Capping off the summer season with the A-team championship, the American Legion team defeated Aurora 6-1 in the championship game, with AuBurn defeating Cloud Co-Op in the third-place game.
Legion defeated AuBurn 13-2 (Semifinal)
After a three-up-three-down top of the first, the Legion came out strong with six runs in the bottom of the first inning. AuBurn rebounded in the top of the second, with two runs scored by Skylah Garst and Allie Keller, with Sophie Buckley getting to third. Preslee Marsh scored the lone run for the Legion in the second. The legion scored six runs in the third to jump out to a 13-2 lead and would outlast AuBurn to advance to the championship game.
Aurora defeated Co-Op 13-6 (Semifinal)
Aurora scored first in the bottom of the first to take the early 1-0 lead. Co-Op took the lead in the top of the second with Finnley Robert and Addy Jessup scoring. Aurora took the lead with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The offense improved in the third, with Co-Op scoring three runs from Kingly Kisby, Ayslynn Krier and Norah Lambertz to retake the lead, 5-2. Aurora brought in six runs to put the pressure on Co-Op, with Layla Aggson scoring the lone run in the fourth. Aurora put away the game with four more runs in the fourth to advance to the championship game.
AuBurn defeated Co-Op 17-12 (3rd place game)
Auburn scored first in the top of the first, with Madilynn GIlsdorf and Eliana Hicks crossing home. Brinley Jackson for Co-Op scored in the bottom of the first. Ava Rowland for Auburn scored to make it a 3-1 game, before Bristol Jackson and Bridgette Jackson scored for Co-Op in the bottom of the second to tie the game 3-3. Auburn’s offense ramped up in the third, scoring four runs from Isabella Parras, Rowland, Madilynn Gilsdorf, and Rowdee Holbert. Co-op returned the favor with six runs in the bottom of the third to take back the lead 9-7. Auburn tied it up in the top of the fourth with two runs by Buckley and Madilynn Gilsdorf, and scored three runs in the fifth to take a 10-9 lead. Auburn kept the momentum into the sixth, scoring three more runs, which Co-Op countered with three runs of their own to keep it a two-score game. Auburn sealed the deal in the eighth, scoring three runs to win third place.
Legion defeated Aurora 6-1 (Championship)
Aurora started the game with their lone run in the top of the first after getting walked, but three straight outs by the Legion kept Aurora off the bases. The Legion took the lead in the bottom of the first, with Serenity Walker and Preslee Marsh crossing home to take the 2-1 lead. After holding Aurora hitless in the top of the second, the Legion expanded their lead with four runs scored by Brooklyn Lowell, Kyndra Brandt, Walker and Marsh to make it an 6-1 game. Aurora got a runner to second in the top of the third, but couldn’t bring her home. Walker and Marsh would get on base, with Walker getting to third before out three to keep it a scoreless inning. After a three-up-three-down inning for both teams in the fourth, Aurora got three runners in scoring position, first getting forced out at home, then two strikeouts with the bases loaded. The game ended with the Legion taking the championship.
