***Kendall Vincent is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

Lady Titans Drop Heartbreaker 

In another nail-biting finish, the Annawan/Wethersfield Titans fell to Cuba/Spoon River Valley Varsity LVC Miners in an 11-10 walk-off loss on Monday. The game, tied at 10 in the bottom of the eighth inning, ended when Emma Probyn singled to bring in the winning run.

The high-scoring battle saw both teams rack up 15 hits. The Titans struck early, scoring two runs in the first inning on a Madison Smith single up the middle and a sacrifice bunt from Lauren Davis. They extended their lead with a five-run second inning, fueled by RBI singles from Aaliyah Hayes, Smith, and Davis.

Freshman Ava Jackson kept the momentum going in the fifth, launching a two-run home run to center field. However, Cuba/Spoon River Valley clawed back, tying the game at nine in the bottom of the seventh after a single from Macy Eeten.

In extra innings, Davis’s single in the top of the eighth put the Titans ahead 10-9, but the Miners responded in the bottom half with an RBI double from Kacie White and Probyn’s game-winning single.

White earned the win for the Miners, allowing five hits and one unearned run over three innings, striking out two. Davis took the loss for the Titans, pitching one and two-thirds innings while allowing two runs on four hits. 

Smith started in the circle, striking out eight while giving up nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits over six innings. Probyn started for Cuba/Spoon River Valley, allowing nine runs on 10 hits over five innings.

Davis led the Titans’ offense, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Karsyn Rico, Tessa Gripp, Smith, and Jackson each had multiple hits. The Miners’ offense was just as potent, with Morgan Patterson and White each driving in three runs, while White went 3-for-5 at the plate.

Cuba/Spoon River Valley stole four bases and turned a key double play. Abbie Johnson led their aggressive base running with two stolen bases.

Lady Titans Fall to Newman

In a hard-fought battle, the Annawan/Wethersfield Titans came up just short in a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Newman Central Catholic Comets on Wednesday. The game was tied at four heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when Gianna Vance delivered the decisive blow with a game-winning triple.

The Titans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, taking an early lead in the first inning. Madison Smith’s lineout and Lauren Davis’s single down the left-field line. Each brought in a run, giving Annawan/Wethersfield an early edge. They extended their lead in the third inning with a pair of RBI walks by Clara Bella VanOpdorp and Brynn Harker, making it a 4-0 game.

However, Newman Central Catholic steadily clawed back. Their comeback was completed in the seventh inning when Amiya Rodriguez launched a home run to center field, followed by Vance’s triple that sealed the victory.

Vance earned the win for the Comets, pitching a complete game while allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned). She struck out six and issued five walks. Davis took the loss for the Titans, pitching six and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, while striking out six and walking three.

Smith and Davis led the Titans’ offense, each collecting two hits. Harker and Davis also contributed an RBI apiece. Karsyn Rico displayed patience at the plate, drawing two walks, and Annawan/Wethersfield showed aggression on the basepaths, racking up five stolen bases, with Rico and Ava Jackson swiping multiple bags.

For Newman Central Catholic, Rodriguez provided power in the lineup, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Anna Propheter also added two hits.