After leading for 5 innings, the Dillon Lady Wildcats varsity softball team withered as they lost 6-5 in an extra inning.
Aynor was held scoreless in the top of the first inning.
Dillon scored a run in the bottom of the first inning off of a single by Skylar McCoy, 2 errors, a passed ball, and a walk. However, the Lady ‘Cats had the bases loaded and stranded runners.
Aynor’s #5 led off the second inning with a single. #1 for Aynor sacrificed bunted to advance the runner. However, the next 2 batters were retired to stop the threat.
Dillon’s Jayla Goodwin picked up a walk. A’Doshia Graves arrived safely at first on a bunt and a throwing error. Dillon once again was threatening with runners on first and second with 1 out. Both Dillon runners advanced on a passed ball. However, Jayla Goodwin was caught in a run-down between third and home. Skylar McCoy doubled and picked up a rbi, and runners were on second and third but were once again stranded when Dillon was retired in the inning but Dillon led 2-0.
With 2 outs, Aynor’s #6 hit 1 to short center for a single for the only hit in the top of the third inning for Aynor.
In the bottom of the third inning Dillon’s pitcher, Tori Grimsley, hit a grounder to the shortstop and was originally called out at first but the call was reversed by the umpire. Taylor Blackmon laid down a bunt and arrived safely at first on a throwing error, and both Dillon runners advanced to second and third bases. Emilee Price popped up 1 to the pitcher, and Aynor turned a double play by tossing the ball to third base before the runner returned to the bag to end the inning. After 3 innings of play Dillon was up 3-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Aynor quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Dillon managed to get out of the inning with Aynor scoring only 1 run to cut Dillon’s lead 3-1.
Jayla Goodwin arrived at first base after getting a walk in the bottom of the fourth inning. She advanced to second on a grounder by A’Doshia Graves who was thrown out at first but Dillon had a runner on second with only 1 out. Jayla scored on a bobbled grounder by Johnna Rogers who also advanced to second on a throwing error. Skylar McCoy hit a 2-run homer. Brittany Miller singled and was replaced with a courtesy runner who was thrown out at second on a grounder hit by Tori Grimsley. Taylor Blackmon followed with a single, and runners were once again on first and second bases. The runners were once again stranded.
Aynor’s #6 garnered a single that was followed by a hot hopper to left by #19 who ended up at third and a run scored. #7 hit a hot 1 by third and picked up a rbi. #5 for Aynor walked followed by #1 who hit a grounder to Johnna Rogers. Everyone was safe, and the bases were loaded. Dillon managed to quelch any more scoring by tossing the runner out at home on a grounder by #9 and a pop-up on the next play by #8.
When Dillon began to threaten again, #19 who was playing shortstop at the time, came in as a relief pitcher to close out the inning and the game.
The top of the sixth inning was the demise for Dillon with 2 outs on Aynor. #6 for Aynor hit a grounder to third and was safe at first and advanced to second on the throw. #19 also hit a hot 1 by third, picked up a rbi, and ended up on third. Taylor Blackmon made a diving stop at second on a hit by #7 but was unable to throw to first and a run scored.
In the bottom of the sixth Aynor retired Dillon while facing only 4 batters. In the top of the seventh Dillon retired Aynor while facing 5 batters.
Dillon was retired by Aynor in like fashion in the bottom of the seventh to force an extra inning.
#19 for Aynor hit a long 1 to right field for a triple. She scored on a single by #7. Emilee Price made a good catch in right field on a hit by #5 to end the threat of another score.
Aynor’s pitcher faced 4 batters in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a great diving catch by the second baseman and a linedrive catch by the third baseman.
Aynor managed to connect for 11 hits, and Dillon managed 9 hits.
Aynor committed 5 errors in the game, and Dillon committed 4 errors.
Layna Johnson was the winning pitcher. She pitched 3 and 1/3 innings. She allowed 8 hits, 5 runs of which 3 were earned, walked 4, and struck out 1.
Tori Grimsley was tagged with the loss. She pitched 8 innings. She allowed 11 hits, 6 runs of which 3 were earned, walked 2, and struck out 1.
Dillon is 9-2 and 3-1 in Region 6-3A.
