TOUGH OPENER: Gladstone Girls Fall In Indiana

FISHERS, Ind.---The Gladstone Major Little League (age 11-12) softball team gave up two big innings on defense and couldn't recover, falling to Tallmadge, Ohio, 9-4, in the first game of the Central Regional tournament Monday in suburban Indianapolis.

The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning, A walk, wild pitch, sacrifice bunt, and groundout by #2 hitter Lexi Gray put the first run on the scoreboard.

Gladstone got even in the bottom of the inning when Tia Schone led off with a walk, stole second, and went to third on a base hit to left field by Addie Trombley.

When the throw to get Trombley at second got away, Schone scored, and Trombley was safe. But Trombley got too far off of second base and got in a rundown between second and third, and was tagged out.

In the fourth inning, Ohio’s Audra Norris was hit by a pitch. With two out, two stolen bases and a wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run.

A walk to the #9 hitter, Marissa Charton, kept the inning going, but it appeared that Gladstone pitcher Montgomery Pepin would get out of further trouble when Leila Straszak hit right back to her.

She bobbled the ball, and both runners were safe. Sure enough, Gray came up and smoked a two-run single, making it a 4-1 Tallmadge lead.

Things didn't get much better for Gladstone in the fifth inning as Tallmadge scored five more runs. two walks, two wild pitches, and a couple of stolen bases played a part in that inning. Straszak ripped a two-run single and Gray beat out an infield hit to bring home two more runs. Gray finished the game with five runs batted in.

Gladstone battled back for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Schone led off with a hit, Trombley walked, and Lauren Sundquist was safe on an error with one run scoring.

Buckley's bunt brought home another run, then a wild pitch plated the third run of the inning. But Gladstone could get no closer in the sixth inning.

Pepin went the distance in the circle, throwing 135 pitches (74 strikes, 61 balls). Pepin gave up nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits. She struck out nine and walked six. Mia Zappola threw 4 2/3 innings for the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks. She struck out seven. Taylor threw the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings for Tallmadge.

Gladstone does not have a game on Tuesday, as each of the eight teams in the field get one off-day in the five-day event. The girls will face Daniel Boone Little League out of Columbia, Mo., Wednesday morning. Game time is 11:06. Catch the broadcast on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) and on-line at www.rrnsports.com, starting at 11:00 a.m.

MONDAY'S OTHER GAMES
Pike County, Illinois, 10, Oak Creek, Wisconsin 0
Central Iowa All-Stars 2, Marion County, Ky, 1

TOURNAMENT FORMAT: There are nine teams in the tournament, broken down into three pools of three teams. Eight of the nine teams will advance to bracket play on Thursday, with one team being eliminated after Wednesday's games. Those eight remaining teams will be seeded, with #1 facing #8, #2 facing #7, #3 facing #6, and #4 facing #5. The regional champion advances to the World Series in Portland, Ore.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Amy Sundquist. Also, hear comments from Trombley, Lauren Sundquist, and Coach Rick Pepin.