Middle School Softball: On A Roll
Harrisburg's hot start to the season continued over the weekend, sweeping the field at the Fairfield Tournament, as they knocked off Murphysboro in the title game to win 6-2.
Essence Sanders played the role of hero as she led the game off with a solo home run and finished the game breaking a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth, with the bases loaded and two outs, ripped a three RBI triple that ended up being the game winner after Hayley Sullivan came up with a suicide squeeze, giving Harrisburg four runs with two outs.
Sanders finished with two hits, while Lydia Miller, Lexi Williams, Mya King, Kerrigan Payne, Makayla Payne, Hannah Reid and Sullivan all had one hit.
Sanders got the win in the circle, going seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out four and walking three.
Harrisburg opened the tournament in pool play, beating Harrisburg 13-1.
Williams had two hits at the plate, while Sanders, Miller and Reid all had one.
Miller got the win for HMS, going two innings and striking out three, while walking three and not allowing a hit. Payne finished things up, tossing one inning of relief work, allowing no hits, while striking out three.
In game two, Harrisburg blanked Du Quoin 18-0, where Sanders worked two innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out four and walking one. Payne - once again - came on in relief and worked one inning, while allowing no hits and striking out three.
At the dish, Miller tacked on three hits, while Williams, King and Reid all had two hits. Hailey Potts and Sanders both had one hit.
In the semifinal game of the tournament, Miller and Sanders combined for a no hitter in a 10-1 win over Fairfield.
Miller worked two innings, striking out three and walked one. Sanders worked two innings in relief and struck out three.
Offensively, Williams had three hits, while Sanders, Miller and Reid all had two hits. Sullivan, King, Payne and Wright all had one hit.
Harrisburg out scored their opponents 47-4 during the tournament and improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.