Independence 8, Nicholas County 0
Delaney Buckland fired a two-hit shutout and struckout 14 batters to carry Independence past Nicholas County 8-0 in the Class AA Region 3, Section 2 elimination game Thursday in Coal City.
Savannah Stanley had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs to lead the Patriots at the plate.
Buckland and Emma Lilly each had a double and a single. Lilly, Ali Hypes, Sarah Bragg, Chloe Hart and Alyssa Daniels all had one RBI for the Patriots.
Independence advances to the championship round where it will meet Shady Spring Friday, weather permitting. If the game is rained out the series will resume on Monday with the third game shifting to Tuesday, if necessary. The Tigers are one win away from the sectional crown, while Indy must win two in a row over Shady for the title.
Beckley 15, Princeton 7
Beckley – Aubrey Smallwood busted out the big wood Thursday as the Flying Eagles saved off elimination with a 15-7 win over Princeton in the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 tournament.
Smallwood homered and hit a double, driving in two runs in the win while senior teammate Kayla Bird did the exact same thing with her own double and homer.
Brooklyn Bird drove in five runs to lead the Flying Eagles while Emma Johnson’s two hits and three RBIs paced Princeton.
The Tigers finish their season 7-18 while Beckley advances to the sectional championship game, needing to beta Greenbrier East twice in order to win the section and advance to the regional round.
