LOGAN — A big start to Friday’s game propelled Logan Elm to a 9-3 win over Jackson and its second straight district championship.
“We came out really cracking at the plate. And having really good at-bats, too,” LE coach Jamey Binkley said. “The hits were coming but we were having good, long at-bats. We weren’t dinking and dunking anything there in the first inning, we were hitting the ball really, really hard.”
Lucy Caplinger, Sadie Binkley and Brittani Lane all singled to start the game with Lane’s single driving in two runs. Peyton Richendollar then reached on an error.
After a strikeout, Morgan Arnold doubled to drive in two more runs. After another strikeout, Maleah Gardner had an RBI single which Hannah Gooley followed with an RBI double for a 6-0 Braves’ lead.
Jackson (20-7) put a threat together in the bottom of the second – opening the inning with three singles to load the bases. The next batter hit the ball back to the mound where Binkley fielded and threw home for the force and then Arnold threw to first for a double play.
“We turned the big double play – things that we practice all time. And to be able to do it in a pressure spot like that in a district final. We’ve got a lot of young kids on the team – we don’t have one senior – and to see the progress that we’ve made from our first scrimmage to now, I couldn’t be prouder of them,” coach Binkley said.
But Jackson wasn’t done as a walk reloaded the bases. Izzy Swisher then singled to drive in two and Lillie Eberts doubled to drive in another run to close the gap to 6-3.
Undaunted, the Braves responded in their next at-bat.
Arnold led off with a single and, with one out, Gardner was hit by a pitch. Gooley singled and an error allowed a run to score. After Caplinger was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Binkley grounded out to short bringing in another run and the inning ended with the Braves up 8-3.
“I thought the big momentum swing was in the bottom of the second when they scored three to cut the deficit in half and we were able to answer right away and show we can get down and get tough,” coach Binkley said.
LE added its final run in the sixth as Binkley singled and Lane walked with one out. Richendollar hit a grounder that resulted in an error and Binkley scoring.
Arnold, Binkley, Gooley and Richendollar each had two hits for the Braves.
Binkley went the distance in the circle. She struck out four, walked two, gave up seven hits and allowed two earned runs.
“Sadie had a pretty nice game. She was struggling hitting some of her spots, it was a little soggy in front of the pitcher’s plate, but for the most part she moved the ball in and out, up and down, changed speeds,” coach Binkley said. “That’s a good hitting team that she kept in check for most of the innings. And then the innings where they did get base runners, the defense got behind her. It was a total team win.”
The Braves (18-7) advance to a Division IV regional semifinal against Meadowbrook Wednesday at Philo High School with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
