After
two and half weeks without a game, the St Marys Mite Girls returned to
Huron/Perth Fastball action with a pair of games this week.
On Tuesday, the Mites travelled to Shakespeare to play a make-up game from an early season rainout. St Marys went scoreless in the top of first and Natalie Johnston struck out three of the six batters she faced in the bottom of the inning to keep the game scoreless.
In the second, the Mites sent eleven batters to the plate as part of their five run inning. Picking up RBI’s were Rebecca Sleeper, Sarah Lynch, Johnston, Billie Sedley, and Jillian Sterkenburg as the Mites opened a 5 – 0 lead. Johnston followed up in the bottom of the second by striking out the side to maintain the shutout.
In the third, St Marys opened a 10 – 0 lead on RBI’s from Karissa Waghorn, Johnston with two, Erin Green and Sedley. In the bottom of the third, Sedley came on in relief striking out three of the seven batters she faced while St Marys took the win 10 – 1.
On Wednesday, North Middlesex Lieury came to town on a very hot evening at Teddy’s. In the first, Lieury picked up five runs off starter Ava Ansley as the home town Mites fell behind. In the bottom of the inning Sterkenburg lead off with a double followed by single from Ansley. Sleeper then drew a walk to load the bases for Waghorn, who then cleared the bases with a double to right field making it a 5 – 3 game. Lynch hit the third double of the inning moving Waghorn to third. Sedley singled bringing home the fourth run and Grace Hillman hit into a fielder choice cashing in the fifth run of the inning making it a 5 – 5 game.
In the second, Lieury were very patient at the plate picking up two runs before Ansley struck out the final two as the Mites were down 7 – 5. St Marys added one in the bottom of the inning as Sterkenburg came home on a RBI fielder’s choice by Waghorn closing the gap to 7 – 6.
Lynch came on in the third striking out her first batter but then walked the next three before an error and a single, allowed Lieury to open an 11 – 6 lead. In the bottom of the final inning Sedley, Hillman and Sterkenburg all drew walks to lead off the inning. Ansley was then hit by a pitch which brought a run in making it 11 – 7. Sleeper drew a walk bringing home Hillman closing the gap to 11 -8. Waghorn reached on a fielder’s choice as there was a force at home to maintain the 11 – 8 score. With the bases still loaded, Lynch stepped up and drove the ball deep to right field for the unofficial grand slam as only three runs would count the Mites reached their five run maximum but were able to salvage the 11 – 11 tie.
The Mites have two more games to make up, but no dates are confirmed as yet. The final tournament takes place in Stratford August 7 – 9.