A rally in their last at-bat came up just a little bit short for the Todd County Central Lady Rebels Saturday. After trailing 5-1, the Lady Rebels closed to within one run and had the tying run at second base before the Bowling Green Lady Purples were able to end the threat and hold on for the 5-4 5-inning win.
The game was shortened to five innings due to the two teams, along with Webster County, trying to get in two games each Saturday. Bowling Green also beat Webster County 1-0. However, the rains arrived and the Lady Rebels and the Lady Trojans were not able to get their game in, playing just two innings. The game was called with Webster County up 1-0.
Both the Lady Rebels and the Lady Purples had to battle strong winds blowing from centerfield to first base and making any ball that got up in the air a difficult play.
Bowling Green took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from Peyton Steward. Steward, along with Baylee Shoemake, added RBI singles in the top of the third to extend the lead out to 3-0.
After a pair of walks in the bottom half of the inning, the Lady Rebels got on the board for the first time when Maddison Wade scored on a Bowling Green error and cut the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the fourth, it was Steward again causing the Lady Rebels problems. The Bowling Green third baseman hit a two-run single to center as the lead moved out to 5-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the 5th, Todd County Central started a last-ditch rally. Ella Hall walked and then advanced to second on a single from Abigail Choate. Addison Woodall loaded the bases with a single to left.
Naomi Welborn then crushed a ball to left field. Any other day, the hit would have been a walk-off grand slam. But, with the strong wind blowing in towards the plate at this point in the game, the ball stayed in the park and ended up being a base-clearing double that cut the lead to 5-4.
Olivia Weikel then popped up to short to end the threat and the game.
Four different Lady Rebels had a hit in the game. Abigail Choate, Addison Woodall, Naomi Welborn, and Olivia Weikel had one hit each. Welborn had three RBIs.
In the circle, Addison Woodall got the start and went two innings, giving up one run on one hit, striking out two and walking one. Olivia Weikel finished out the last three innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking none.
