Jackets hang on to bring down Elks

The Lady Yellowjackets made it 1-1 for the young season Thursday, holding off visiting Elk Creek 14-12 on Pearson Field in Williams.

Although the Jackets never trailed, the game was not without its tense moments, as Elk Creek battled back to within two runs with a 3-run 7th inning, and brought the potential tying run to the plate before Williams was able to get the third out.

Williams opened up with five runs in the very first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and picking up three hits. Ashlee Povlsen, Vanessa Ascension and Jessi Coder collected the singles, with Povlsen joining teammates Jennifer Rodriguez, Itzel Ramirez, Shayla Maxey and Liz Ramos in the scoring parade.

The Jackets went the five-run route again in the 3rd, with Povlsen rapping out her second hit and Maxey, her first. Williams was also aided by four errors and a pair of wild pitches.

Elk Creek played its way back into contention with three runs each in the 3rd and 4th, and two more in the 5th to make the score 10-8 Williams.

Sitting on a a precarious 2-run lead, Williams found some breathing room with four more runs in the 5th. The key blow was Maxey's 2-run single, which scored Ramirez, who had been hit by a pitch, and Povlsen, who had singled for the third time.

Elk Creek hung in with three runs in the 7th, but Rodriguez, who had come in to pitch in relief in the 4th inning, was able to get the third out.

Williams travels to Princeton Tuesday, and hosts Pierce Thursday.

Craig Purcell is sports editor for Tri-County Newspapers. Contact him at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.