8-year-old softball all-stars begin bracket play on positive note | State

BURTON – Just as quickly as Washington County’s 8-year-old softball all-stars took the field Tuesday, they came off of it as winners to begin bracket play.

Washington County needed only 3 1/2 innings and about 22 minutes to defeat Bellville 11-0 in the second round of the Texas East District 13 bracket. The county all-stars received a day one bye as a result of winning their pool last weekend.

Bellville recorded a pair of hits in the top of the first, but could not score a run. Washington County took advantage to earn a lead in the first inning off of an RBI groundout from Brinnlee Randermann.

Jacy Belvin, who scored on the groundout, led the inning off with a double and Audrey Smith added a single. However, Washington County was kept to just one run in the first.

Exceptional defense continued in the second inning for Washington County. Third baseman Tatum Pellerin made a pair of solid plays with a ground out to Randermann in the pitching circle closing the top of the second.

Manager Sarah Kmiec, who acts as the coach pitcher for Washington County, then made an adjustment herself to help her girls at the plate. She said the pitching rubber was moved closer to the plate and she gave the closer distance a try in the first inning. However, her team’s timing at the plate was off.

Therefore, Kmiec backed up closer to the front of the pitching circle on the turf. The adjustment in her placement paid off beautifully for Washington County.

The county all-stars took a commanding 6-0 lead with a five-run second inning.

Olivia Coleman drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI triple to right field. After an infield fly out, Tatum Tappe and Ryan Goeble each drove in runs to give the county all-stars a 4-0 cushion. Goeble earned a triple in her only at-bat of the game while Tappe delivered an infield single.

After a second infield pop out, Washington County completed its five-run inning with RBI doubles from Emry Roberts and Jacy Belvin.

More good defense from Pellerin and Randermann led to a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. First baseman Avery Clark also made good catches at first base, including one where she stretched up high to come up with the putout.

“She is one of our taller girls on the team, so we are there for a reason,” Kmiec said on Clark. “If the ball is a little bit astray, I do not have any doubt that she will knock it down.”

The county all-stars got right back to work at the plate with a five-run third inning. After a leadoff groundout, Washington County recorded seven straight hits to hit the run maximum for the frame.

Pellerin cleared the bases after singles from Audrey Smith, Lyla Zwernemann and Clark with a three-RBI triple. She also came around to score after a Bellville error to push Washington County’s lead to 10-0.

Tappe later recorded an RBI double to end the inning, driving in Olivia Coleman after she earned an infield single.

Bellville mustered a two-out single into left field, but could not extend the game with a run as more routine plays in the infield carried the county all-stars to a quick win.

“The routine plays are always clutch because that is what you practice in practice, hitting them right to them, making the stop, making the throw,” Kmiec said. “Runs are good, but making those outs prevents the other team from scoring and that is what wins your ball games.”

Washington County committed no errors for a third straight game to start the district tournament. Tuesday’s three hits allowed are the county all-stars’ least in a game so far in the tournament.

Kmiec said keeping games short through good performances will help the county all-stars out in the long run.

“The better we do on offense and the better we do on defense and the fewer opponents’ batter that we see (and) making those routine stops on defense, the faster the game is, the more energy we conserve, the better we are ready for the next one,” she said.

Tuesday’s win also gives Washington County a huge break in its tournament schedule. The county all-stars earned a day off on Wednesday, thanks to winning on Tuesday. If Washington County had lost, it would have had to play and win on seven straight days to earn the district championship from the loser’s bracket.

“They are going to be momentous for us to keep having the day break and stay settled in and stay zoned in,” Kmiec said.

Washington County advanced to the third round of the winner’s bracket, where it will face Columbus at 8 p.m. Thursday. Both teams enter Thursday’s matchup 3-0 in the tournament between two pool play wins and Tuesday evening wins in bracket play.