By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES SPORTS
NEWPORT — Newport was close, so close, but one swing of the bat from Gilford changed things. The visitors will move on after downing the Tigers 6-5. Maddie McKenna’s towering two-run blast over the left field fence gave Gilford a comeback lead in the seventh inning; they held on from there for the win.
It was dreary and misting as Gilford sent their ace Bella Dow to face Newport’s Tonya Sanchez with plenty of smoke from both hurlers.
Gilford struck first when Dow doubled in a run, but Newport answered back when Katie Sharron eventually scored after getting on base via another plunk to her elbow.
Newport grabbed the lead in the third inning when Sanchez blasted a shot over the fence, but the Tigers were looking for more runs. With two outs, Sharon reached on an error, Mia Norris and Cassie Sandborn walked to load the bases, but Dow found her groove to escape the inning with Newport leading 2-1.
Dow led off the next inning with a smash over the left field fence to square the game but Gilford wasn’t done yet. Back-to-back singles had runners on first and second. Newport caught a break when a Gilford runner was ruled out for taking a step off the bag early.
The 2-2 score held up into the fifth inning when Dow was given an intentional walk to start the inning. Maddie Hazelton ripped an RBI triple, then scored when Millie Caldon dropped a squeeze bunt, giving Gilford a 4-2 lead.
Newport answered and then some in their next at-bat. Peyton Blackinton walked, and then when Cheyenne Hannum bunted, the throw sailed into the outfield, scoring Blackinton. Emmah Oconnor reached on a bunt, then stole second base.
The at-bat of the season took place next as Norris and Dow squared off for a 10 pitch at-bat that had Norris foul off five pitches, some heading across the road as she refused to give in. On the 11th pitch, Norris hammered a line-drive into center field that scored two runs and gave the lead back to Newport, 5-4, heading into the seventh inning.
With two outs and a runner on second base, Gilford’s McKenna stepped into the batter’s box. Before the first pitch was thrown, the Gilford coach told me, “There isn’t anyone else I would want batting.”
On a three-ball, two-strike pitch, Mckenna’s swing was pure as her home run put Gilford ahead 6-5. The Gilford side of the field was euphoric, and the Newport side was devastated.
Dow closed out the game, ending Newport’s season, as tears washed down the faces of the Tiger players before, during and after the post-game handshake line.
Newport finished with a 15-2 record.
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