South Rockwood clips Bedford in key Fair Softball Tournament game

MONROE — South Rockwood played Bedford last summer in the finals of the Monroe County Fair Softball Tournament.

The same two teams met Sunday on the opening day of the 50th edition of the county-wide event for 12-under teams.

If their back-and-forth thriller is any indication, fans can expect a wild ride to the finals.

Three-time defending champion South Rockwood scored five times in the final inning to pull out a 12-9 win.

“That was a great game,” Bedford coach Brian Benore said.

The win put South Rockwood in great position to win another championship. Coach Steve Drummond's team won't play again until the winners' bracket finals at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.

“Now we get to sit back and watch other teams knock each other out,” Drummond said.

Action resumes Monday with a pair of games — Monroe vs. Frenchtown at 4:30 p.m. followed by Mason vs. Dundee at 6:15.

All games are played on the Fairgrounds Diamond off S. Raisinville Rd, behind the Monroe County Drain Commission offices.

South Rockwood 12, Bedford 9

There were a lot of big plays in the game, but none bigger than the one that ended the bottom of the fourth inning.

Bedford had the bases loaded with one out when the batter hit a ball off the end of the bat that spun down the first-base line. The ball was in foul territory for most of its journey, but skittered across the line just before South Rockwood first baseman Paige Barnes picked it up.

Barnes hustled back to first to retire the hitter, who never got out of the batter's box, then fired home where catcher Madison Monroe applied a tag for the final out.

“She stayed with it and made a heads-up play,” Drummond said of Barnes.

It was a tough break for Bedford.

“Everyone thought it was foul.” Benore said. “But we just told the girls before the game to run it out no matter what.”

Monroe went 3-for-4 to spark the offense and she and Isabelle Jones scored three runs each.

Alexa Gariety tripled, doubled and singled to lead Bedford. She never got a chance to complete the cycle because South Rockwood intentionally walked her in the sixth inning.

Gabby Norbury added two hits and Vayda Benore smacked a double for Bedford.

Bedford, which returns to action at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, now faces the task of fighting back through the losers' bracket like last year.

“We plan to be back in the finals,” Benore said.

Bedford 12, Ida 6

Bedford scored an unearned run in the opening inning, then its offense heated up with three runs each in the second and third and five in the fourth.

A triple by Alexa Gariety keyed the fourth-inning uprising.

Reese Waters and Gabby Norbury each had a pair of hits and Gariety, Waters, Vayda Benore, Rose Gillespie and Becca Dixon scored two runs apiece.

Kenzie Hall collected two hits and Reese Snyder was 1-for-2 and drove in a run for Ida.

Mason 13, Monroe 0

Mason pitchers Presley Stark and Riley Brighton combined on a four-inning perfect game.

Stark threw the first three innings and struck out eight of the nine hitters she faced. Brighton tossed a 1-2-3 fourth inning with three strikeouts.

"It was awesome," Mason coach Angie Gerber said. "I knew they would throw strikes for us. I was thrilled to see them do so well."

Mason managed just four hits, but was helped by seven walks and five hit batters.

Brighton, Emme Heck, Presley Stark and Liv Cowdrey had the hits. Valynn Morrow drove in two runs.

Dundee 16, Frenchtown 0

Dundee needed just three innings to win its opener by mercy rule, scoring seven times in the first inning and seven in the third.

"It was a good performance," Dundee coach Todd Federer said. "We practiced everyone moving and knowing their role and they executed it."

Madison Cousino, Amelia Federer, Brynn Cusac and Caitlyn Nolff led the offense with two hits each.

Back-to-back singles by Averie Hammock-Gill and Adriana Cagala in the third inning were the only hits for Frenchtown.

2024 FAIR SOFTBALL ROSTERS

BEDFORD

Players : Addison Orth, Becca Dixon, Gabby Norbury, Vayda Benore, Reese Waters, Avery Steinman, Kamryn Hawk, Grace Grosteffon, Emma Devine, Rose Gillespie, Alexa Gariety.

Coaches : Brian Benore, Kellie Hawk, Beth Waters, Jackie Gillespie.

DUNDEE

Players : Macy Blanchett, Rylee Cole, Madison Cousino, Brynn Cusac, Amelia Federer, Azaria Lane, Emma Lindamood, Kaleigh Mack, Caitlyn Nolff, Brynn Rothman, Juliet Rouse, Kate Thorn, Alexandria Widner, Lorelei Zaborski.

Coaches : Todd Federer, Jason Nolff, Brian Verdone, Grace Horkey, Kennedy Verdone.

FRENCHTOWN

Players : Shiann Mason, Kennedy Joseph, Adriana Cagala, Brookelyne Cartwright, Averie Hammock-Gill, Natalie Hurley, Payton Maddox, Sierra Powers, Myra Thomas, Lillith Shaw, Eden Vallade, Emilie Cupp, Ava Ferguson, Hadlee Denski.

Coaches : Skylar Mason, Ryan Thompson, Jenny Gill.

IDA

Players : Logan Everett, Brinley Krieger, Lawey Hoffman, Kenzie Hall, Tinely Prewitt, Rese Parker, Sadie Lusky, Gabbie Rosengarten, Ella Derian, Luna Spencer, Reese Snyder, Leah Angerer.

Coaches : Travis Lusky, Chris Derian, Brynn Lusky.

MASON

Players : Presley Stark, Lucy McCrum, Georgia Hartley, Alli England, Aubrey Hodge, Carley Regnier, Valynn Morrow, Liv Cowdrey, Riley Brighton, Emerson Heck, Kylie Lavoy, Henley Stubleski.

Coaches : Angie Gerber, Audrey Hempel, Todd Hodge, Aubree Winzeler, Emalyn Hammond.

MONROE

Players : Julia Gessner, Cecelia Aulph, Jozi Willey, Marilyn Tyner, Lacie Little Chayla Halladay, Kaydence Maya, Aaleya Simon-Cheatham, Annabell McIntee, Harper Loveland, Sophia Mason, Savannah Walsh.

Coaches : Brad Willey, Jeff Gessner.

SOUTH ROCKWOOD

Players : Charleigh Mullins, Reese Grabetz, Piper Cadogan, Ellie Franzen, Isabelle Jones, Paige Barnes, Maggie Jones. Sam Ganzberger, Maggliana Ybarra, Madison Monroe, Addison Bray, Adelyn Sibert, Sophia Piepsney, Jurneigh LaRowe.

Coaches : Steve Drumond, Jim Martin, Phil Piepsney, Jessica Jones.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: South Rockwood clips Bedford in key Fair Softball Tournament game