THS rallies from early deficit, clips Marceline 2-1 in Class 2 sectional softball

The Trenton Lady Bulldogs, on Wednesday night, faced a Marceline Lady Tiger team with the confidence of a head-to-head win at Trenton on September 26th, a District 16 championship won on its home field on Saturday, and home field advantage in the Class 2 sectional round. Marceline’s confidence was bolstered in the contest early, with a Maycee Edgar RBI double in the top of the first inning giving the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Things appeared dicey for THS two innings later, as Marceline threatened to open up the lead further in the top of the third inning, putting runners on the corners with one out, but a liner to Trenton third baseman Jaylen Neff and a pop to shortstop Mykah Hurley got Bulldog starting pitcher Ainsley Tolson back to the dugout with a zero on the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Salem Croy led off with a ringing double to right-center field.  After a fly-out and pop-out, courtesy runner Lexi Whitaker remained at second, as senior right fielder Mason Hooyman aimed to tie the game at 1.  Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call on KTTN FM 92.3 and Hot Country Z 101.7:

As Trenton’s offense evened the contest, Tolson’s pitching began to take strong form.  Tolson, on a strikeout of Edgar, escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the Tiger 5th inning.  In the bottom of the 5th, the Lady Bulldogs appeared to have their best chance yet to grab the lead.  A single by Hurley was followed by a single by Tenna Roberts, with a misplay in right sending the runners to second and third with no outs.  After a foul pop-out, Ainsley Tolson bunted and was safe at first.  However, on the safety squeeze, the Trenton runner at third was thrown out trying to get back to the base, a potentially game-changing moment that left two on and two out for Croy, trying to keep Marceline from escaping the inning still tied:

Tolson, with the lead for the first time in the contest, dominated the final two innings, retiring five Marceline hitters in a row, all by strikeout, before leadoff hitter Kenzie Stahl stepped in representing the Tigers last hopes:

The win pushes Trenton to 26-2, and the program’s first trip to the state quarterfinals since 2012.  Marceline, with three of their losses coming against Trenton, finishes the season at 20-8.  Trenton, on Saturday, will host the defending state champion Lathrop Lady Mules at Mark Griffin Memorial Field.  A decision on game time is expected from Trenton High School sometime on Thursday morning.  A large crowd is expected for the rematch of last year’s state sectional, won by Lathrop, adding to the difficulties for city officials in planning on a highly-anticipated softball showdown, all with the highly-attended Missouri Day Festival in Trenton is ongoing.  Lathrop shutout Sherwood on Wednesday night at Lathrop High School, 5-0.

Trenton Head Coach John Cowling, on Wednesday’s postgame interview, credited the Lady Bulldogs never say die spirit in helping the team pull out a win at Disney Park in Marceline:

The Lathrop / Trenton winner will play in the Class 2 state semifinals in Springfield at 11 AM on Friday, October 21st.

Other final scores from the state sectional round on were:

Class 1:

Van Buren 11, Norwood 0

Hermitage 11, Walnut Grove 8

Salisbury 13, LaPlata 3

Knox County 12, Gallatin 2

Vienna 7, New Franklin 2

Clopton 7, Northeast (Cairo) 0

Norborne 15, Maysville 5

Platte Valley 6, North Harrison 1

Class 2:

Willow Springs 19, Hartville 1

Jefferson Festus 4, St. Pius X (Festus) 0

Blair Oaks 4, Fatima 0

Pleasant Hope 7, Cuba 1

Bowling Green 22, John F. Kennedy 0

Centralia 12, Monroe City 2

Lathrop 5, Sherwood 0

Class 3:

Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 5, DeSoto 1

Union 9, Festus 1

Sullivan 6, Eldon 1

West Plains 6, Monett 4

Incarnate Word Academy 15, Rosati-Kain 0

Warrenton 13, St. Dominic 3

Oak Grove 10, Chillicothe 0 (5)

Smithville 6, St. Joseph Lafayette 4