HEARTBROKEN AGAIN: Delta County Jr Girls Fall

SOUND HOLLAND, Ill.---The Delta County Junior Girls (age 13-14) were five outs away from a trip to the World Series in Kirkland, Wash.

But the dream of a trip to the Pacific Northwest came crashing down as the Poland, Ohio, girls scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to post a 4-3 victory Thursday in the Central Regional Championship game in South Holland, Ill.

The loss was especially painful for seven of the girls, who also finished as regional runners-up last summer. And just like in last year's final, the DC girls lost to a team they beat during pool play.

Last year, it was Clay County (Ky.). This time, it is the Ohio State Champions.

The game was delayed at its start by 37 minutes, and then, after one inning of play, lightning was spotted, and then the rains came. That delay lasted 1 hour, 41 minutes, before the sun returned.

Poland took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a pair of unearned runs. A dropped fly ball in right field and a passed ball were big in that inning, and a sacrifice fly by Ally Nittoli brought home the second run.

But the Delta County girls found their second wind in the fourth inning.

Sydney Herioux led off with a single, then Dakota Cloutier was safe on an error. Nicole Kamin launched a long drive to left field that appeared to be close to a three-run homer, but it was caught at the fence. A run scored on the play, making it 2-1. Natalie Hansen followed with an RBI single, then Gabi Salo singled, and Georgia Lehto ripped b ase hit to put DC in the lead.

There were still runners on second and third, but Jenna Tardiff grounded back to the circle.

In the fifth inning, the DC girls had a chance to expand the 3-2 lead. Maddie Block was safe on an error, and Herioux smacked her second hit of the game.

With runners on first and second, Cloutier struck out swinging. Kamin bunted the runners to second and third, but Hansen bounced out.

Then came the fateful sixth inning. Salo struck out the lead off batter, but #2 hitter Camryn Lattanzio smoked a one-out double. Then Lauren Sienkiewcz ripped a triple to score the tying run. And the comeback was complete when Nittoli ripped a double of her own to make it 4-3.

Delta County's last gasp in the seventh inning happened when Herioux drew a two-out walk. She was told to steal second, but she was called out at second base. Herioux was stunned with the call, and Manager Mark Cloutier protested to no avail. Dream shattered. Tears flowed.

Salo took the loss yielding four runs on five hits. She struck out nine batters.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and to hear interviews with Jenna Tardiff and Andie Balenger.