Lady Bombers fall to Edmond North at regionals
Midwest City’s Addy Scott tries to tag out a runner at second base last Thursday during a regional game against Edmond North. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Midwest City’s softball team staved off elimination once last week at regionals.
But they couldn’t pull it off a second time.
After dropping their first game of the Class 6A regional tournament against Deer Creek on Oct. 4, the Lady Bombers battled back with an 8-0 win over Tulsa Union later that day. On Thursday, they led Edmond North early but fell 10-2 in an elimination semifinal game.
“I wish this game would’ve gone differently but I’m glad we made it this far and I had a lot of fun this season,” said senior Karissa Payne. “We worked together and really improved our batting a lot this year.”
Midwest City finished the season with an 11-16 record, which was more than double the team’s win total from a season ago. It was also their first regional tournament win in several years.
“They played extremely well throughout this year,” said coach Mark Judson. “I’m going to miss our seniors, but we have a young group that is really talented and we’re going to keep pressing on and getting better next year.”
Midwest City opened the regional with an 11-1 loss to host Deer Creek. The Lady Antlers scored five runs in the first and never looked back.
Noreli Brown drove in the team’s only run with an RBI double in the fourth.
In the second game of the day, Midwest City’s relentless offense was too much for Union. The Lady Bombers scored in all but one inning for an 8-0 win.
Payne went 4 for 4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Kenee Thompson had three hits and Kadynce Berry drove in two runs.
Brown allowed only two hits in the shutout.
On Thursday, Midwest City took an early 2-1 lead in the first inning. Addy Scott stole home and Berry hit an RBI single to score Livia Davis.
North used aggressive base running to tie it up in the second, before taking the lead for good in the fourth. The Lady Huskies scored in each of the final four innings for the 10-2 win.
The Lady Huskies had 11 stolen bases in the game.
“They put a ton of pressure on you the way they run the bases,” Judson said. “The last time we played them, I think we had four outs at home plate because they run you to death.”
Thompson was 2 for 4 at the plate.
Brown finished with 10 strikeouts in the losing effort.
Deer Creek went on to beat North in the regional championship.
Midwest City’s Noreli Brown pitches last Thursday during a regional game against Edmond North. Photo by Jeff Harrison
Londyn McNair takes a swing at the plate during a scrimmage Friday at Choctaw High School. Photos by Ryan horton
