Photo: Hannah Bostain delivers a pitch during Northpoint Christian’s 11-1 TSSAA Division II-A West Region victory over St. George’s (Collierville) on Tuesday, May 6. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Northpoint Christian softball team entered Tuesday’s final day of TSSAA Division 2-A West Region tournament play aware it would have to win three games in one day to claim the region championship. The Lady Trojans got two wins, but was trailing in the third before Mother Nature intervened.
Playing through the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament, Northpoint defeated St. George’s (Collierville, Tenn.) 11-1 in five innings. The Lady Trojans followed that with a 7-4 victory over University School of Jackson, Tenn. (USJ) to require one final game against USJ for the region championship.
The second game Tuesday night was played in a steady, light rain for much of it and the rain continued through the third contest until field conditions on the St. George’s diamond, where the tournament was held, had deteriorated. Umpires eventually suspended the game with USJ leading Northpoint 11-2 in the fourth inning.
As of late Tuesday night, it had not been determined when, and possibly where, the contest will be finished, due to continued rain threats in the forecast.
Not only does the result determine who wins the region championship, but it also decides seeding for the first round of the TSSAA Division 2-A softball playoffs, scheduled to begin across the state this weekend.
The region winner gets a first-round bye and won’t play again until Wednesday, May 14. The runner-up would be slotted as the home team as it faces the number three seed from East Tennessee, although distance may determine the need for a neutral site.
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 11, ST. GEORGE’S (COLLIERVILLE, TENN.) 1 (5 INNINGS):
The Lady Trojans broke open the contest with a six-run fifth inning to take the run-rule victory. Northpoint had opened with three runs in the second and added two more in the fourth for a 5-0 lead, but the Lady Gryphons did score in the fifth before the Lady Trojans ended the contest in their half of the fifth.
Josie Beth Smith scored three times for Northpoint in the victory. Winning pitcher Hannah Bostain, along with Ada Woodruff and Katy Bobo, each scored a pair of runs. Woodruff and Morgan Bennett hit safely twice and Ella Myrick drove in three of the 11 runs with a bases-loaded triple.
Bostain allowed three St. George’s hits, walked one and struck out two in posting the victory.
NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 7, UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JACKSON, TENN. 4:
Northpoint exacted a small measure of revenge over USJ by forcing a final game in the double-elimination tournament. Coach Grace Anne Ferguson’s team produced runs in the middle four of the seven innings against the Lady Bruins.
The fourth inning was the biggest frame for the Lady Trojans, scoring three times against the winner’s bracket survivor, who had beaten Northpoint 8-1 earlier in the tournament on Monday.
The Lady Trojans also scored single runs in the third and fifth innings and twice in the sixth as USJ attempted a late comeback. The Lady Bruins tallied two runs in the sixth and one more in the bottom half of the seventh before Northpoint claimed the victory.
Northpoint put together a 10-hit attack to offset three errors. Meanwhile, pitcher Ada Woodruff dominated the Lady Bruins in the circle with a five-hit, eight-strikeout effort. Only one of USJ’s four runs was earned and Woodruff did not walk a batter.
Leadoff hitter Hannah Bostain scored twice for Northpoint and Josie Beth Smith had three hits, including a double. Faith Ryan hit safety twice. Bostain and Ella Myrick added doubles.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JACKSON, TENN VS. NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN (SUSPENDED)
Ada Woodruff was called on to pitch the region championship game, but USJ tagged her and reliever Trinity Garvin with 11 runs and six hits before deteriorating field conditions suspended the game with USJ leading 11-2 in the fourth inning.
Northpoint did not help itself either as the Lady Trojans committed four errors in the field. Offensively, Northpoint could only muster three hits against USJ pitcher Emerson Fair. Katy Bobo scored on a fielder’s choice in the second inning and Faith Ryan’s double scored Woodruff in the third.
Woodruff was relieved by Garvin as pitcher in the third inning after Woodruff had allowed eight runs, of which five were earned. USJ collected three hits and struck out once against Woodruff, who walked four. Garvin had allowed two earned runs and two hits with one walk and one strikeout in her two innings before the game was suspended.
Tuesday, May 6
Prep softball playoffs
TSSAA Division II-A West Region tournament
At St. George’s-Collierville, Tenn.
Northpoint Christian 11, St. George’s (Collierville, Tenn.) 1 (5 innings)
Northpoint Christian 7, University School of Jackson, Tenn. 4
University School of Jackson, Tenn. vs Northpoint Christian (game suspended by rain and wet grounds with USJ leading 11-2 in the fourth inning. Completion TBD.)
JUCO softball
NJCAA Region 23 tournament-semifinals
Copiah-Lincoln 5, Northwest 3 (Northwest record 42-10)
Prep baseball playoffs
MAIS AAAAA North Half Championship(Best of three)
Magnolia Heights 10, Leake Academy 8 (Magnolia Heights leads 1-0)
Photos from Northpoint Christian’s 11-1 victory over St. George’s (Collierville, Tenn.) on Tuesday afternoon.
