The Trenton Lady Bulldogs, battling depth issues brought on by COVID-19 related quarantines, traveled to Centralia on Saturday to participate in the eight-school Centralia Softball Tournament. The event, arguably the toughest test for the team in recent years, saw THS go 0-2 on the day, with a 12-2 quarterfinal loss to #1 Hallsville in the opener, followed by a 6-0 shutout loss to GRC rival Putnam County in the consolation semifinals.
In the mid-morning quarterfinal against the eventual tournament champions, Trenton senior catcher Maci Moore got the Bulldogs off to a fast start, blasting a two-run home run, scoring younger sister Madi Moore, to give Trenton a 2-0 lead. That lead held until the bottom of the third inning, when momentum buried the Bulldogs, as the Lady Indians scored three in the 3rd, six more runs in the 4th inning, and three in the 5th, ending the game by the 10-run rule, 12-2.
Emma Roberts went 4 1/3 innings for Trenton, with Ella Novak going the remaining 1/3 of an inning, combining for four walks. Roberts allowed four homers to Hallsville, as the #1 seed took advantage of a small park with fences only 185 feet from home plate.
Quarantined regular starters meant playing time opportunities for others, with Eliana Cowling moving into the cleanup spot in the order. Jaycie Griffin started at first base, with Novak in right field and Clark in left field for THS.
Against Putnam County, Ella Novak pitched well for Trenton in her first pitching opportunity of depth for the Lady Bulldogs, allowing seven hits and six runs, of which five were earned, with five walks and a strikeout. The Lady Midgets did get one home run off Novak.
Trenton’s offense failed to supply offense for Novak, held to just four hits in the 5 1/2 innings of softball. The Lady Midgets started fast, with three runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, adding insurance with two in the 4th and one more run in the 5th inning.
In addition to the pitching opportunity, Novak batted seventh in the Trenton lineup and had two hits, both singles, in three at-bats. Cowling and Cooksey had the Bulldogs other base hits.
Putnam County went on to finish in 6th place in the tournament, falling to Mexico in the consolation final, 10-4.
Here are the complete results from the Centralia Softball Tournament:
QUARTERFINALS:
#1 Hallsville 12, #8 Trenton 2
#4 Centralia 7, #5 Putnam County 5
#2 Macon 13, #7 North Callaway 7
#6 Palmyra 16, #3 Mexico 13
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS:
Putnam County 6, Trenton 0
Mexico 10, North Callaway 9
SEMIFINALS:
Hallsville 12, Centralia 2
Palmyra 4, Macon 1
CONSOLATION FINAL:
Mexico 10, Putnam County 4
3rd PLACE:
Centralia 11, Macon 10
CHAMPIONSHIP:
Hallsville 18, Palmyra 4 (Hallsville is 18-2)
In another softball score from Saturday, South Harrison beat King City 9-0.
