Ainsley Tolson tosses perfect game, with 15 strikeouts, in 3-0 win at Lexington

The Trenton Lady Bulldogs were timely with their offense, and tremendous with their defensive prowess, while sophomore Ainsley Tolson was lights out in a 3-0 victory over Lexington on Saturday morning from Lions Club Park in Lexington, clinching the Class 2, District 15 championship, and a return trip to the state playoffs, for THS.

Tolson dominated a potent Minutewomen lineup, striking out 15 in sending Lexington 21 up and 21 down as the Lady Bulldogs repeated as district champions.  Tolson finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts, including the game ender, as called by Tom Johnson:

THS was tremendous in taking advantage of Lexington miscues.  In the bottom of the first inning, a missed fly ball in center field turned into a three-base error, and kept Trenton batting.  Senior first baseman Whitley Richman looked to get the Lady Bulldogs on the board:

The Lady Bulldogs used the legs of Mykah Hurley to double their advantage in the fourth inning.  Hurley, a sophomore shortstop, walked with one out, stole second, then stole third, diving around the attempted tag of the Lexington infielder to grab the bag.  A ground out to short by Tenna Roberts scored Hurley with the second run.  Trenton added an important insurance tally in the sixth inning, as Jayden Roeder led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Hurley ground ball.

In the Class 1 sectionals, Trenton, now 25-2 on the season, will travel to Marceline to take on a Lady Tiger team that won District 16 on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 shutout of Putnam County.  Wednesday night’s sectional will be broadcast on both KTTN FM 92.3 and Hot Country Z 101.7.  It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Tigers.  Trenton won the first two meetings before Marceline, on Trenton’s Senior Night, upset the Lady Bulldogs in extra innings a week ago Monday.

Following her perfect game, Tolson spoke about how the Lady Bulldogs continue to win, with all facets of the team contributing:

Trenton Head Coach John Cowling said Tolson’s composure in a pressure-packed game was remarkable:

Lexington, finishing runner-up to Richmond in the Missouri River Valley Conference this fall, finishes the season with a record of 16-9.

Marceline won the Class 1, District 16 championship on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Putnam County.  In other Class 2 district finals, Lathrop shutout Plattsburg 4-0.

In Class 1, North Harrison beat Worth County 5-2, with Platte Valley downing Stanberry 6-3.  North Harrison will travel to Conception Junction on Wednesday in the first round of state.  Gallatin beat Green City 5-1.  Knox County was a 2-0 winner over Scotland County.  Gallatin will host Knox County on Wednesday in the first round of state.

In a couple of district semifinal games on Saturday in Class 1, Norborne outscored Braymer 12-6 while Hardin-Central edged Polo 3-2 in 8 innings. Norborne won the district title on Monday night against Hardin-Central, earning the Lady Pirates a trip to Maysville to play the Lady Wolverines in a Class 1 sectional on Wednesday.

Chillicothe plays at Oak Grove on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the Class 3 state tournament.  The Lady Hornets won a district title on Thursday afternoon, edging Marshall 5-4.  Oak Grove beat Warrensburg 11-1 in another district championship game.