McLean Little League Plays in State Championship Game Today

Gerry Megas, manager of the McLean Little League 9/10 Girls Softball All-Stars Team is sending daily dispatches of the team's progress in the state tournament. Here is his Wednesday posting:

The McLean 9-10 all stars put on the game of the tournament in a thrilling 6 - 4 victory over a very strong Richlands team today. 

The key to the game was the ability of Gabi Norton to keep the very strong Richland's hitters from hitting the ball deep, the McLean defense to make the plays and for our hitters to put the ball in play and put pressure on the Richlands defense.

The Richland's pitcher threw very hard and accurate  but the McLean batters forced 4 errors and capitalized with several timely hits.
 
Gabi struck out 7 batters, walked two batters and gave up only 1 hit and no earned runs.
 
Richlands took a 1 - 0 lead in the top of the 1st courtesy of 2 errors by our defense. They returned the favor with two errors of their own in the bottom of the 1st and the score was 1 - 1.

In the bottom of the 2nd Jordie Prather hit a double in the gap to score Gabi Norton and Emilie Sanchez who had reached on an error and a fielder's choice. Jordie scored on a ground out by Sarah Short giving us a 4-1 lead.

Richlands got a run back in the top of the 3rd with two errors. We stretched the lead to 5 - 2 in the bottom of the 3rd with a single by Gabi Norton scoring Caroline French who was special pinch running for Jamie Wang after she reached on an error.

We added another run in the bottom of the 4th with singles by Caroline French, Gracen Govan and Jamie Wang.

In the top of the 5th the Richlands team rallied with a double a walk and two errors to close the score to 6 - 4.

Then the excitement began. In the top of the 6th with one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd and the top of the order on deck the Richland's batter hit a short ground ball in front of Gabi Norton who threw barely in time to 1st to get the 2nd out. Gracen Govan made a quick turn of the ball to home and Emilie Sanchez put a perfect tag on the sliding runner for a bang bang out at home to end the game.

This was a very advanced play for this level of softball and a great way to show the McLean team belonged in the finals.
 
McLean now faces Matthews at 10:00 AM tomorrow in the 1st championship game. We have to beat them 2 times. With Jamie Wang on the hill tomorrow and Gabi ready for Friday I feel good about our prospects.

Team members are  Caroline Culp, Kiera Dent, Caroline French, Gracen Govan, Kate Haas, Kiley Mabus, Amanda Moore, Gabi Norton, Jordy Prather, Emilie Sanchez, Sarah Short, Anna Takis and Jamie Wang.

The manger is Gerry Megas and the coaches are Bill Goodman, Liz Milloy and Mike Chambers. The team moms are Lisa Haas and Rose Sanchez.