In the second game of the Midland Valley (13-4) softball series against North Augusta (13-5), the Mustangs emerged victorious 6-1 at home on Wednesday night. The Mustangs displayed aggressive base running and exceptional pitching, while the Jackets struggled to get their bats going after a 12-7 win on Monday. With this victory, both teams have the chance to compete for the region championship in a game on Friday.
Head coach Katie Anderson of Midland Valley attributed her team’s success to their hard work, perseverance, and determination to overcome their previous defeat. She was impressed by her players’ hitting, defense, and especially their pitching in this game. Pitcher Karley Bedenbaugh earned the win with a standout performance, striking out five batters, walking five, and allowing only three hits. Larue Hicks took over in the fourth inning and maintained Midland Valley’s lead with solid pitching.
In the third inning, Midland Valley took an early lead when Addison Haltiwanger and Bailey Seabolt hit singles and advanced on a throw. Anslee Heath then singled to bring both runners home, giving Midland Valley a 2-0 advantage. The team continued to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the innings, adding four more runs before North Augusta was able to score in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single run from Riley Martin. The players’ speed and awareness on the bases impressed Coach Anderson, who commended their trust in each other and their understanding of the game.
North Augusta had several chances to score earlier in the game but struggled to get timely hits when needed. Despite loading the bases in several innings, they were unable to take advantage of these opportunities due to poor execution or bad decisions by some players. Midland Valley’s impressive performance across all aspects of play ensured their victory and left them feeling confident heading into Friday’s championship matchup.
Coach Anderson praised her team’s hard work and dedication following this win.
“We knew that we had not played our best game yet,” she said.”But we kept pushing forward as a team.”
The Mustangs are now looking forward to facing off against North Augusta once again for
