Hornettes end Lady Redbird’s season

by Steve Dunford

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – The Nashville Hornettes advance to face the Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs tomorrow afternoon in the Championship game of the West Frankfort Class 2A regional by downing the hosts 9-4.

The Hornettes hung a three spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first.  The big blow was a one out 2RBI double for Sophie Heck  The bleeding could have been much worse, as Redbird SS Allie Herron gunned down two Nashville runners at third.

The Redbirds put up two runs in the top of the third as Herron drives in 3B Maddy Britton, and P Stephanie Tucker with a two out two RBI triple.  Herron’s glove then robs heck of a base hit up the middle and ends up turning a 6-3 double play after three innings it was 3-2 Nashville.

The Redbirds tie it up in the top of the fifth.  Cather Kylie Prather leads off with a lead off double.  She then swipes two bags, and Maddy Britton drives her in with a sac fly to center.  After 4 1/2 it was a tie ball game.

The wheels fall off for WF in the bottom of the inning as Karly Stanowski hits a deep HR at least 30 feet over the fence in the left center field power alley.  Left fielder Jordan Stegiman picks up a base hit.  Right fielder Brooke Burchman then reaches on a three base error scoring Stegman, then 1B Allie Lisk picks up an RBI single, follwed by Jenna Harris with an RBI double.  After five innings the score was Nashville 7 West Frankfort 3

Nashville added on two more runs in the sixth as Stanowski singles and Stedman hits a 2 run shot over the left field fence.

West Frankfort added a run on in the top of the seventh as 2B Mccayla Bowers had a leadoff single and Stephanie Tucker drove her in with a one out single.  Pitcher Kieley Gunzy worked out of the jam and picked up the complete game.

Talking with West Frankfort coach Jim Piersol about the season, he said it was an up and down one.  The team is still young, and he looks forward to the future.