Both the Harrison County junior league girls and senior league girls all-star teams captured state titles in competition held last weekend in Desoto, MO.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Both the Harrison County junior league girls and senior league girls all-star teams captured state titles in competition held last weekend in Desoto, MO. The 13-14 year-olds ran their post season record to 7-0 by taking all 3 games in their tournament. The 15-16 year-olds won 2 of 3 games against the host Desoto team to take the crown.
The Harrison County junior leaguers were impressive in their tournament sweep. They opened the tournament on Friday with a 15-1 romp over Daniel Boone of Columbia, knocked off Joplin 11-4 on Saturday and locked up the title in the double elimination event by downing Joplin again, 14-5, on Sunday. The team has outscored opponents, 119 to 24, in district and state play.
Local team members include Gallatin’s Kelsie Parker and Lindsey Love and Coffey’s Carah Carr and Melissa Youngs.
“All four of them have been a very big part of this,” Harrison County coach Jim Bradley said of the local contingent. “They have played well in the field and come up with some clutch hits at the plate,” he added.
The junior league all-stars return closer to home this weekend for regional competition in Columbia. They will open the tournament with a rematch against the host team, Daniel Boone, at noon on Saturday. The 3-team event will also include the Nebraska state champion.
The 15-16 year-old Harrison County all-stars saw their tournament shrink from 4 to 2 teams when a pair of district champions canceled from the state event. They won their opening game, 11-9, in what became a best 2-out-of-3 format; dropped their second game, 7-4, but came back strong to win the finale, 16-4. Kim Clevenger of Gallatin and Mandy Williams of Jameson played big roles in the Harrison County team’s victory. The senior league team is coached by Philip Courter and Steve Coulter.
The senior league all-stars travel to Joplin on Friday for the regional tournament. They open at 6 p.m. against Nebraska. The winner of that game will face McDonald County, Mo., in the semi-finals Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The tournament wraps up with a double elimination final on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. The winner of the Joplin regional qualifies for the national tournament to be held Aug. 5-11 at Jefferson Town, Ky.
KAAN Radio-Bethany will either broadcast the games live or game updates during regular programming.