SADSBURY TOWNSHIP — It was blistering hot on Wednesday but, there was Little League softball to be played. Mid-East took down Conneaut 13-2 at Sadsbury Recreation Complex in the 8-10 year old championship double elimination game. With the win, Mid-East will face Conneaut again today, in a winner takes all match.

Conneaut started out the evening by getting on the board first in the bottom of the first.

With a runner on second and third, Dilyme Eyley grounded a ball to first, where she was out. But, Mya Sheik ran home from third for the 1-0 Conneaut lead.

Conneaut was still in scoring position after the 1-0 strike but Mid-East pitcher Lila Wilcox got the third strikeout to close the first inning.

Mid-East responded almost immediately in the top of the second.

Raelynn Pratt was walked, before stealing second during Laken Meader's at-bat. Meader then grounded the ball up the middle, allowing Pratt to score.

Later in the inning, Mid-East was in a bases loaded situation. Maisie Prenatt came up to bat and she grounded out to first but Claire Lauer ran home from third to give Mid-East the 2-1 lead.

Once Mid-East took the lead, the team never looked back.

"As a team, we've been trying to teach confidence," head coach Kyle Pratt said. "And this group didn't play rec ball together so, it's a new group. They're finally hitting their groove and they finally believed in themselves to make contact with the ball."

Mid-East continued to hold the lead into the top of the third. They struck again in another bases loaded scenario.

Adah Geibel was up at the plate with Karolynn Frum, Avery Osborne and MacKenzie Free all on base. Geibel was walked, for Mid-East's fourth-straight walk, advancing Frum home for the 3-1 lead.

Mid-East could not capitalize with the bases still loaded and struck out on the next two at-bats.

Mid-East grabbed its fourth run during the top of the fourth, when after two walks, Prenatt grounded a ball that allowed Wilcox to run in from third, before Prenatt was out on a fielder's choice.

Things can change fast in Little League softball and not wanting to leave things to chance, Mid-East came out rolling at the top of the fifth.

A walk from Hadley Mitchell, Frum and Maylin Ritchey loaded the bases for Mid-East once again.

Up to bat was Osborne who singled up the middle, getting to first and bringing home Mitchell.

On the next at-bat, Free singled a fly ball to center, getting to first and sending Frum to the plate to make it 6-1.

After a strikeout on the next at-bat, Mid-East struck again.

Maddy Moon doubled up the center, bringing in both Ritchey and Osborne.

The very next play, Mid-East got in two again.

Raelynn Pratt singled up the middle and Free and Moon got home for the 10-1 lead.

Meader singled on the next pitch, getting to first, to set up runners on first and third after Pratt advanced to third.

After a strikeout, Mid-East added its 11th when Pratt stole home.

Mid-East was not done yet, bringing in Meader and Wilcox on a Prenatt fly ball to second.

Mid-East was stopped on the next at-bat after driving in nine in the fifth for the 13-1 lead.

Wanting to get momentum on its side for today's match, Conneaut pushed hard to score in the bottom of the fifth.

Conneaut had two outs with Brittney Wielobob on third after walking and stealing second and third.

On the next pitch, Wielobob stole home to make it 13-2.

Conneaut was still in scoring position with Emma Reynolds at third but Mid-East got the final strikeout to stop Conneaut.

These teams will not get much time to breathe as they are back in action again today against each other for a shot at the championship.

"We have to go in with confidence," Kyle Pratt said. "They've got a good pitcher, we've got a good pitcher. If they both hit their spots, it's going to be a tough one."

The game will be at 6 p.m. at Richmond Township Recreation Center.

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Mid-East (13)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Free 2-1-1-1, Geibel 2-0-0-1, Moon 3-1-1-2, Pratt 2-2-1-2, Meader 3-1-2-1, Lauer 2-1-0-0, Wilcox 0-2-0-0, Leech 0-0-0-0, Prenatt 3-0-1-3, Mitchell 2-1-0-0, Frum 0-2-0-0, Ritchey 1-1-0-0, Osborne 1-1-1-1.

Conneaut (2)

(AB-R-H-RBI) Shiek 1-1-0-0, Lenhardt 0-0-0-0, Phelps 2-0-0-0, Eyley 2-0-0-1, Krider 1-0-0-0, Bre. Wielobob 2-0-0-0, Stewart 1-0-0-0, Brit. Wielobob 0-1-0-0, Reynolds 1-0-0-0, Oates 2-0-0-0, Braden 1-0-0-0, Hershleman 2-0-0-0.

Mid-East 021 19 — 13 7 0

Conneaut 100 01 — 2 0 1

BATTING

2B: M — Moon.

PITCHING

(IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO) M — Geibel 3.1-0-2-2-6-7, Wilcox 1.2-0-0-0-1-4; No Conneaut pitching stats reported.