Connie Mack Athletics 11U edge Yankees, 16-15

The weather was hot and so were the bats as the Connie Mack girls 11U softball Yankees and Athletics squared off for the final time in the regular season. The Athletics won 16-15.

The Yankees opened the first inning with Samantha Hyatt scoring on Heather Sidell's hit. Taylor Sidell singled, scoring her cousin Heather and provided the third run as Hannah Morrison drew a bases loaded walk.

The A's kept pace in the bottom of the first as Alison Staebell singled and Katelyn Schinaman walked. Smart base running preserved two on as Megan Mallon lined out hard to pitcher Terese Regan, setting the stage for Rachel Callea's three-run homer hit to deep center field. Callea's four-bagger was the only home run hit by an Athletic this season.

The Yankees went right back to work in the second as Rachel Lackner singled and scored on Bethany Jones' triple to center field. Marissa Edwards singled to plate Jones.

In the home half of the second, Kelsey Dwello walked and stole second, scoring on Brigid Ryan's single. Ryan and Samantha Dispenza scored after a series of walks to tie the game at 6-6.

Great fielding got the first out in the third as Melissa Mallon fielded Heather Sidell's hit toward third and fired across the diamond to her sister Megan at first. Taylor Sidell then singled and scored on Terese Regan's hit. Brianna Barbarossa then tripled to score Sidell before scoring on a fielder's choice. A's pitcher Taylor Gibbon was in a groove in the inning as she didn't allow a walk to a single Yankee batter.

The A's caught up once again as Schinaman singled to right center and scored on Callea's single. After a stolen base and walk by Dwello, Ryan singled to left center, driving in Callea. Dwello scored on Melissa Mallon's single to right. The teams were knotted at 9-9.

The fourth inning opened with a leadoff walk by Chloe Dean, who scored on Rachel Lackner's single. Lackner was out trying to advance on an overthrow as A's first baseman Ryan threw to Staebell, who applied the tag at second. Jones scored on a single by Shannon Moore who later scored on a hit by Sidell.

Things looked promising for the A's in the bottom of the frame as Rebecca Regan led off with a single and Lizzie Pittari drew a one-out walk.

But Yankee pitcher Brianna Barbarossa grabbed two pop-ups, the second while turning and running backward, to close the fourth with a 12-9 Yankee lead.

In the top of the fifth, A's closer Megan Mallon came on in relief.

After Taylor Sidell singled, Mallon struck out three to hold the Yankees without a run.

Megan Mallon opened the home half of the fifth with a double to right. This sparked the A's as Sophia Militello worked the count for a walk and Callea drove Mallon and Militello home as she hit a three and one fastball into deep center for a double. After Dwello walked, Ryan lined a fastball into center field, plating Callea. The fifth ended with the clubs matched, 12-12.

In the top of the sixth, Jones singled. After Mallon struck out two batters, Hyatt walked and Heather Sidell hit sharply to second scoring Jones. Taylor Sidell followed with a hit past second scoring two before Mallon ended the rally herself with her sixth strike out in two innings pitched.

The home half saw the usual situation with the A's, needing to come from behind.

With Sammy Dispenza on first, the Yankees walked the dangerous Melissa Mallon. Both advanced on a passed ball before Rebecca Regan drove a two-RBI single past third base.

After Yankee ace Barbarossa struck out two batters, Ali Staebell drove Regan home with a single and advanced to second on the throw. Katelyn Schinaman's single scored Staebell with the winning run.

Athletics 8, Blue Jays 4

The Blue Jays and the Athletics met for the last time in the regular season on a cool evening at Dellwood South.

The stakes were high as they were playing for home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Taylor Gibbon took the mound for the A's in the top of the first inning and proceeded to strike out the first Blue Jay batter. Kourtney Killian was up next and hit a sharp grounder down the first base line that was fielded cleanly by Sophia Militello for the second out. The Blue Jays were not ready to concede the inning as their power hitter, McDuggan, came to the plate and hit a solo home run which rolled to the far trees near the Dellwood playground.

Brooke Garand drew a walk after fouling off three pitches and advanced on a single up the center from Alexandra Sommer. Gibbon was able to strike out the next Blue Jays batter, stranding Garand and Sommer.

The Athletics answered in the bottom of the inning with keen battings eyes drawing walks to Megan Mallon, Sophia Militello, Rachel Callea, Sammy Dispenza, Melissa Mallon, and Rebecca Regan taking the lead at 3-1.

Mary O'Neill led off for the Blue Jays in the second with a pop up over the head of A's pitcher Rachel Callea. Kelsey Sommer then grounded out to first baseman Militello. Callea finished the inning with two strikeouts.

The A's added to their lead with three more runs on walks to Brigid Ryan, Kelsey Dwello, Allison Staebell, Kaitlyn Schinaman, Megan Mallon and Militello.

Blue Jay pitcher Abby Wilkes struck out two A's batters.

The Blue Jays bats came alive in the third inning. Liz Feeley led off with a single to left field, advanced on a single by Killian and scored when Duggan hit to short right center. Garand scored Killian with a hit to short center field which was fielded well by Rebecca Regan, holding Duggan at third. Alexandra Sommer then hit back at Callea, who was pitching, who tried to get Duggan at home but the throw was not in time for the three-run limit.

The Athletics extended their lead, adding two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Callea started off with a hit to center field but was held to a single by the fielding of Feeley. Callea advanced on steals and scored when Melissa Mallon singled to center. Regan then hit a dribbler down the third base line which started out foul but turned fair in the dry infield, scoring Mallon.

Blue Jays pitcher Sommer struck out two A's batters and the third out came on a grounder hit by Staebell to second baseman Alyse Bradley, who got the throw to Killian at first in time, bringing the score to 8-4.

Athletics ace pitcher Megan Mallon took the mound in the fourth and proceeded to show her dominance. She struck out the first two batters and got the third batter to ground out to Ryan at first.

The Athletics were unable to add any more runs as their first batter struck out and the second batter hit back at pitcher Feeley, who tossed the ball to Lacey Hutchinson at first for the second out. Lizzie Pittari got a rally going with a single and advanced to third on a double hit by Megan Mallon but they were stranded when Feeley got her second strikeout of the inning.

Megan Mallon came back to the mound in the fifth and struck out the side in order. The Athletics also were unable to score as the first batter hit back to pitcher Duggan, who threw cleanly to Feeley at first for the out. Duggan then struck out the next batter and fielded another grounder for the out at first.

The Blue Jays were hopeful as they drew walks to their first two batters in the sixth, but Meg Mallon found her stride and struck out the next three batters to end the game.

Meg Mallon tallied a total of eight strikeouts for three innings pitched for the Athletics. Blue Jays pitchers combined for seven strikeouts.