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Lenards Steps Up; Leads D.C. Girls Into Semifinals
 SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill.---For much of this tournament run, Amber Lenards has struggled at the plate. She has been stuck in the #9 spot in the batting order, and has been subbed out at times. But on the big stage on Tuesday, Lenards stepped up. Lenards ripped a double in the fifth inning, and then smacked a second double to the warning track in the eighth inning, as the Delta County Junior Girls (age 13-14) beat Clay County, Kentucky, 3-2, at Veterans Park in South Holland, Illinois.  And in the eighth inning, Lenards scored the eventual winning run on a base hit by another Gladstone girl, Natalie Hansen. So, what changed for Lenards? "I think I just had more confidence today," Lenards said. "I knew that my team needed someone to step up, and I thought that I could do that." "Amber's progress through the practices that we've been having has steadily been picking up," said Delta County Coach Jeff Hansen. "Once you see the skill set being presented there, you're just waiting for the confidence to come. When she stroked one right off the bat, we knew that that 'piece' had gotten there."  
Amber Lenards double in eighth inning
Delta County took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Heather Bergstrom was safe on an error, moved up on a Gabi Salo singled, and scored on an Andi Balenger ground out. But the bottom of the third inning was a nightmare for Delta County, as the Kentucky team took advantage of two errors to score twice. One of the runs came home on a beautiful two-out bunt single by shortstop Emma Hurd.  "It's nice to be able to absorb it after you have a couple of bad plays." "It's kind of scary," Tardiff said. "You've just got to take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and hit it." Kentucky pitcher Brianda Owens retired eleven straight Delta County batters until Lenards got the two-out double that jump-started her team in the fifth inning. Salo threw all eight innings for Delta County, allowing five hits and two walks, striking out eleven batters. Both runs against her were unearned. Delta County's win created a three-way tie at the top of Pool A with 2-1 records. 
Natalie Hansen RBI hit in 8th Inning
Delta County will face the Grandview Little League out of Des Moines, Iowa, in the second semifinal Wednesday night. The first semifinal sees Franklin, Wisconsin take on Clay County, Kentucky. The Delta County game starts at 7:00 Eastern time Wednesday night. It will be broadcast on WCHT-AM (600) and rrnsports.com at 6:30 p.m. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by the Balengers, and to hear radio interviews. 13-14 JUNIOR GIRLS CENTRAL REGIONAL At South Holland, Illinois (All times Eastern) Saturday, July 25, 2015 Elyria East, Ohio 4, Delta County 0 Elyria East, Ohio 7, South Bend, Indiana 0 Melrose Park, Illinois 5, Lexington, Missouri 1 Des Moines Iowa 3, Melrose Park, Illinois 1 Sunday, July 26, 2015 Franklin, Wisconsin 6, Des Moines, Iowa 2 Clay County, Kentucky 3, South Bend, Indiana 0 Monday, July 27, 2015 Delta County 9, South Bend, Indiana 0 Franklin, Wisconsin 6, Melrose Park, Illinois 3 Clay County, Kentucky 8, Elyria East, Ohio 4 Des Moines, Iowa 8, Lexington, Missouri 7 Tuesday, July 28, 2015 Franklin, Wisconsin 2, Lexington, Missouri 1 (8 Innings) Delta County 3, Clay County, Kentucky 2 (8 Innings) Consolation: Elyria East, Ohio 10, Lexington, Missouri 0 Consolation: Melrose Park, Illinois forfeits to South Bend, Indiana Wednesday, July 29, 2015 2:00---Fifth Place Game: Elyria East, Ohio vs South Bend, Indiana 4:00---Semifinal #1: Franklin, Wisconsin vs Clay County, Kentucky 7:00---Semifinal #2: Delta County vs Des Moines, Iowa Thursday, July 30, 2015 2:00---Third Place Game 4:30---Championship Game WINNER ADVANCES TO WORLD SERIES IN KIRKLAND, WA  |
