Written By Cody Rose

The Union City Lady Bears softball team traveled to Hermitage on Monday afternoon, taking on the Mercer Mustangs in a District 10 2A Quarterfinal game. The Mustangs would strike first in the bottom of the first, as lead-off hitter Phoebe Eakman would start the game off with a triple and later score, as the next batter Pressley Washil would drive her in with a single. Union City starting pitcher Kaegann Gregor would settle in after that inning, as she would follow up with three shutout innings to keep the Lady Bears in the game. The Lady Bears only hit of the game would come in the first inning, as Senior Lucy Higley would reach on a single. The Mustangs would score their second run in the bottom of the fifth, as Phoebe Eakman would reach on a single and later score her second run of the game, as her sister Angelina Eakman would drive her in with a single. The Lady Bears could never get anything going in the game, as the Mustangs freshman pitcher Angelina Eakman was dominant in the circle, striking out thirteen and giving up only one hit, which would come in the first inning. The Mustangs would go on to defeat the Lady Bears 2-0, as Union City finishes the season with a 9-11 (7-9) record. 

The Lady Bears didn’t have the season they were hoping for, but the future looks very bright for this young team as they will be bringing back lots of talent. The Bears will be losing two key players to graduation however, all-time home run leader Lucy Higley at Third Base, as well as Center Fielder Emylee Zielinski, but Head Coach Jerry VanZandt will have his team back and ready to go next season.

Game stats:

Union City:

Batting:

CF Emylee Zielinski – 0/3

SS Cathryn Reynolds – 0/3

3B Lucy Higley – 1/2 single, HBP

P Kaegann Gregor – 0/3

2B Alissa Leech – 0/3

DH Desirae Brown – 0/2 HBP

LF Cheyenne Cummings – 0/2 walk, ROE

C Grace Chapman – 0/3

1B Alyssa Tingley – 0/2

RF/PR Kennady Brenner 

Pitching:

P Kaegann Gregor – 6.0 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 7 hits, 1 HBP, 2 R, 2 ER

Mercer:

Batting:

C Phoebe Eakman – 2/2 single, triple, HBP, two runs

SS Pressley Washil – 1/3 single, RBI

LF Emma Stoepfel – 0/3 ROE

P Angelina Eakman – 1/3 single, RBI

CF Lily Erwin – 0/2

1B Madeline Daris – 1/2 single, walk

RF Lexie Walker – 0/3

2B Kailyn Adams – 0/3

3B Avry Ryhal – 2/3 two singles

Pitching:

P Angelina Eakman – 7.0 IP, 13 K, 1 BB, 1 hit, 2 HBP, 0 R, 0 ER