New London softball slugs past Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — After edging Mt. Pleasant by one run earlier this season in New London, the Tiger softball team pushed past the Panthers 16-8 on Wednesday night at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

The game was low-scoring through the first three innings. New London’s Natalie Burden hit a two-RBI single in the first inning, and Mt. Pleasant’s Jersey Beachy knocked in a pair in the third, making it a 2-2 tie going into the fourth inning.

In the fourth, the Tiger offense roared. New London busted out 11 runs in the inning, knocking out Mt. Pleasant starter Madison Helling, who allowed just three earned runs on the night but 13 runs total.

“It’s hard to pull Maddie when she has been dependable all year,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Mike Beason. “We didn’t play very well behind her, and it just kind of got away from us.”

When the Tigers’ big inning was done, it was 13-2 New London, a score that would hold until the bottom of the fifth.

Mt. Pleasant needed at least two runs to wipe out the 10-run rule at the end of the fifth. The Panthers rallied for three in the fifth and three more in the sixth to make things interesting by cutting the deficit to 13-8.

New London, however, put its foot on the gas pedal. The Tigers scored three more runs in the seventh to give starting pitcher Elly Manning some insurance runs before Mt. Pleasant’s final at-bat.

“We have really been trying to have positive attitudes,” said junior New London infielder Ashlyn McSorley. “Even if we get down, we’ve got to stay up and keep trying our best to keep the hits going.”

McSorley was red-hot at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs to lead New London. Elly Manning was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Burden and Kaitlyn Lee each knocked in two runs.

Manning earned a complete-game win in the circle, giving up eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits and two hit-batters while striking out three batters.

Mt. Pleasant’s Savana Walls went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Grace Kelley was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Beachy finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Emma Starr went 2-for-4.

It was New London’s third win in a row in the rivalry. Before that, Mt. Pleasant had won four straight.

“Mt. Pleasant is always a big rival for us,” said New London coach Mark Chiri. “Anytime you win it’s nice, but if you can beat the towns right next to you, it’s more fun.”