Lee’s Summit holds on for softball tournament title

Lee’s Summit softball coach Tracy Bertoncin had a feeling trouble was brewing.

It was the Gold Division championship game of the Suburban Six Softball Invitational on Friday at Adair Park, and the Tigers held a three-run lead over the Platte County Pirates going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

But the Pirates had the top of their lineup coming up, and it would be their third time facing Tigers pitcher Lisa Weeda.

Bertoncin decided to gather her team together and send them a message.

“I told them that this was the ballgame right here,” Bertoncin said.

Turns out it was.

While Platte County eventually scored a run and threatened to tie the game in the inning, Weeda and the Tigers dug deep and held on for a 3-1 victory and the tournament title.

“It’s been at least 18 years since Lee’s Summit has won this,” said Bertoncin, whose team improved to 4-1.

Lee’s Summit jumped out to a three-run lead thanks to a two-run double by Weeda in the third inning and an RBI ground-out by Kennedy Merrell.

Platte County didn’t score until the sixth inning, when an RBI single cut its deficit to two.

Platte County threatened when they put runners on second and third with only one out. But Weeda, who struck out seven and got the victory, retired the next two batters.

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2009-08-28 23:20:02

Comments - leave comment