The Park Hill Trojans’ softball team ended its season with a 12-4 loss in the Class 5 District 8 championship game to Liberty North on Monday, Oct. 21, at Park Hill’s home stadium.
The Trojans reached the championship with a nailbiting 2-1 win over Liberty on Saturday, Oct.19. The Blue Jays got a run in the bottom of the first inning off of starter Mandia Bock to grab the early lead.
Park Hill went to the pen early and switched to Brooklyn Bertoncino in the third inning. Both pitchers combined for only two hits and two walks while striking out four hitters.
The Trojans got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Bock hit a two-run shot to give Park Hill a 2-1 lead.
Bertoncino got into trouble in the fifth inning with runners at second and third with no outs. Bertoncino got the next hitter to strike out and then caught a soft pop-up for the second out. Bertoncino then got a ground ball to shortstop to end the threat.
Park Hill had a chance to add to the lead in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and only one out. Liberty pitching then got the next two hitters to strike out to end the threat.
Bertoncino got Liberty in order in the bottom half of the seventh inning to close the win.
Park Hill got a 10-0 win over St. Joseph Central in the opening round on Thursday, Oct. 17. Kylee Page and Autumn Bridges each had three hits, and Ellie Harris had two hits for Park Hill. Bridges, Page, and Harris also drove in two runs apiece.
Park Hill ends the season with a 25-8 record and the Kansas City Suburban Conference Red Division Champions.