With a chance to punch her team’s ticket back to Regionals, Michaela Knight left no doubt on the mound, striking out 13 over six shutout innings to power Daviess County Softball Little League to a 5-0 win over VSLL.
“We are now headed back for a chance again at Regionals,” Manager JW O’Bryan said. “It has been a long year for the four ladies that played last year, as we came up short right at the finish, placing second in regionals. We are better, stronger, and prepared for another shot at it. We have a great team who are hungry to succeed. With the experiences of last year, we know what we will be facing with hopes of making it to the World Series this time around. The girls are playing with all their hearts, having fun, and plan to leave everything on the field.”
It took Daivess County just three baters to take an early lead, with Presley Roberts scurrying home on an Avary Emmick groundout.
After Knight retired the side on eight pitches, Jenna Ball singled home Finley Beaven to push the lead to 2-0. A Brinley Bishop single and Evelyn Chelstrom groundout set up Emmick’s sacrifice fly and Avery O’Bryan’s RBI single.
Daviess County iced the game in the top of the fourth when Bishop scored on a wild pitch.
The Regional Tournament begins on July 17 with Daviess County facing off against Michigan in the opening round, with the winner set to take on Minnesota.
“This year we have returned four players from last year’s team, but it is a completely different look,” Coach Jon Roberts said. “Although all the girls know each other and have competed against each other over the years, they have not all played as a team together. Through district and state, we were fortunate enough to have a couple of close games and put pressure on our girls, and it was great to see them handle it flawlessly. This team is very excited about the challenge ahead of them at regionals in Whitestown.”
