The Niles Nitro capped a four-week, three-tournament stretch with a win at the NBGSA Tournament at Fireman’s Park.

The Nitro 14U travel softball team defeated the Indiana Rebels 12-1, the Harris Heat 8-6, the Intensity 11-4, NBGSA 12-6 and the Indiana Magic 8-3.

The Nitro lost their only game of the double elimination tournament to the Indiana Assault 6-5.

In the championship game, the Nitro returned the favor against the Assault, winning by the mercy rule 15-3 in five innings.

“After finishing third in Muskegon and second in Nappanee, this was a great way to finish our third tournament in four weeks.  To see the way the girls responded after that tough loss in game one says a lot about the character of this team.

“This was no doubt a total team effort, however Tala Gentry having to do all but about two innings of the pitching in the entire tournament with Megan  (McKeel) out with a back injury came through when we needed her. Our coaches are proud of what these girls accomplished,” he added.

Nitro…12

Rebels…1

The Nitro started out beating the Indiana Rebels 12-1.

Leading hitters were Tala Gentry with a homerun and a single, Amelia Ernsberger had a single and double, while Olivia Jordan and Megan McKeel each had two singles.

Gentry picked up the win only allowing two hits, while striking out five batters in four innings.

Nitro…8

Heat…6

Niles then beat the Harris Heat 8-6 to win their second pool play game.

Trailing 4-0 in the third inning, the Nitro bats exploded for seven runs and never looked back. Leading hitters were Gentry with a single and double, Jordan had two singles, while McKeel and Courtney Ankrapp each singled. Gentry got the win.

Nitro…11

Intensity…4

In tournament play the Nitro defeated the Intensity 11-4.

Rachel Bonek went 3-for-3, Gentry went 2-for-2 and Ernsberger, Kylee Myer and Ankrapp added singles.  Gentry got the win with relief help from Ernsberger.

Nitro…12

NBGSA…6

Niles defeated NBGSA 12-6.

Jordan had three hits, including a double. Gentry and Myer each had two hits. Ernsberger, Bonek, Kierra Fillwock, McKeel, Ankrapp and Morgan Richer added singles.

Jordan Rank made two great running catches in right field, doubling up a runner on one of them.

Gentry picked up the win.

Nitro…8

Magic…3

The Nitro defeated the Indiana Magic 8-3 to advance to the finals of the winner’s bracket.

Jordan went 3-for-4 with a double, Gentry had two doubles, while Fillwock added a single and double.

Myer and Jordan Rank added hits, with Rank getting a triple.

Tala Gentry got her fifth consecutive win.

Nitro…5

Assault…6

Niles lost its first game of the double elimination tournament to Indiana Assault 6-5 in a heartbreaking come-from-behind win by Assault.

The Nitro lead the entire game and took a 5-2 lead into the final inning when Assault came up with some clutch hitting to earn the victory.

Jordan and Gentry continued hot hitting with three hits each. Ankrapp and Richer each doubled while Bonek added a single.

Gentry took the loss.

Championship game

In the championship game, the Nitro came out swinging in the first inning.

Ernsberger got it started with a single and Gentry followed with another single.

Bonek hit into a fielder’s choice to score the first run.  Fillwock, Ankrapp, Myer and Richer all followed with singles to make it 4-0.

Niles gave up one run in the first and two in the second and the lead dwindled to 4-3.

In the top half of the third, the Nitro scored five more runs.

Ankrapp started with a line drive double to the fence. Myer drover her in with a sharp single to center and Richer then doubled to score Myer. Maggie Hoff singled to score Richer and advanced to second on the throw home.

Jordan followed with another single to score Hoff, while Ernsberger singled to score Jordan and the lead was 9-3.

The Nitro held Assault scoreless the rest of the way.

In the fourth inning, Ankrapp walked and stole second, Myer singled her in and reached second base on a fielder’s choice by Richer. Jordan singled to score Myer making it 11-3 after four innings.

Niles left no doubt scoring four more in the fifth inning to win by the mercy rule 15-3.

Fillwock and Ankrapp reached base on errors, while Myer hit into a fielder’s choice at third.

With runners at first and second and one out, Richer doubled to the fence scoring Ankrapp and Myer. Hoff then singled to score Richer and Hoff eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Gentry.