.gif)
EL CAMPO – The Columbus Little League softball Majors were just a few runs from winning the state tournament and moving on to the next level to represent as the Texas East state champion. They had a difficult battle to reach that point, going through a few instances of adversity that required a high level of focus and performance to respond from. After winning their first game against Lindale by a big margin, Columbus fell to Industrial 1-6 in the next game. Needing to win three games in a row to claim the championship, the Majors won their first game of the consolation bracket against Silsbee in a 15-point shutout to set up a rematch against Industrial. Columbus would need two wins against undefeated Industrial to claim their tournament victory. They had a strong start in game one, coming back from one run down to take a big victory in extra innings. However, despite some hot hitting in game two, Columbus fell just short of claiming the championship with a difficult loss not too long after their victory in game one.
Vs Industrial LL, W, 4-1 Columbus spent a large portion of game one playing from behind after allowing an early run by Industrial. The Majors had five-straight scoreless innings to start the game, giving Industrial a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning. The Columbus defense held things together while waiting for the scoreboard to start turning as they kept Industrial from scoring for the rest of the game. The low score to start the game was indicative of strong defense in the field by both teams as neither had an issue making contact. Columbus finished with eight hits while Industrial finished with nine.
Columbus’ hits did not turn into runs until the sixth inning when they finally broke onto the scoreboard. McKenna Eden knocked a big triple into right field to put herself into scoring position. Lila Berger reached first on a bunt after a poor throw which allowed Eden to run the score in and tie the game at one apiece.
The game finally broke open for Columbus in extra innings after finishing regulation with a 1-1 tie. Each team started with a runner at second for their at-bats as Columbus got the first offensive possession of the extra session. Trinity Hopkins got things started with a hard hit that went straight to the third basemen, however, the throw to first was errant, allowing Kaylea McCarthy to reach home from second and take the lead for Columbus. Hopkins later scored another run after being batted in by Hattie Post who was in turn batted in for a run by another multi-base hit by Eden. Columbus survived 15 strikeouts to hold on for the victory.
Vs Industrial, L, 6-5
After a less-than-anhour wait for the next game, Columbus went on to have an explosive hitting night as their offense picked up from where it left off in the last game. They picked up 11 hits and had a four-hit advantage over Industrial. However, Industrial had a much more effective game bringing in scores despite being outhit by their opponents.
After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning, Columbus responded with a run of their own after Cambry Barten doubled to bring in Emma Beauchamp from second base. The Majors tied the game in the third inning after Andie Melnar hit a big triple as the biggest shot of the game for Columbus. After reaching third, she made it all the way home after an error by the catcher after the hit. Later in the inning, Lucy Schobel hit a double and later got brought home by Emma Beauchamp on a fly ball single to take the lead. The Majors relinquished the lead again in the fourth and fifth innings as Industrial scored three unanswered runs through the two innings.
Columbus would not answer again until their final chance of the game after falling to an early two outs in the sixth inning. With just one out remaining, Columbus got threestraight singles from Barten, Berkley Anderson and Hattie Post to score a run and threaten for more. While McKenna Eden was at the plate, Industrial committed a few errors in a row that allowed a score and let Post threaten to tie the game at third base. Eden made it to first base on a dropped third strike which prompted Post to test the defense with a run home. However, she was caught at the plate for the final out, leaving Columbus just a few feet from tying the game and keeping a strong rally going.
