Cloudland’s incredible season came to an end on Thursday – one game shy of the semifinals.
The Lady ‘Landers dropped a heartbreaking 10-8 decision to defending state champion Eagleville in a game that was resumed after rain stopped it in the eighth inning. In the second game of the day, Cloudland fell 10-0 to Copper Basin in an elimination game.
In the winner’s bracket final, Cloudland jumped out in the fourth inning.
Ayla Horney opened the frame with a single, and Jayla Harper added a single. Regan Blair drove the two runs off with a triple to right field, and Blair scored off a Reagan Turbyfill fielder’s choice to give CHS a 3-0 lead.
Eagleville countered in the fourth with four runs.
Cloudland, however, answered in the top of the sixth.
Blair opened the inning with a single and scored in the next at-bat as Eowyn McCoury hit a single to right field. Turbyfill pushed McCoury across with a single. Cloudland capped the visiting frame as Horney pushed Willow Benett across home plate with a single as the Lady ‘Landers took a 6-4 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, Eagleville used back-to-back homeruns to plate eight runs and take an 8-6 advantage into the seventh.
Once again, the Lady ‘Landers answered in the seventh. Harper hit a double to left field to open the inning, and E. McCoury drew a walk. After Bennett was intentionally walked, Turbyfill hit a two-out single to plate Savannah McCoury and E. McCoury. The CHS defense recorded a 1-2-3 inning as rain began to fall to force extras.
Zoe Gardner drew a walk to open the eighth, but the game was suspended with Peyton Preswood facing a 2-0 count.
Once the game restarted, Preswood drew a walk and CHS moved the runners to second and third. Cloudland, however, was unable to plate the runs.
Eagleville hit a two-out two-run home run in the home side of the inning to secure the win.
Turbyfill went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Blair tallied two hits and two RBI, while Horney had two hits and an RBI. Harper ended the game with two hits.
E. McCoury, S. McCoury, and Bennett each had a hit.
In the elimination game, Copper Basin struck early with three runs in the first and added two more in the second to take control.
In the third inning, Cloudland threatened with two base runners, but CHS was unable to capitalize. From there, CHS was unable to rally despite a hard-fought effort.
S. McCoury was 2-for-2 to lead Cloudland.