Laurel takes second win after deadlock
By John Denny
Staff Reporter

Alyssa Martin slides safely under the tag of Latin America's Ana Sabat during Monday night's game. Photo by RUSLANA LAMBERT

“This was as tight as a game as I’d like it,” District III Manager Jeff Evans said, “too tight for my blood.

“Sometimes we’ll win with our bats, but tonight we won with our pitching and our defense,” he added. “It’s nice to be versatile.”

Both teams were evenly matched and were able to snuff out scoring opportunities. But down the stretch, District III was able to prevail. Latin America stranded five base runners in scoring position throughout the game, compared to District III leaving three on base. Both teams had only one error through four innings, though the third error of the game would prove critical.

Two at-bats after Kelsey Oliphant led off the fifth with a bloop single and Brittney Brittingham popped out to the catcher on a bunt attempt to move the runner, Latin America flinched.

Alyssa Martin’s routine ground ball to shortstop Ana Sabat was gobbled up and fired to first with plenty of time to force the second out of the bottom of the fifth, but first-baseman Aida Cruz appeared to be thinking about holding Oliphant at third after stealing second earlier in the at-bat. Cruz dropped the ball, and it gave District III their best scoring opportunity with base runners on the corners and only one out.

Brooke Evans hit into a 6-3 fielder’s choice, which initially held Oliphant at third. But once Sabat made the throw, it cleared the way for the score. Martin was caught in a rundown and tagged out after straying too far off third base, for the final out of the inning.

Over the past two seasons, District III has tried to split the pitching duties of each game nearly in half between Stephanie Wheatley and Jenna Allen. But Evans decided to let Wheatley (1-0) finish a rain-soaked game against USA East, which opened the door for Allen in the second game.

Allen (1-0) allowed four hits (three singles and a double) and only one walk while fanning a game-high eight batters. Allen’s counterpart, Latin America’s Nicole Marquez (0-1) also allowed four hits and struck out six.