The Barton Community College softball team fought to stay alive in the Region VI Tournament Saturday in Wichita but fell in extra innings to close out their 2012 season. The Lady Cougars trailed by three in the bottom of the seventh to Seward County Community College but rallied to force extra innings eventually falling 7-5 in nine innings. Barton fell to the elimination side of the double elimination tournament earlier in the day by falling 4-0 to Colby Community College. Barton finishes the 2012 campaign with an overall record of 12-38 but increased their win total by seven over the 2011 season. The Lady Cougars will lose three of their four infielders to graduation but return their entire outfield lineup, as well as, their top two pitchers for the 2013 season.
Highlights
Barton struggled in the tournament opener getting only four hits, with none coming in the same inning. Colby scored one in the first then added two in the fourth on freshman Courtney Kinnett’s two-run homerun just inside the left field foul pole. The Trojans would add another run in the seventh following a two-out triple and Barton fielding error to win the Region VI opener 4-0.
In an elimination game late Saturday afternoon, Seward built a four run lead through the first four innings as they scored one in each of the second and third innings and two in the fourth. Following a Alex Dunlavy leadoff single in the home half of the fifth, the Lady Cougars cut the deficit in half taking advantage of a walk, passed ball, and illegal pitch.
Seward seemingly put the game away in the top of the seventh adding one to build a 5-2 lead before a monumental comeback by the Lady Cougars would force extra innings. With Dunlavy again singling to start the inning, Barton’s Carly Schraeder followed with a walk then Larned freshman Kaileigh Deitrich beat out a bunt to load the bases. After a Seward pitching change, Aleeya Ybarra lined to right field and Dietrich was picked off first after a heads up play and throw by the Saints right fielder Ashley Kirkes. Down to their final out and with the season on the brink, Barton received consecutive walks from Tessa Sterling and Anna Voss to draw within one.
Barton’s season RBI leader and struggling to find her first hit of the day, freshman Tomi Thompson delivered a solid single up the middle to plate Schraeder and a hustling Sterling from second base to tie the game at five.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Seward capitalized on a fielding error to lead off the ninth then pounded out three hits in scoring two runs for the 7-5 victory.
Released: May 7, 2012
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