The Greencastle-Antrim girls softball team’s chance for qualifying for the PIAA District III tournament took a huge hit on Saturday as the Blue Devils lost all three games in the Big Spring Bulldog Tournament.
Despite the three losses, the Blue Devils played well in the tournament against quality opponents. First up on Saturday was Exeter Township, the number three seed in the district’s 6A division. The Blue Devils took them to the limit, dropping a 5-4 contest. GA fell behind 4-0 after three innings, but scored a solo run in the fourth and three in the fifth to tie it. However, Exeter pushed one across the plate in the bottom of the fifth and that held up for the win.
Both teams collected nine hits. For the Blue Devils, it was Bailee Martin leading the way with two hits, including a double.
Hayley Dawson took the loss for Greencastle as she pitched the last four innings, giving up six hits and while striking out two.
In game two, GA ran into Shippensburg for the third time this year, Though the score was closer than the other two games, the outcome was the same, as they dropped a 5-3 contest to the Greyhounds. And, as their first opponent, Exeter was seeded third in 6A, Shippensburg is currently in third in 5A.
As they did in the first game, the Blue Devils fell behind earlier, giving up three runs in the bottom half of the first. GA came back to made it interesting making it 3-1 after three and a half inning. But Shippensburg countered with a single run in the bottom of the fourth to expand the lead to 4-1. Again, GA came back and made it a 4-3 game, scoring two in the top of the sixth. Shippensburg added the insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and then but the Blue Devils down in order in the top of the seventh.
Olivia Remenick took the loss for the Blue Devils, allowing just five hits, but four walks and two Greencastle errors did not help the Greencastle cause.
The Blue Devils outhit the Greyhounds 10 to 5, but also left nine on base. Bailee Martin lead the Blue Devil hitting again with another two hit performance. Hanna Beeler contributed two hits, also.
In the third and final game, the Blue Devils faced South Western, losing 8-2 to a team that is sitting behind the Blue Devils in the District III 5A rankings. Despite the three loses, Greencastle only fell one spot to 20, while South Western sits at 21. The top 16 teams advance to the playoffs in the 5A division.
Southwestern jumped on GA early, leading 5-0 after three innings. They added runs in the sixth and the seventh. The Blue Devils could only muster single runs in the third and sixth inning. The Mustangs outhit GA 10-9, lead by Jen Restur who went two for four with two homeruns and four rbi’s.
For the Blue Devils, it was Kylie Cunninghan and Hannah Beeler totaling five of the nine GA hits, with Cunningham collecting three singles.
Olivia Remenick again took the loss for the Blue Devils, going the distance. She allowed the 10 hits while walking only two while striking out three.
The Blue Devils (6-9, 3-5) return to Mid Penn Colonial Division action on Tuesday with a road trip to Waynesboro to take on the Maidens. Game time is 4:15.