The Trenton Lady Bulldogs bid for a second state final four appearance in four years came to an end on Monday night. Trenton came within 60 feet of forcing extra innings and 120 feet from going to the final four.
Instead, Grain Valley survived a wild bottom of the seventh, in which the Lady Eagles walked the bases loaded and defeated Trenton 2-1.
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The game began with both teams leaning on what got them to the quarterfinals – pitching and defense. Neither team was able to get anything going offensively. Trenton had runners on three times in the opening four innings, two which were hit by a pitch and one that reached on a walk.
Grain Valley broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning. After an error led to a Lady Eagle baserunner, Grain Valley delivered back-to-back doubles to right-centerfield, scoring one run on each hit (one unearned and one earned) for Trenton pitcher Scotlin Hurley.
The Lady Bulldogs were unable to answer in the bottom of the frame, but after holding Grain Valley scoreless through the heart of their order in the top of the sixth, things finally picked up for the Lady Bulldogs offensively. Scotlin Hurley drilled a double to center field and then scored on a single by Makaila Capeder. The Lady Bulldogs would only get the one run, however, as the inning ended when a pop up squibbed out of the Grain Valley second baseman’s glove, only to bounce right into the waiting glove of the Lady Eagles’ shortstop for the out.
After holding the Lady Eagles scoreless yet again in the top of the seventh, Trenton took advantage of some wild pitching by Grain Valley. With one out, Rahel Horner drew a walk and McKinley Hurley followed with a walk of her own. Maddie Hooyman was unable to move the runners, though, popping out to the catcher on a sacrifice bunt attempt. With two outs, Madi Trump drew a walk, the third of the inning, and loaded the bases for Scotlin Hurley. Hurley was unable to replicate her hit in the sixth, however, going down swinging.
“I was proud of the way the girls competed for seven innings tonight,” Lady Bulldogs’ Head Coach John Cowling said. “It would have been easy to give up when we were down 2-0, but they kept coming back. We lose a special group of seniors who were not only great players, but great kids to be around. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of this group and what a pleasure it has been to be their coach this season.”
Scotlin Hurley finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and Capeder was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Horner was also 1-for-2 with a walk.
In the circle, Hurley took the loss despite throwing seven innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out six.
All totaled, the game was a defensive struggle with the two teams combining to score just three runs on seven hits.
With the loss, Trenton closes the season with a 24-4 record. Trenton had a successful season that saw them win the Lexington, NCMC Nan Carter and Class 3, District 15 tournaments. The Lady Bulldogs also claimed a sectional title and finished the year as a state quarterfinalist.