its best record in team history.

Potosi  100 000 0 - 1  4  3

North County  100 101 x - 3  3  1

WP - Hackworth 7i 1r 0er 4h 12k 1bb.

LP - Rhodes 6i 3r 2er 3h 5k 2bb.

Hitting:

Potosi - Rodgers 2-3, Stone 1-2, Cluck 1-3.

North County - Hackworth 2-3, O’Connell 1-3. 2b - Hackworth.

Central 5, Farmington 1

STE. GENEVIEVE — Maggee Cunningham struck out eight batters while sporting a constant smile in only her second varsity start, and fifth-seeded Central defeated Farmington 5-1 in the third-place game on Wednesday.

Kiley Horton highlighted a breakout fourth inning with a two-run single and finished 2-for-3 overall, while Addie Scoggin and Sabrina Tripp also tallied two hits each for Central (7-14).

Cunningham, who was one of four freshmen in the starting lineup for each team, allowed seven hits and no walks in the complete-game win. Classmate Taylor Friend opened the decisive fourth with a single, and senior Sarah Tripp continued the rally with an eight-pitch walk.

A RBI fielder’s choice from Brooke Dixon scored Melanee Cunningham for the lead, and Horton made it 4-1 with her solid line drive to center field. Ashley Coplin capped the frame with a RBI single for the Lady Rebels.

Singles by Sonya Hahn and pinch-hitter Kristin Bullock helped Farmington (7-16) threaten with the bases loaded in the seventh, but Katie Currington lined out to Friend at third base for an unassisted double play.

The Knightettes trailed 1-0 until pitcher Erin Littrell evened the score in the top of the fourth. Littrell tripled deep to straight-away center field, and circled the bases on an errant return throw to the infield.

Farmington received additional singles from Natalie Hoehn, Chelsea Thomure, Nikki Broccard and Beth Meyer. Littrell finished with four strikeouts and four walks in the loss.

Ste. Genevieve defeated Fredericktown 5-2 for fifth place.

Farmington  000 100 0 - 1  7  3

Central  100 400 x - 5  8  3

WP - Ma Cunningham 7i 1r 7h 8k 0bb.

LP - Littrell 6i 5r 8h 4k 4bb 1hb.

Hitting:

Farmington - Bullock 1-1, Hoehn 1-2, Littrell 1-3, Thomure 1-3, Broccard 1-3, Meyer 1-3, Hahn 1-3. 3b - Littrell.

Central - Tripp 2-3, Horton 2-3, Scoggin 2-4, Friend 1-2, Coplin 1-4.