New London falls in first round at state

The 2016 version of New London vs. Newell-Fonda looked a lot different from the one in 2015.

On Monday, one season after bouncing the Mustangs, 9-1 in the first round of the state tournament, the Tigers fell in a nail-biter, 2-1.

Unlike last year, the New London offense couldn?t get anything going against the Newell-Fonda starter. The Tigers went hitless in the first and couldn?t capitalize on a Josten Boyer single to lead off the second.

Morgan Christner was able to keep the Mustangs quiet in the first two innings, but a couple of walks to start the inning came back to haunt the Tigers in the third. Newell-Fonda?s Abby Smith hit an RBI single with two outs to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

New London had the leadoff runner on once again in the bottom of the third after a Camryn Blint single. The Tigers couldn?t push the run across, however, and it was still 1-0 after three full innings.

Christner held the Mustangs scoreless in the top of the fourth inning and walked to lead off the bottom of the inning, making it three frames in a row where the lead Tiger runner got on.

This time, New London was able to able to get runners on second and third thanks to a passed ball, a Breanna Mettler walk and a stolen base by courtesy runner Savannah Sutherland, but once again Newell-Fonda escaped without giving up a run.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Mustangs threatened to break the game open in the top of the sixth inning.

The first two Newell-Fonda hitters singled and another advanced on a fielder?s choice to load the bases with just one batter out.

On a full count, Newell-Fonda?s Megan Morenz walked on a full count to make it 2-0. Christner, however, was able to get the next two batters out to hold the lead at two runs.

New London went quietly in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Mustangs threatened once again with a one-out double in the top of the seventh. The Tiger defense held, however, and it was 2-0 with one half inning remaining.

Mustang starter Olivia Larsen struck out Boyer and Mettler to start the bottom of the seventh, but in true Tiger fashion, New London made it interesting with two outs.

Victoria Noel, who was returning from her first game back from a foot injury, singled to center field to start the inning. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch to put herself in scoring position.

Layney Loyd followed with a big hit to the outfield, which scored Noel to cut the lead to 2-1. She stumbled coming around first base, however, and had to settle for a single.

With two outs and a runner on base, Blint sent a grounder to third, but the Mustang third basemen made the throw to first and ended New London?s chances at a state title.

The Tigers will now attempt to work their way up to fifth place via the loser?s bracket.

They?ll face West Harrison on Wednesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. West Harrison was blasted, 13-1 by Akron-Westfield in a four-inning first-round game. A win would pit them in the fifth-place game against Charter Oak-Ute or Belle Plaine later that day, at 2 p.m.