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cess continues to follow the Cros-Lex youth softball programs. Two more teams will be going to their respective State Finals in the coming days after winning District competitions this past weekend.
The Cros-Lex 11-12 year old team captured the Little League District 7 championship at Marysville. In the meantime, the C-L 13-14 squad claimed the title at the Junior League District 7 event at St. Clair. A year ago, Cros-Lex teams won a State title in the 9-10 year-old age group and also placed in the State 14 & Under tournament.
In the Little League District at Marysville, Cros-Lex whipped St. Clair, 9-2, in the championship game.
Kylee Barrett was the winning pitcher. Abby Bringard and Sadi Overland each went 2-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Sydney Church added two singles and Hayley Church had one.
Cros-Lex rolled through the winners bracket to reach the finals by defeating Greenwood, 17-1, Marysville, 8-3, and St. Clair, 4-1.
The biggest play of the tournament for Cros-Lex came in the first meeting with St. Clair. Trailing 4-1, SC had the bases loaded with no one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. That's when C-L leftfielder Courtney Farr started a triple play to end the game.
"She made an amazing catch," explained Scott Young, C-L head coach. "Everybody was running. Nobody thought she'd catch it. She then threw to second for an out and we threw to first for the other. That was a nice way to end the game."
Cros-Lex will now play in the Little League Softball State Finals at Mattawan, which begins this week. Young has eight players that were on the team that won the 9-10year-old State championship last summer.
"Two years ago we were fifth in the State (9-10) and this is pretty much the same team we have now. We're hoping to do okay. We'll see what happens."
There were only two teams that showed up for the Junior League District 7 competition at St. Clair. Cros-Lex crushed St. Clair in the first contest, 21-0. Then held on to take a 13-11 decision in the championship game.
Coach Gerald Cepeda of C-L said his team may have let up in game two after building a 13-2 lead.
"The first game, we did everything right, got a lead, and we're having a lot of fun out there," said Cepeda.
Ashley Barth was the winning pitcher in both games for Cros-Lex. Barth, Chelsea Cepeda, Nikki Turcott, and Kate Barrett led the hitting attack.
Cros-Lex will play in the Junior League State Finals at Jackson starting on July 26.