The Broken Bow Spirit 14U team finished as the runner-up at the Class D state girls softball tournament in Hastings over the weekend.
The Spirit had an impressive run through the tournament. Broken Bow rolled through their opening three games winning over the Sliders 13-2, defeating the Sparks 19-6, and winning over the Blue Springs Lightning 18-6.
Broken Bow started the day Sunday falling to Meridian 12-3. Bow then stayed alive in the tournament with a thrilling extra inning win over the Seward Illusion 10-9. The game had to go 8 innings before it was decided. Broken Bow trailed 8-4 going to the bottom of the 7th inning but Bow would score 4 runs in the seventh to tie the game. After giving up a run in the top of the 8th, the Spirit would score 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th as Taylor Schaaf drove in the game winning run for the walk off victory. Schaaf would finish the game going 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 5 runs batted in. Maddie Diederichs and Maren Chapin were each 3 for 5 and Lilly Thornton was 2 for 4 in the game as the Spirit pounded out 10 hits in the win. Thornton was the winning pitcher going all 8 innings for the Spirit.
The win set up a rematch with Meridian. Meridian would secure the championship with a 10-1 victory. Broken Bow claimed the runner-up trophy.
