Niles Nitro win tournament
Published 5:13 pm Monday, July 9, 2012
The Niles Nitro 16U travel softball team won the Wisconsin Dells Tournament over the weekend. Pictured in front from left are Jordan Rank, Courtney Ankrapp, Larkin Carey and Olivia Jordan. In back are coach Roy Jordan, Tala Gentry, Taylor Ratkay, Sarah Toth, Kelly Harper, Megan McKeel, coach Rick McKeel and coach Greg Gentry. (Daily Star Photo/Provided)
BARABOO, Wis. — The Niles Nitro 16U travel softball team went 4-1 over the weekend to win its first tournament of the season.
Nitro defeated the Indiana Wave Runners Green 4-3 to capture the Wisconsin Dells Tournament.
In reaching the finals, Niles defeated the Wave Runners Green 3-1 and Addison Blazers 3-0 in pool play. The Indiana Wave Runners Orange defeated the Nitro 10-3 in pool play.
In the semifinals, Niles topped the Dekalb Hurricanes 9-1 in a mercy-rule shortened contest.
Megan McKeel tossed a two-hitter against the Hurricanes with two strikeouts. She was also the winner in the opening game with relief help from Tala Gentry. Gentry was 1-1 in pool play.
In the title game, Niles led 2-0 after one inning and then extended its lead to 3-0 with a run in the third inning.
The Wave Runners rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nitro scored the winning run as with two outs, Gentry hit an inside-the-park home run.
Gentry earned the win in relief of starter Taylor Ratkay as she worked the final three innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.
“This was a total team victory,” Nitro coach Rick McKeel said. “We had so many players who stepped up this weekend and made key plays when we needed them. The girls really deserved to win this tournament.”
Ratkay, Gentry and Sarah Toth each had two hits for Nitro.
