Lady Bulldogs Dominate to Claim District Championship
By: Ryan Beck, Contributing Writer
Cyril Lady Pirates 16, Minco Lady Bulldogs 10
The Class 3A No. 8-ranked Minco softball team hosted the Class A No. 7 Cyril Lady Pirates last Monday in another ranked matchup for the Lady Bulldogs. Cyril built a commanding 13-0 lead by the fifth inning before Minco cut the deficit to four runs in the sixth. The game featured offensive firepower from both teams, but several Lady Bulldog errors proved costly.
Cyril opened the game with two runs in the top of the first inning and added to their lead with two more in the third, five in the fourth, and four in the fifth to take a 13-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Minco’s offense came alive. Adlie Settle started the rally with a leadoff single. Senior Emma Oaks followed with an infield hit, and Karter Edmonds drove in the first run with an RBI single to center. Freshman Tenley Brady then hit a three-run home run on the next pitch, cutting the lead to 13-4.
Following a flyout, Lexi Woodruff singled to center, and Presley Bilderback made it two home runs in the inning with a shot over the left-field fence. A pop out and fly out ended the threat with Cyril leading 13-6.
After a scoreless top of the sixth, the Minco bats stayed hot. Freshman Brynlee Gragg singled to left to start the inning. Oaks reached first, and a walk to Brady loaded the bases. Jillian Reh capitalized with a single to center that drove in two runs. Woodruff followed with another single to reload the bases. Bilderback added a sacrifice fly to center, plating another run and cutting the lead to 13-9.
The Lady Pirates responded with back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning, adding three insurance runs for a 16-9 lead.
In Minco’s final at-bat, Kylee Hoffman led off with a single, Kylie Anthony doubled, and Gragg singled to load the bases with no outs. Oaks lined out to the third baseman, then Edmonds’ sacrifice fly scored a run, but a groundout ended the game.
Hoffman went 4-for-4, while Edmonds, Gragg, and Woodruff each recorded two hits. Anthony added a double, and Bilderback and Brady each homered. Brady finished with three RBIs and two runs scored. Oaks pitched all seven innings, allowing five earned runs, walking three, and striking out one.
Binger-Oney Lady Bobcats 8, Minco Lady Bulldogs 6
On Tuesday afternoon, the Minco softball team continued its stretch of facing ranked opponents, this time taking on Class A No. 3-ranked Binger-Oney.
Binger-Oney struck first, scoring three runs in the opening inning. On the third pitch of the game, a Lady Bobcat hit a home run over the left-field fence. Following a double, an error on a ground ball allowed two more runs to score, giving Binger-Oney a 3-0 lead.
Minco answered in the bottom half of the first. Reh walked, and Woodruff singled. With one out, Hoffman singled to left to drive in a run, cutting the lead to 3-1.
The Lady Bobcats extended their lead to 5-1 in the third inning on a two-run home run. Minco responded in the bottom half of the inning. Taitlyn Voss reached on an infield single, and with one out, Woodruff hit a two-run home run to left, making the score 5-3.
Binger-Oney added another run in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Minco rallied. After a flyout, Voss recorded another infield single, Reh doubled, and Woodruff walked to load the bases. A flyout to center left the Lady Bulldogs down to their final out of the inning. However, Hoffman delivered a clutch three-RBI double to left, clearing the bases and tying the game at 6-6.
Neither team scored in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Binger-Oney opened with a leadoff single, followed by a two-run home run to take an 8-6 lead.
Needing at least two runs to extend or win the game, Minco’s first two hitters were retired. Bilderback sparked a two-out rally with a single to center, and Hoffman followed with a hard-hit ground ball to left. However, a fielder’s choice ended the game, sealing the 8-6 victory for the Lady Bobcats.
Hoffman went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Oaks, Voss, and Woodruff each went 2-for-3. Woodruff had a home run, two RBIs, and scored twice, while Voss and Reh each scored two runs. Oaks pitched all seven innings, allowing six earned runs and one walk.
Districts
Game 1: Minco Lady Bulldogs 14, Savanna Lady Bulldogs 2
After Savanna took an early 1-0 lead, the Lady Bulldogs answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Senior Ava Russell led off the inning with a single and later scored on an Anthony double to center field. Edmonds followed with a single, and Settle’s sacrifice fly drove in another run.
Minco added four more runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 6-1. Reh led off with a single, and Bilderback blasted a two-run home run. Hoffman kept the rally going by drawing a walk, and with two outs, Anthony and Oaks each singled, driving in a run apiece.
Savanna added a run in the fourth inning, cutting the lead to 6-2.
The hometown Lady Bulldogs responded with eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to invoke the run rule. Settle singled, and Voss and Woodruff walked to load the bases. Bilderback’s single drove in a run, and Hoffman’s double scored two more. Russell reached on an error, allowing another run to score. Oaks added an RBI double, and Settle reached on an error that brought in the final run.
Bilderback and Anthony each recorded three hits. Bilderback finished with four RBIs, while Anthony scored three runs.
Oaks pitched four innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out one.
Game 2: Minco Lady Bulldogs 15, Wellston Lady Tigers 0
Minco scored three runs in both the first and third innings, then added nine runs in the fourth to secure a 15-0 victory.
Reh opened the game with a single, and Woodruff doubled to spark the rally. Bilderback drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Hoffman followed with an RBI single, and Oaks reached on an error, allowing another run to score and making it 3-0.
On the first pitch of the third inning, Bilderback launched a home run over the left-field fence. Anthony later reached on an error that brought in a run, and Edmonds added an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Lady Bulldogs broke the game open in the fourth inning with nine runs. Bilderback’s two-RBI double started the scoring. Anthony’s bases-loaded fielder’s choice plated another run, and Edmonds followed with an RBI single. Gragg drew a bases-loaded walk, Reh added a two-RBI double, and Woodruff’s single drove in two more runs.
Reh went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Bilderback hit her second home run of the day and finished with four RBIs.
Oaks pitched all four innings, allowing just two hits with no runs or walks, while striking out one.
Game 3: Minco Lady Bulldogs 20, Wellston Lady Tigers 4
The Lady Bulldogs claimed the District Championship with their third run-rule victory of the tournament, defeating Wellston 20-4.
Minco scored early and often in the championship game. Woodruff homered in the top of the first inning to give the Lady Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Anthony doubled to drive in two more runs. Edmonds followed with a ground ball that brought in two runs, extending the lead to 6-0. Voss and Reh each added RBI singles, and Woodruff’s second home run of the game brought in three more runs, giving Minco an 11-0 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs added seven more runs in the second inning to take an 18-0 lead. After two quick outs, Minco had eight consecutive players reach base. Settle reached on an error, allowing a run to score. Voss and Reh each delivered RBI singles, Bilderback added a two-RBI double, and Hoffman and Russell each singled, driving in a run.
In the final inning, Brady singled and freshman Lily Addington doubled to start the frame. Voss’s sacrifice fly plated a run, Gragg singled, and Woodruff drove in the final run with a single.
Wellston scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, but Minco secured the 20-4 victory.
Woodruff and Russell each went 3-for-3. Woodruff hit two home runs, drove in six RBIs, and scored three runs.
Oaks pitched all three innings, allowing seven hits, no earned runs, and no walks.
