Extra Effort! Eagles top Russell County in extra innings

Will Willems, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·3 min read

Jul. 28—WHITESTOWN — Nothing seems to faze Zionsville's Elli Strecker when she is on the softball diamond.

So when the Zionsville Little League Major All-Stars needed a clutch hit in extra innings on Tuesday night in the Central Regional, Strecker was the perfect player for the Eagles to have at the plate.

And when her team needed her, Strecker delivered, lining the first pitch she saw for a big 2-run single, and gave her team a big 3-1, extra-inning victory over Russell County Little League from Kentucky.

Very little separated the team state champions.

Russell County came into the game on the heels of wins over Illinois and Nebraska, while Zionsville topped Iowa on Sunday night.

Each team had a base runner but couldn't score in the first, then couldn't muster much in the second or third.

Zionsville threatened in the top of the fourth, getting back-to-back hits from Hadley Bray and Anna Cope with two outs. Isa Knarr that lined a hard shot that seemed destined for the outfield, but the Russell County second baseman made a nice lounging catch to keep Zionsville off the board.

When Russell County had a chance in its half of the inning, they capitalized.

After back-to-back singles with one out, Strecker struck out the next hitter, but Russell County executed a double steal, and the throw to third got away allowing a run to score.

But the Eagles responded immediately. Tess Bradford singled to lead off the top of the fifth, and Sammie Kulwicki followed with an RBI-triple to tie the game.

Neither team could do anything in the rest of regulation, and the game went to extra innings.

Bradford led off the seventh with a four-pitch walk, and stole second. Two batters later, Jenna Dittmer lined a single to left, and took second when the throw went to third.

After a pop out, Strecker came up and had her clutch hit, drawing a roar from another large contingent of Zionsville fans at the venue.

Dittmer relieved Strecker in the bottom of the seventh, and promptly struck out the side to secure the win.

Cope was 2-for-3 at the plate, with Riley Cunningham, Strecker, Bray, Bradford, Kulwicki and Dittmer all collecting hits.

Strecker scattered seven hits in six innings, allowing just an unearned run. She struck out four.

Zionsville will now face Daniel Boone Little League from Columbia, Missouri at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Greeneville, North Carolina.

The loser will have a second chance to advance later in the week, with the top two teams from each region advancing this year.

Attendance is free, but spectators must have a pass to sit in the bleachers. No pass holders may bring lawn chairs and sit down the outfield lines and beyond the fence.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.