Bulldogs shutout Wildcats, moving THS to one win from GRC East title

The Trenton Lady Bulldogs continue to receive shutdown pitching from Ainsley Tolson, as in a matchup of the first and third place teams in the Grand River Conference eastern division, Tolson one-hit the visiting Milan Lady Wildcats in a 10-0, five inning victory, broadcast Thursday night on KTTN FM 92.3.

Tolson allowed only a lead-off single in the top of the 1st inning to the Lady ‘Cats, before slamming the door on a Milan team now 4-2 in conference play.  The defeat ended a five-game winning streak for Milan, and likely sets up a winner-take-all game on Tuesday night (5:30 PM / Hot Country Z 101.7), with Putnam County visiting Trenton in a battle of unbeaten conference foes.

Trenton, in the bottom of the first inning, took advantage of three Milan errors, as Jaylen Neff, courtesy runner Tenna Roberts, and Taylor Richman crossed the plate.  THS extended the lead to 4-0 in the third inning, on the strength of a Whitley Richman RBI double.

The game ended with Trenton scoring six 5th inning runs.  Neff and Jayden Roeder hit two-run singles, with a Tolson RBI hit finishing off the Bulldogs 11th win of the season.

Tolson, Whitley Richman, and Roeder all had two hits for Trenton.  Neff, Salem Croy, and Mason Hooyman had one hit each to round out a nine-hit attack.

If Trenton wins on Tuesday night against Putnam County, the Lady Bulldogs will clinch the first-ever eastern division championship in the Grand River Conference.  The eastern division winner will play on the home field of the western division winner for the GRC championship on Thursday, September 22nd.  Putnam County, at 3-0 in the GRC, has the potential to rip the eastern division title away from Trenton with a road win on Tuesday. That game will be the middle test of a three games in three day stretch next week for Putnam County.  Stanberry leads the GRC West with a 5-0 record, including a 10-5 win over rival King City on Thursday night.

Here is the softball scoreboard for Thursday, September 8, 2016:

Gallatin 14, South Harrison 4

Stanberry 10, King City 5

Chillicothe 8, Savannah 6

Plattsburg 6, Hamilton 3

Lathrop 14, Mid-Buchanan 2

Platte Valley 4, Albany 2

North Harrison 11, Grundy County 0