Wabasso downs Adrian, falls to RTR in Section 3A playoffs
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Story courtesy of
Chris Drummond,
Marshall Independent
TYLER -- The No. 3S Wabasso softball team started their Section 3A tournament journey on Tuesday and earned a split, defeating No. 6S Adrian Area 12-2 in five innings before falling to No. 2S Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 9-1 to drop into the consolation bracket.
Against Adrian Area, the Rabbits got out to a huge lead by scoring seven runs in the first inning and would cruise from there to earn a 12-2 victory in five innings. For Wabasso, Sophia Hanna, Sara Carlson, Addisyn Hillesheim and Annabelle Struntz all had a pair of hits while Lyla Kittelson, Callie Burns and Kelsey Fischer all singled in the game. Avery Carlson got the win on the mound giving up just two hits. She was also 2 for 3 at the plate with a double.
This would set up a matchup between RTR and the Rabbits to head to the quarterfinals of the Section 3A playoffs. In the matchup between Wabasso and RTR, the Knights jumped out to a four-run lead over the Rabbits and RTR starting pitcher Kya Alderson was absolutely dominant in both pitching performances. Allowing a total of three runs in both of RTR's games, Alderson also homered in the contest against the Rabbits and made it safely to base in every at-bat. She would also have 20 strikeouts combined in both games.
The Knights would score five more runs and would go on to victory over the Rabbits 9-1. Wabasso head coach Tiffany Eichten spoke on the split in Tuesday's section play.
"We came right out the bat, we were energized, we got the momentum in the first game and we never looked back," Eichten said. "In game two, we gave them the momentum, I feel that was the difference. We started off sluggish and their home-field advantage was a factor. We have to figure out how to use that as motivation instead of getting down on ourselves."
For Wabasso, Fischer was 2 for 3 and Kittelson singled in the game.
Eichten added that the message to the team heading into the elimination bracket is that they've had tough competition all year, which will set them up in this postseason.
The Wabasso Rabbits will face off against No. 4S Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in the elimination bracket of Section 3A in Marshall on Saturday at 1 p.m.