END OF THE LINE: Jr. Girls Fall In Regional Final

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill.---The tears were flowing like Niagara Falls minutes after the Central Regional Championship softball game ended for the Delta County Junior Little League All-Stars (age 13-14) Thursday evening in South Holland, Ill.

A day that started with so much hope came crashing down as the Escanaba/Gladstone All-Stars lost to Clay County, Kentucky, 7-1, with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Delta County had defeated the Kentucky State Champions two days earlier in the final pool play game, but on Thursday, the U.P. girls didn't take advantage of their early scoring chances and made too many mistakes in the middle innings.

Natalie Hansen doubled with one out in the first inning, but was stranded at third base. Andi Balenger got a one-out single in the second inning but was also stranded.

In the third inning, Amber Lenards was hit by a pitch and Sydney Herioux came through with an RBI double to score special pinch runner Jenna Tardiff with the first run of the game.

Herioux was stranded at second, however, when Maddy Griffin bounced out.

In the bottom of the third inning, Clay County tied the game on an RBI single by catcher Lauren Smith. Kentucky left the bases loaded when Carley Hoskins popped up.

Andi Balenger single in second inning

In the top of the fourth, Heather Bergstrom singled to start the inning against Clay County pitcher Brianda Owens, but again, no one could bring home that go-ahead run. And in the bottom of the fourth, the Kentucky girls scored three runs to grab the lead.

Salo got the first two outs of that inning, and it appeared that she had the #9 hitter, Sarah Owens, struck out with a change-up to end a 1-2-3 inning.

But it was called "ball four", so the inning continued. Shelby Phillips got s piece of a very high change-up, dumping into left field to put two girls on base.

Then Emma Hurd hit a soft pop fly that was just out of Salo's reach in the circle. Herioux got it at shortstop, but her throw to Lenards at first was late. Lenards stretched to grab the throw, and went off the bag, falling to the ground.

That allowed the second run to score, making it 3-1. Owens followed with a solid base hit to make it 4-1.

Delta County went out 1-2-3 in both the fifth and sixth innings, and the Kentucky state champs scored one unearned run in the fifth and two unearned runs in the sixth.

Chole Caswell got a base hit in the seventh inning, but Lenards grounded to third to end the game, setting off a wild Clay County celebration on the third base side.

Heather Bergstrom base hit

Salo threw six innings, allowing ten hits and seven runs, but only two of the runs were earned as there were six defensive errors behind her. Owens, besides going 4-for-4 at the plate, pitched all seven innings for Clay County, allowing five hits and no walks.

While the Kentucky girls will board a plane for Kirkland, Wash., for the World Series on Friday, the Delta County girls drove home late Thursday night, ending the seven-hour trip to the Upper Peninsula in the early morning hours of Friday.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by the Balengers, and to hear radio interviews.