By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – The Niles-Brandywine Girls Softball Association 10U All-Stars finished second at the Eaton Park Invitational recently.
The All-Stars dropped a 5-0 decision to the host team, North Lincoln, in the championship game.
The All-Stars reached the championship game after losing to North Lincoln 11-0 and defeating Dowagiac 11-6 in pool play.
The team then defeated Dowagiac again by an 11-6 count to advance to the title game.
Championship Game
The final score does not indicate how close this contest was.
North Lincoln's Michelle Ziebart did not allow a hit in the contest.
North Lincoln scored a pair of runs with the help of an error in the third inning. The NBGSA All-Stars averted more scoring in the fourth inning as Chelsea Bennett made a running catch in left field with the bases loaded.
North Lincoln loaded the bases again in the fifth inning, this time scoring two runs with two outs on a pop up that got lost in the sun.
North Lincoln added another run to complete the scoring.
Megan McKeel pitched all five inning and received the Sportsmanship Award.
NBGSA…11
Dowagiac…6
McKeel struck out eight in four innings of work and Kylee Myer struck two more in one inning of relief.
Asyria Geegan had a pair of hits for NBGSA, while Candyce Peppers added a double. Morgan Richer, McKeel and Myers also had hits.
Defensive standouts were Sydney Carlson, Geegan and Taylor Krizinski.
Carlson received the Sportsmanship Award.
North Lincoln…11
NBGSA…0
Myer had the lone hit for NBGSA against North Lincoln.
McKeel struck out seven batters. Defensively, Myer, who received the Sportsmanship Award, threw out a runner attempting to steal.
NBGSA…11
Dowagiac…6
The All-Stars batted around and scored nine runs in the second inning against Dowagiac.
The team upped its advantage to 11-0 with two more runs in the third inning before Dowagiac rallied for six runs.
McKeel started, was replaced by Myer in the fourth inning and then came on in relief. She finished the game with 11 strikeouts.
Top hitters were Carlson with two hits and Myer a double. NBGSA also got hits from Megan Noftsger, Richer and McKeel, who earned the Sportsmanship Award.
The All-Stars are back in action July 16-21 as they compete in the Berrien Springs Tournament.