By: Brad Cook
A young squad of Belle Plaine girls traveled to Tama on Saturday June 26th to compete in a 12 and under softball tournament. Facing some of the top softball programs in the state the Plainsmen girls battled older more experienced teams while gaining valuable experience for the future.
Game one pitted the Plainsmen against the sterling pitching of BCLUW. Savannah Meeks pitched in a losing effort against the Cobras of BCLUW. Kylie Hegwood had the only hit for Belle Plaine as the girls fell 9-0.
Game two saw the Plainsman bats start to heat up against a tough East Marshall girl’s team. Kalli Grieder began the game pitching giving way to Madison McIntire after suffering an injury. Kalli Grieder, Savannah Meeks, and Shaylee Stanerson all had hits for the Plainsman in a 17-4 loss.
Fighting a 100 degree heat index the girls left it all on the field against South Tama in a hard-fought 10-9 loss. Savannah Meeks returned to the mound and the Plainsmen capitalized on numerous bases on balls given up by the Trojan pitching staff. Leading 9-8 going into the bottom of the last inning the Trojans manufactured two runs to get the win. Scoring runs for the Plainsmen in the finale were Savannah Meeks, Kylie, Shaylee Dodd, Shannon Murray, Madison McIntire, Amanda Cook, Dawn Toney, and Shaylee Stanerson.
Also competing for the Plainsman were Lakota Stanerson, Ashton Bohlen, Kendra Alcott, Lilly Papesh, and Kaitlyn Plumb. Phillip Stanerson and Megan Ehlen coached the team with Todd Bohlen helping and umpiring.
The summer parks and recreation season comes to an end next week with the Benton County League tournament taking place Monday through Friday at sites to be determined.
Players huddle with coach Stanerson between innings.
