SOUTHPORT –East Columbus rallied for 5 runs in the 5th inning to overcome an 8-6 Bladen County lead and claim an 11-10 victory in an elimination game Sunday night in the North Carolina Dixie Softball State Ponytails Tournament.
Bladen County had dropped an earlier game to South Brunswick 15-0 Sunday morning.
Five hits and 2 errors produced the 5 East Columbus runs in the pivotal 5th inning.
Bladen County jumped in front with 2 runs in the 2nd inning against East. Ryleigh Miller and Adyson Carroll drew walks, and Bristol Allen ripped a single past 2nd base. Miller and Carroll both scored.
After East pulled even at 2-2, Chloe Walters and Maycee Kinlaw walked to start the Bladen 3rd inning. Brissa Matheson and Kenley Smeigh smashed singles through the left side. Chloe Walters, Kinlaw, Matheson and Smeigh all scored to put Bladen ahead 6-2.
East Columbus trimmed the margin to 6-5, before Bladen added a pair of runs in the 4th inning. Carroll, Camryn Wood and Kynzlee Wood all drew walks, and Abby Diciccio reached base on a fielder’s choice. Carroll and Diciccio both scored to grow the lead to 8-5.
The final 2 Bladen runs came in the 6th inning. Smeigh and Carroll smashed singles, and Allen walloped a double that scored Smeigh and Carroll.
Allen batted 2-for-3 with a double and 4 RBIs for Bladen County. Smeigh finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and scored twice. Hadley Dove, Matheson and Carroll connected for 1 hit each. Carroll scored 3 runs. Kinlaw, Matheson, Miller, Diciccio and Chloe Walters scored 1 run each.
Kinlaw pitched a complete game and struck out 7 batters.
Kynzlee Wood struck out 4 against South Brunswick in the morning game and also collected the only Bladen hit in that game.
Team members (pictured at top) are: Anna Claire Walters, Hadley Dove, Kynzlee Wood, Camryn Wood, Maycee Kinlaw, Chloe Walters, Brissa Matheson, Abigail Diciccio, Bristol Allen, Ryleigh Miller, Kenley Smeigh and Adyson Carroll.
Coaches are Dale Wood, Mike Dove and Jordan Allen.
Bladen County 024 202 — 10
East Columbus 023 15x — 11
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