Brookstone's 7th-ining rally falls shy against Stratford

Brookstone's seventh-inning rally fell one run short as Stratford Academy eliminated the Cougars 5-4 Friday afternoon in the GHSA Class A-private school state softball tournament at South Commons.

Down 5-2 in the top of the seventh, the Cougars loaded the base on three straight walks. Haley Johnson got a single that scored one run, but Emily Timmons was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second.

Katherine Snavely's single made it 5-4. But with runners on second and third, Helen Snavely lined out to right to end the game.

"It took us a little to get used to their pitcher," Brookstone coach Nathan McConnell said. "Our hitters adjusted, but it was a little too late. I think we would have scored more, but our time ran out.

"We had runners on second and third and Helen put a strong swing, but their right fielder made a good play on the line drive and that was the ball game. We did make it interesting though at the end."

The Eaglettes went ahead 2-0, scoring single runs in the first and second.

The Cougars' Johnson stroked a two-run RBI single and tied it at 2-2.

Stratford went back ahead in the fifth when it reached Snavely up for three straight hits and a walk and it was 5-2, setting the stage for the eventful seventh.

"I was proud of the way our girls played and kept on coming back, they never quit," said McCollum.

Friday at South Commons

Brookstone 000 200 2--4 6 2

Stratford 110 030 x--5 8 0

WP-Mary Avant. LP-Helen Snavely (19-3). LH-B-Haley Johnson 2-4, 3RBI, Katherine Snavely 1-4, RBI; Helen Snavely 1-4; Nae McClain 1-3; Leslie Harris 1-2.SA-Toni Dover 3-3 2B, 2RBI; E. McCook 2-3, R, RBI. Records-Brookstone 21-6. Next: Brookstone, season over.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 8:32 PM with the headline "Brookstone's 7th-ining rally falls shy against Stratford ."