Semoball

Perryville Stars 16U softball takes national title at USSSA Great Lakes tournament

The Perryville Stars 16U softball team poses after winning a championship at the USSSA Great Lakes Nationals tournament in Peoria, Illinois.
Submitted photo

Congrats to Stars 16U — Hotop for their NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP vicotry at USSSA Great Lakes Nationals in Peoria, IL!!

After going 2-1 in pool play, the Stars swept through double elimination play. In game one of bracket play, the Stars got off to a slow start trailing Minnesota Ice 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 4th. Then Ashley Carrow led off with a solo shot and ignited the Stars offense. The Stars plated 4 in the 4th then another 7 in the 5th to win the game 11-3.

In Game 2, the Stars routed the Blazers 13-1. In game 3, Lily Johnson threw another dominating game and the Stars won against Stateline Fury 8-0.

Submitted photo

Game 4 saw both undefeated bracket teams pitted against each other as the Stars squared off against the Trevians who had defeated the Stars in pool play. The game was 0-0 going into the 6th when Emma Johnson knocked in the first run of the game with a hit up the middle. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Trevians scratched the tying run across to tie the game at 1-1. In extra innings, with the international tie-breaker rule in effect, the Stars scored 3 times behind some stellar bunting by Lilly Jones and Katie Roberts. Then a clutch triple by Ashley Carrow made the score 4-1. Lily Johnson finished up the 8th and brought home a Stars win 4-2.

In the championship game the Stars faced off against Quad City Lady Hitmen. It was clear from the start that the Stars would not be denied. In the first, the Stars plated three runs behind two clutch two-out doubles off the bats of Alaina Hotop & Brooke Huber. The Stars plated another 3 in the second behind Reese Barber and another Emma Johnson RBI. Hotop capped the rally with another double off the fence in center field. With the early 6-0 lead the Stars cruised to a 10-2 victory! Lily Johnson was relieved by Hailey Kutz who finished off the final 3 innings.

Many outstanding WE performances by this group!!! Congrats to the team and coaches.

Individual honors were handed out to Lily Johnson of New Madrid as the tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher, she went 5-0 with a .27 ERA.

And, Tournament MVP honors went to Alaina Hotop of Perryville with a batting average of .561 and also playing an errorless 1st base position for the week.

Perryville Stars-Hotop finished the summer season with a record of 27-4-2.