Valley goes West, rallies past Knox in extras

Shock’s game-tying squeeze bunt in 7th, sophomore’s walk-off hit in 8th highlight sectional win

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Softball

Tippecanoe Valley 7, Knox 6 (8 innings, Tuesday): Mylee West had a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to score Mackaylie Costello as the Tippecanoe Valley softball team stunned Knox in a Class 3A, Sectional 20 quarterfinal at Kankakee Valley Tuesday.

Valley trailed 6-3 but scored three runs off Knox reliever Sarah Fort in the bottom of the seventh to tie it.

Costello singled and tripled, and Elise Smith also had two hits as part of Valley’s nine-hit attack.

Kaitlyn Threlkel and Kahlyn Manns also had a hit and an RBI. Costello, Smith and Anna Shock each had an RBI.

Dalynne Bussard doubled and scored a run, and Temperance Caudill also had a hit.

Bussard pitched a seven-hitter with one walk and 13 strikeouts. She threw 121 pitches.

Valley led 3-0 after three innings, but Knox scored four runs in the top of the fourth and two more in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead.

Caudill singled to open the seventh and went to second when West, pinch-hitting for K.C. Shriver, grounded to second.

After a walk to Olivia Powell, Smith had an RBI single to score Caudill and move Powell to third. Smith advanced to second on the throw.

Manns then reached on an error to score Powell and move Smith to third.

Shock laid down an RBI squeeze bunt to tie the game.

Bussard whiffed Jordynn Goins with a runner on second to end the top of the eighth.

In the bottom half, Costello walked and stayed there as Fort struck out Threlkel and Caudill.

Costello then stole second.

West singled to center, and Costello raced home with the winning run.

Valley will play Rensselaer, who received a bye, in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Eastern today. The other semifinal will feature Culver Academy and Kankakee Valley. Kankakee Valley drubbed John Glenn 20-0 in five innings Tuesday.

Valley 7, Knox 6 (8 innings)

Knox 000 400 20 – 6 7 3

Valley 111 000 31 – 7 9 4

WP – Dalynne Bussard (8 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 13 K)

LP – Fort (2 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)

2B – Friedrich (KNOX), Wolff (KNOX), Dalynne Bussard (TV)

3B – Mackaylie Costello (TV)