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Carrier-Mills-Stonefort finishes year with whiffleball tournament

Carrier Mills-Stonefort High School completed its ninth and final Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports event of the year, with a homeroom whiffleball tournament.

Five girls and five boys combined to form 10-member teams representing each class. On May 17, the eighth graders visited the high school for orientation. After a tour of the building, they competed in the PBIS event as the incoming freshmen team. The players for Coach Ryan's Renegades were Gracey Aut, Jeremy Choat, Jennifer Fly, Sotte Godsey, Jade Hill, Haven Martin, Hope Martin, Nathaniel Reed, Faith Vinson and Reilly Ward.

In the first semi-final, Coach Phillips' Fantastics competed against Coach Klope's Fighting Illini. The Fighting Illini scored three runs in the first to take an early 3-0 lead. But, the Fantastics scored six runs in the bottom of the first to make it 6-3. Senior-to-be Gabe Zertuche had a three-run homer, which was followed by a Keith Collins two-run blast. In the second inning, the Illini scored three runs to tie the game at 6-6.

The team was threatening to score again, when Tierra Godsey made an incredible lunging catch in right center field. The Fantastics then added two runs of their own to go into the final inning leading 8-6. In the last inning, the Illini bats came alive, and scored seven runs to take a 13-8 lead. The team then held the Fantastics to one run in the bottom half of the inning. The final was Klope's Fighting Illini 13 and Phillips' Fantastics 9. The Fantastics were Sienna Figg, Billy Lewis, Tierra Godsey, Gabe Zertuche, Makayla Murphy, Andrew Lollis, Destanie Stout, Keith Collins, Sami Isom and Brayden Edwards.

In the second semi-final, Coach Hosmon's Blue Devils played Coach Ryan's Renegades. The Blue Devils quickly took a 4-1 lead. Junior-to-be Kaitlyn Cross hit a home run that was followed soon after by a three-run blast by Micheal Scott. The Renegades did not score in the bottom of the second inning.

The Blue Devils were threatening to score in the top half of the inning, but an incredible double play by soon-to-be freshman Jade Hill ended the rally. Sparked by a great defense, the Renegades plated seven runs in the final inning to take an 8-4 lead. The Blue Devils could score only one run in the bottom half of the inning, for a final score of Ryan's Renegades 8 and Hosmon's Blue Devils 5. The members of the Blue Devils were Kaitlyn Cross, Shawn Rambert, Kale Rister, Kelsey Crum, Michael Scott, Jordan Burnham, Blayde Reynolds, Jillian Crisp and Justin Gulley.

The championship game featured Ryan's Renegades (next year's freshmen class) versus Klope's Fighting Illini (next year's sophomore class). The Renegades scored two runs early. Faith Vinson singled to left and Nathaniel Reed followed with a two-run home run. In the bottom half of the inning, the Illini took control of the game. Sparked by a Desirae Jones two-run homer, the Illini unloaded for 10 runs and a 10-2 lead.

The Renegades were then held scoreless in the top of the second, and Rostin Lewis sent the Fighting Illini fans into a frenzy with a walk off two-run home run. With a 12-2 win, it was Klope's Fighting Illini that claimed the final "Victory is Ours!" trophy of the year. Members of the Fighting Illini were Abby Whiting, Will Gibbs, Addi Prather, Colton Betz, Desirae Jones, Rostin Lewis, Jordan Robertson, Nick Horton, Alexis Jaegers and Brandon Hambleton.