As the sun began to set Friday, two hopeful teams went head-to-head on Ponytail 5 at for the title of Dover Division Champion. In the end, came out ahead in a close 8-4 victory against Rapid Propane Exchange. The lead changed three times over the course of the game.
After Rapid Propane Exchange won the coin toss and chose to be the home team, they ran to their positions in the field as 365 Yardscaping went up to bat. Rapid Propane Exchange made a quick two outs, but then their pitcher walked Maddie Kuhnz. Sarah Conaway hit a single, and all of a sudden Maddie Fleming was up to bat with two runners on base. Fleming hit a two RBI single to make the score 2-0 going into the bottom of the first inning.
But Rapid Propane Exchange entered the batting box with just as much energy, scoring three runs. Consecutively, Natalie Derrick hit a single, Sophia Paul hit a double, Katie Pringle hit a two RBI single, Angela Cicero hit a single and Samantha Illius hit an RBI single to make the score 3-2 going into the second inning.
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The second inning was quick, with both teams making three quick outs.
It was the third inning that was the real turning point of the game. 365 Yardscaping’s Maddie Kuhnz and Megan Fleming each hit an RBI single, and Maddie Fleming hit a two RBI double, her fourth RBI of the game.
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“[You] have to make sure [your] bat is back and ready because it comes in fast…," Fleming said. "I just try to think get a hit because getting hits wins the game.”
The score was now 6-3 with a deflated Rapid Propane Exchange team walking in from the field and going scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
The fourth inning was much the same. Fleming hit an RBI single for 365 Yardscaping, and with a run coming in on a walk the score was then 8-3 in the top of the fourth. Rapid Propane Exchange again went scoreless.
In the fifth inning Rapid Propane Exchange managed to tack on a run, but pitcher Kylie Brown closed it out and the game ended on a time limit. The whole team screamed in thrill.
“I was a little nervous, [but it was] exciting, Brown said. "You just have to release [the ball] at the hip.” Brown also commented on how they were a good team together because they had both athletic skill and great camaraderie.
As the first and second place trophies were handed out, parents crowded the field to take team pictures. Then Head Coach John Macartney took his team to Mitchell’s Ice Cream to celebrate their win.
“The girls had a fantastic attitude," he said. "They wanted to win but they also wanted to have fun.” He said the team had good pitching, which was key, and also the fundamental skills of softball. “This was my first year of coaching softball,” he said, “I got lucky.”