Harris County tops Columbus 7-1 in Region 1-AAAAA play

In a game between teams undefeated in Region 1-AAAAA, Harris County pitcher Brooke Wakenigg got out of a handful of early jams, settled in and helped lead the Lady Tigers to a 7-1 win over Columbus.

Early in the contest, Columbus appeared poised to take control early, loading the bases in the first and third innings and putting runners at second and third in the second inning. Each time, the Lady Blue Devils came up empty, however, leaving the door open for Harris County.

In the bottom of the first, Wakenigg struck out Abby Wynn to end the inning, in the second, she struck out Derykah Ray and Raleigh Williams, and in the third, she induced a popup to second base.

“She did a great job,” Lady Tigers coach Brook Zuerner said after the game. “I was most impressed with how she worked out of some big jams. She got some big outs when things could have gone the wrong way early.”

After Wakenigg had given Harris County a reprieve, the Lady Tigers took advantage. They jumped ahead with one run in the third and fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.

In the third, Emily Dansby knocked a double and was driven home by another double by Abby White. In the fifth, Dansby scored again, this time on an RBI single by Abbey Thomason. In the sixth, Lily Hooper and Carson Anderson singled to start the inning, and Wakenigg reached on a sacrifice bunt and an error that resulted in Hooper crossing the plate. Two batters later, Anna Richardson singled to load the bases, and Dansby and White both knocked two-RBI singles to make it 6-0.

Columbus scored its one run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Williams, and Harris County added a run on an RBI double by Wakenigg in the seventh.

“We knew (Columbus pitcher Kaleigh Sullivan) was going to be strong, that she would be around the zone,” Zuerner said. “We just wanted to be patient when we needed to be patient. Ultimately, our offensive goal was to get line drives and ground balls, and I think we did that.”

With the win, Harris County took sole control of first place in the region with a 5-0 record, one game better than Columbus’ 4-1 mark. As Zuerner pointed out, though, all that matters is what happens in the region tournament at the end of the regular season.

“The regular season just sort of sets us up for the region tournament,” Zuerner said. “It just gives you a good view of your opponents and what to expect then. We just need to keep winning ballgames and getting better.”

Harris County plays next on Wednesday against LaGrange, Columbus at Hardaway on Tuesday.

Thursday at Lakebottom Park

Harris County 001 114 1—7 12 1

Columbus 000 001 0—1 8 1

WP—Brooke Wakenigg. LP—Kaleigh Sullivan. Leading hitters—Harris County, Abby White 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, Abbey Thomason 1-4, RBI, Lily Hooper 3-4, 2B, R, Brooke Wakenigg 1-3, 2B, RBI, R, Emily Dansby 3-3, 2B, R, RBI; Columbus, Raleigh Williams 1-4, RBI, Erin Smith 1-3, 2B. Records—Harris County, 5-5, 5-0 Region 1-AAAAA; Columbus, 8-7, 4-1 Region 1-AAAAA. Next—Harris County, Wednesday vs. LaGrange; Columbus, Tuesday at Hardaway.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Harris County tops Columbus 7-1 in Region 1-AAAAA play."