McLean Little League Team Plays in State Tournament

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 Tuesday posting:

The McLean 9-10 softball all-stars put together an outstanding performance today avenging a prior defeat advancing to the loser bracket championship game with a convincing 13 - 1 over Western Branch.

Jamie Wang was dominating on the mound in the 98 degree heat pitching a 6 inning no-hitter allowing only 4 base runners and one unearned run. No balls left the infield.
 
It looked like it would be a long day early in the game after the Western Branch pitcher overpowered our first 4 hitters with strikeouts but she tired in the hot weather and started to lose control of her pitches and the McLean batters capitalized. In the top of the 3rd inning Kate Hass drew a one out walk, advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch and scored on a Sarah Short single. Kiera Dent walked and Gracen Govan doubled in two runs to give McLean the 3 - 0 lead.

Western Branch rallied with an unearned run in the bottom of the 3rd and had their star power hitter at the plate with runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out. Jamie kept her pitches off the plate and worked the very confident and hard swinging batter to a 3 - 2 count and then threw a tantalizing change-up that the batter badly flailed at for strike three.

This took the air out of the rally and was the turning point of the game. Emilie Sanchez led off the 4th inning with a walk and with two outs consecutive singles by Sarah Short, Kiera Dent and Gracen Govan brought in 3 more runs and gave McLean a commanding 6 - 1 lead. McLean scored three more runs in the 5th inning on a singles by Jordie Prather and Kiera Dent plating Gabi Norton and Caroline French who had reached base on a hit by pitch and an error.

McLean added three more runs in the 6th with singles by Caroline Culp, Kiley Mabus and Sarah Short bringing in Amanda Moore and Emilie Sanchez who reached on a hit by pitch and a walk.
 
McLean now advances to the loser bracket final tomorrow at 10:00 AM with Gabi Norton on the mound facing a hard hitting Richland’s team. If we win that game we will advance to the championship game on Thursday morning vs. Matthews.

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.