Millard Fury (NE) comes up clutch in 9-7 win

By Ryan Chapman

With time running down, 16U Millard Fury (NE) coach Dylan Bestenlehner wasn’t worried about his team.
 
“Our team really doesn’t put too much pressure on ourselves,” he said. “They go out there and they do their job.”
 
Millard Fury trailed the Sundodgers (WA) 7-5 headed into the bottom of the fourth inning before their late rally put them over the top, 9-7.
 
Kennedy Kadlec drew a leadoff walk for the Millard Fury to start off the inning. Then Gabi Puk wore a pitch for her team, and Jocelyn Diaz tallied a single to load the bases with the top of the order due up.
 
In the next at-bat, Caroline Ohlendorf tied the game with a 2-RBI single back up the middle. 
 
Paige Druskis capped off her 2-3 day with a 2-RBI at-bat of her own. Her double cleared the bases and drove home the final two runs of the contest, sealing the game for her team. 
 
“The win felt really good,” Krahmolisch said. “We started passing the bat and the mojo kept getting bigger and bigger and the atmosphere grew.”
 
Millard Fury had to battle back after a big third inning for the Sundodgers. 
 
Rachael Freebourn gave the Sundodgers the lead on a towering SAC-fly to center field, allowing teammate Alex Ginnis to tag up at third base and score. 
 
Savannah Antonowicz picked up an RBI single in her first at-bat of the afternoon and was able to steal second to put a runner in scoring position with two outs.
 
Alyssa Vasqueuz brought Antonowicz home to extend the Sundodgers lead to two runs.
 
Despite the big inning from the opposition, Avery Laing never doubted her team’s ability to manufacture a comeback.
 
“The atmosphere that we had in the dugout was really positive,” Laing said. “We stayed positive the entire game and didn’t give up at all. We just kept going and going and we kept our hits up and ended up with the win.”
 
Bestenlehner was pleased with how his team performed in the face of adversity. 
 
“Our team responded really well,” he said. “We have a great hitting team and when they’re on, the whole team hits. They pass the bat back and forth and they’re great.”
 
“This was a really good team that we played and we just buckled down, did our best and worked hard,” Krahmolisch said. “This win will help us in this tournament and further on in summer ball.”
 
Millard Fury wrapped up play in Pool B with its victory. 
 
The Sundodgers will finish up their pool play at 5:00 p.m. when they face Pool B leaders Dallas Tigers McNutt (TX). ​