Brynlee Crowell runs to first base after a batted ball in a loss to Holden in pool play of the Greater KC Tournament on August 25.
INDEPENDENCE – The Park Hill softball team (3-2) had some ups and downs to open the season at the Greater Kansas City Tournament on August 25 and 26.
Park Hill split its games in pool play to start the season before having its most success on the second day since 2021. The Lady Trojans dropped a tight one with Fort Osage (3-2) before taking down William Chrisman (1-5) and Chillicothe (3-3) on August 26.
In the first of three games on the day, Park Hill matched Fort Osage’s scoring in the first four innings. Both squads scored two runs in the first inning, one run in the second inning and went scoreless in the ensuing two innings.
Brynlee Johnson doubled on a pop fly to left field in the Lady Trojans’ first at-bat of the night, followed by Allison Gonier being walked. Lauren Oakley singled on a ground ball to left field, scoring two runs and tying the game.
In the bottom of the second inning, Johnson had an RBI to once again tie the game, 3-3. Fort Osage added a run in the top of the fifth inning and Park Hill was unable to get back on the board.
Johnson and Lauren Emmendorfer both had two hits to make up for four of the six. Autumn Bridges had two strikeouts in two innings and Brooklynn Bertoncino struck out seven batters.
Park Hill bounced back with an 8-3 victory over William Chrisman. The Lady Trojans went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning before adding three runs in each of the next two innings.
The shutout ended in the fourth inning when the Lady Bears added one run, but Leah Cuny pushed the lead back up to seven with an RBI single. The Lady Bears scored two more runs in the final inning, but Park Hill won 8-3.
In Park Hill’s final game of the tournament, Kylee Page came up clutch. In a 3-3 tie against Chillicothe in the bottom of the fifth inning, Page came up with a double to send Emmendorfer home to win the game.
The game went scoreless in the first inning before both teams scored one run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning. Park Hill ended with five hits and Chillicothe had two hits with each squad having three errors.
Emmendorfer had two of the five hits and Bertoncino struck out seven batters. The Lady Trojans will have a bit of a break before hosting Platte County (3-2) on September 5.