Editor’s note: Because of the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, The Banner-Press moved its printing schedule of today’s paper to Thursday. Results of the Texas East Section 1 tournament will be published in Tuesday’s paper.
ELGIN – Every attempt was made Wednesday to play Game 2 of the Texas East Section 1 tournament between Washington County and Smithville.
However, lightning and rain had other ideas throughout the evening.
Wednesday’s game was postponed in progress to Thursday after a heavy downpour caused significant puddles around home plate, in the pitching circle and around the bases on Elgin Little League’s dirt field.
A long night looked likely when multiple lightning strikes before and after the originally scheduled start time of 6 p.m. caused a nearly 90-minute delay.
Both teams were permitted to take the field for warmups just before 7:30 with the first pitch thrown at 7:55 p.m.
The Washington County Minor Division all-stars tried to set the tempo immediately in the top of the first. An error at second base, caused by a drop at first base on a throw for the putout, and a walk drawn by Paisley Meyer allowed the county all-stars eventually to get two runners into scoring position.
However, another grounder to second base off Raelyn Rosenbaum’s bat was properly executed in the field to close the frame.
Washington County pitcher Lillie Landua worked out of a jam herself in the bottom of the first. She received defensive assistance as a great throw from Rosenbaum behind the plate to third caught Smithville’s first runner stealing for a crucial out.
Defensive momentum translated into a successful offensive inning in the top of the second. Singles from Landua and Finlee Youngs set the stage for Kinsley Haferkamp, the pitching hero in Tuesday’s Game 1, to open the scoring with her bat.
She delivered with a double into center field. Landua scored the opening run with Youngs able to advance to third base.
Lonna Wunderlich flew out to center field, but Smithville failed to take advantage of Washington County not properly tagging up, especially at second base. Instead, a delayed reaction to the situation combined with a throwing miscue allowed Youngs to tag up from third and score while Haferkamp moved to third base.
Callie Dismukes struck out on a 3-2 count to close the inning with Washington County leading 2-0.
Prior to the bottom of the second inning, a moderate downpour set in. Landua was not fazed by the rain, though, in earning the first out of the frame via a strikeout.
However, the rain progressively got worse and forced both teams to retreat to their respective dugouts.
The dirt field progressively puddled around all of the crucial spots in the infield. In the half hour between the stoppage and the official postponement, attempts were made to try and suck the water out after the infield began to dry.
However, after several discussions with officials at and away from Elgin through multiple levels of the Little League hierarchy, the decision to postpone the remainder of Game 2 of the sectional tournament was made just before 9 p.m.
The game was scheduled to resume at 6 p.m. Thursday in Elgin. Game 2 would begin where the stoppage took place in the bottom of the second.
If Washington County held on to its lead and won, it earned a place in the Texas East Minor softball state tournament. However, a Smithville win would force a series-deciding third game.
Game 3 was scheduled to be played Thursday. However, a Thursday doubleheader in the Minor girls tournament is not possible because of the junior softball sectional tournament also being played at Elgin. The junior division also saw its Game 2 postponed.
The official Section 1 bracket spreadsheet states that if Game 3 is necessary, it would be played at 6 p.m. Saturday.