CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs finished their regular season on a high note with a thrilling 3-2 walk-off victory over the visiting 22-win Nevada Tigers on Wednesday.
Carl Junction sophomore Hannah Cole and Nevada sophomore Peyton Eaton both gave solid performances in the circle, but it was both teams’ outstanding defensive plays that created a low-scoring contest over in around 80 minutes.
Carl Junction pieced together a pair of hits in the seventh and junior second baseman Hannah Cantrell scored pinch runner Kasen Robertson with the game-winning single.
“We’ve been talking about it all year,” Carl Junction coach Zak Petty said. “We want to be playing our best going into districts. I feel that caps it off for us. Nevada’s a great team, they’re in our district, and we may see them again next week, hopefully.
“To be honest, our girls showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit today. It’s our first time we’re in double-digit wins since 2015. This group deserves that, and they’ve worked hard.
“I tell you what, that was the bottom half of our lineup. We have trust in every girl that we put out there and I didn’t once think with the bottom half coming up that we wouldn’t be able to get somebody on. I felt like that was our third or fourth time around hitting, and we started to get on her (Eaton) a little bit and felt good about it. Bottom half showed up, able to wrap it to the top, and Hannah Cantrell had a clutch hit. That’s it.”
Carl Junction finished the regular season 10-16 overall with the most wins in a season for the Bulldogs since the 2015 district championship team won 18 games.
The Bulldogs return to action next week in the Class 4 District 7 tournament.
“We’ve been playing very competitive for the past couple weeks,” Petty said. “Obviously, we’ve had a few ups and downs, but having a team like Nevada on your schedule is going to test you and tell you where you’re at. We’re happy. We’re not satisfied, but we’re happy where we’re at and we’re looking to get started next week.”
Sammie Sims led Carl Junction with two hits and Cantrell, Ryleigh Palmer, and Georgia Arnold each had one. Cantrell, Palmer, and Robertson each scored a run.
Cole earned the win, and she allowed two runs (one earned) on nine hits with one strikeout and one walk over seven innings.
Carl Junction outfielders Dezi Williams and Palmer, as well as Nevada center fielder Kara Phillips, helped maintain a relatively low score with their play in the outfield.
“That’s about as good as you get in the outfield at the high school level,” Petty said. “Nevada has some girls that can really cover a lot of ground. When we look at our outfield, Dezi Williams in left does a great, solid job and Ryleigh Palmer, you know what, I can’t tell you how many plays she’s made this year saving runs. It’s been numerous games where she’s been able to give us a chance, and to be honest, if she doesn’t catch that ball in center field in the fifth, that’s absolutely a different ballgame. We’re really happy to have them.”
Sims and fellow senior Emma Fleming possibly played their final home game Wednesday.
“Sammie Sims, being our shortstop, that’s kinda where it starts defensively and being a leader,” Petty said. “She had some big hits today, and some good defensive plays. I think today was about as good as Sammie’s played all-around. She missed a year last year with an injury and she came back stronger, ready to go, ready to lead.
“Emma Fleming, she’s been out more than half the year with an injury. She’s come in and played a little bit here and there, but you know what, she’s kept her nose down, she’s grinded it, she’s never complained, she knows her role, and you absolutely can’t ask for better kids.”
