By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
BINGER – The Warriors battled, but couldn’t come up with the big hit when they needed it in a 6-3 loss to Glencoe in the 2019 Class 2A district tournament elimination game last Thursday.
Each team racked up 11 hits, but Okarche left 11 runners on base while suffering bad luck at the worst time of the year. Coach Brandon Treece watched as his team hit the ball hard time after time, but right at opponents and not in a gap or through a hole.
“We hit a lot of balls hard. Just right at people,” Treece said. “We would have a line drive here or there right to girls in spots where they didn’t have to move. That’s part of the game. We had 11 hits, but a couple of times we left the bases loaded after hitting it right to someone and that could have changed the game.
“It never seemed like we could get that big hit. Or if we did, it was right at someone.”
The Warriors jumped out to an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning after holdng the Panthers scoreless in the top half of the frame.
Raegan Robinson got things going with a leadoff single before reaching third on an error. She later scored on an RBI single by Faith Maberry for the early advantage.
After a scoreless second inning, Glencoe scored two runs in the top of the third to take a one-run lead. However, Okarche answered with a run in the bottom half to tie the game 2-2.
Robinson got things going again, leading off the frame with a walk before reaching second on a single by Hayley Coffey. Robinson moved to third after a fly out by Maberry and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Karsyn Vallerand. Robinson scored all three of the team’s runs.
Glencoe jumped out to a two-run lead after scoring one run in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the fifth while holding the Warriors scoreless in both frames. The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh before Okarche mounted a late comeback, scoring one run in the bottom half. However, it wasn’t enough as the Warriors fell 6-3 in their final game of the spring season.
Robinson got things going for a third time for Okarche in the seventh with a one-out triple before scoring on an RBI single by Coffey before the final two outs.
Katie Bomhoff suffered the loss in the circle, giving up four earned runs on 11 hits and two walks over seven innings. She threw 66 pitches and faced 36 batters.
“I was really happy with the girls’ effort this season,” Treece said. “They played hard and really caught fire during a stretch in the year. Sometimes things don’t go your way, but these girls battled all season and I’m really proud of how they came out and competed in districts.”
The Warriors finished the season 13-12. The team graduates four seniors including Katie Bomhoff, Sara Bomhoff, Kammie Benson and Maberry.
