High school softball: New Bloomfield 10, Hallsville 9

HALLSVILLE - The Lady Wildcats delivered the winning run in the top of the eighth inning to clip the Lady Indians on Saturday.

New Bloomfield - which overcame four errors - rallied to force extra innings, coming up with four runs in the seventh to tie the game at 9-all.

Sophomore third baseman Asya Nichols reached on a one-out error in the eighth for the Lady Wildcats (9-2), advancing to second on the play. Nichols moved to third on sophomore catcher Brooke Talbot's single to left and sprinted home with the decisive run on sophomore second baseman Abby Baxter's groundout to first.

"This was not our best defensive outing," New Bloomfield head coach Dara Reinkemeyer said. "However, it was great seeing the girls continue to fight the entire game.

"It shows their resiliency and shows they are never out of any game."

Senior first baseman Ella Stevens was 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in the fourth, three runs batted in and a run scored as New Bloomfield broke out for 14 hits. Sophomore designated hitter Ellie Emerson also finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Junior center fielder Makenna Branch went 1-for-4 with two RBI and scored a run for the Lady Wildcats. Junior right fielder Aislin Jennings was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Junior pitcher Sarah Abbott turned in a complete-game outing to log the victory for New Bloomfield. Abbott (7-1) allowed nine runs - only four earned - on 11 hits, struck out six and walked two.

New Bloomfield played to a 3-3 tie in the junior varsity game.

On Friday night at Wellsville-Middletown, Nichols tossed a one-hit shutout and also drove in four runs as the Lady Wildcats crushed the Lady Tigers 15-0 in four innings.

Nichols struck out three to raise her season record to 2-1. She went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored three times to help spark New Bloomfield's 10-hit attack.

Freshman catcher Brooklynn Smith finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and scored a run for the Lady Wildcats. Jennings was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Branch went 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and scored a run.

Baxter finished 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored.

New Bloomfield travels to Fatima for a Show-Me Conference matchup at 5 p.m. Tuesday.