The Broken Bow Spirit 18U softball team competed at the USA Softball of Nebraska Class C 16/18U state fastpitch championships at the Smith Softball Complex in Hastings over the weekend. The Spirit played three games in the tournament and all three were decided by one run in the final inning.
Broken Bow opened the tournament on Friday with a walk off win against the Pierce Pacers. The Spirit trailed 3-2 after five innings. Broken Bow held Pierce scoreless then put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth. With two on and two out, Skylar Smith reached on an error which brought in Aubrey Hammerlun to tie the game 3-3. Sara Howell then singled to drive in Anslee Campbell for the winning run. Brielle Hamel-Evans was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Aubrey Hammerlun was 2 for 3 with a run scored and Sara Howell was 2 for 3 with the game winning RBI. Lily Thornton went the distance in the circle to pick up the win giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and striking out 5.
The Spirit advanced to play Creighton Saturday afternoon. Creighton led 3-0 after 5 1/2 innings. Broken Bow tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning as they did on Friday but this time it would come up just short as Creighton held on for a 3-2 win. Brielle Hamel-Evans was 2 for 3 with a run scored and Lily Thornton also had a multi-hit game finishing 2 for 3.
The Spirit dropped to the consolation bracket where they faced Kelly’s Fastpitch on Saturday evening. The game was tied 3-3 after five innings. Ruby Russell scored on a passed ball to give Broken Bow a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning but Kelly’s would score two runs with two out in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 5-4 walkoff win.
