POPLAR BLUFF – Despite a late rally by American Made, JSC was able to hold on for the Sub-Junior championship with a 5-4 win at McLane Park on Thursday. JSC scored four runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run home run, and never looked back for the hard-earned title.
"I'm so proud of these girls," JSC coach Summer Shipman said. "They've really come together as a team from the beginning of the season and I'm super proud of them."
Both teams made it to the final with close one-run games in the semifinal round. JSC defeated Maw & Paw 2-1 and American Made came back late to hand the Lator Gators a 6-5 loss.
"We were kind of sluggish in the semifinals," Shipman said. "But we were able to get those runs across, get some sugar in them between games and I think the cooler weather helped in the second game."
After giving up a run in the top of the first, JSC was able to put a crooked number on the board with Kinsley Huffman rounding the bases on a two-run inside-the-park home run that also scored Raylynn Stackhouse to give them the lead.
"Huffman has been our three-hole hitter that's come through all season long," Shipman said. "She hits rockets."
Later in the inning, Marni Ray drove in Keagan Hicks and Ray came around to score when Raven McAllister put the ball in play to give JSC a 4-1 lead.
After both teams traded zeros in the second, Huffman was able to come around and score in the third to make it 5-1 JSC through three innings.
American Made started to rally in the fourth with Allison Graves, Kennedi Finn and Sahara Graves coming around to score, but the train couldn't keep going long enough as they were a run short from extending the ballgame.
"Our fielders were making plays in the field to keep them at bay," Shipman said.
The postseason for the Parks Department baseball and softball leagues continue next week. The Rookie League championship will be played on Tuesday, Pony League will be on Wednesday, Civic League Thursday and Babe Ruth League finishing up on Tuesday, July 12. Junior League and Senior League softball are to be determined.