VRD 8U Girls Take 2nd In State
The Vidalia Recreation Department’s 8U girls had a good run in the GRPA State Tournament last week in Colquitt County as they came home as the State Runner-up.
VRD vs. Lee Co.
Vidalia played their first game of the tournament on Wednesday of last week against Lee County. This game was a battle that came down to the final inning.
Lee jumped out with three runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead, but Vidalia came back in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Vidalia got a home run from Ryan Sasser, and an RBI double from Jaycee Lowther to pull the score to 3-2. Ryleigh Anthony drove in the final run of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Lee county answered with three more runs in the top of the second inning to go ahead 6-3, but Vidalia came back with three of their own in the bottom of the second with another RBI hit by Sasser, and an RBI double from Logan Gibson to make the score 6-6.
Lee added a run in the top of the third to take a 7-6 lead, but VRD plated two runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the game at 8-7. Vidalia pulled away in the bottom of the fourth inning with four more runs to extend their lead to 12-7, but Lee was not to be outdone, as they scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to close the lead to 12-11.
In the top of the seventh inning, Lee County tied the game at 12-12. Vidalia came up in the bottom of the sixth inning, and with runners on base, Ellie Champion came through with the game winning RBI single. VRD came out on top, 13-12, over Lee County.
VRD vs. Wayne Co.
Up next for Vidalia was Wayne County in the semifinals of the winners’ bracket. Vidalia struggled a bit at the plate in this game, while Wayne belted out 20 hits on their way to the win.
Wayne picked up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but VRD closed the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second. Wayne answered with eight more runs to break the game open in the bottom of the second inning. That gave them a 10-1 lead over VRD.
Wayne added five more runs in the third inning. Vidalia scored a pair of runs in the fourth, but it was not enough as they lost to Wayne, 15-3.
VRD vs. Emanuel Co.
That dropped Vidalia into the semifinals of the losers’ bracket to take on Emanuel County. Vidalia was up for the challenge as they pulled away in the third inning to take the win.
Emanuel plated a run in the top of the first inning and another in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead over Vidalia. But VRD came through with nine runs in the bottom of the third inning as they jumped out to a 9-2 lead. Emanuel County closed the lead to 9-6 in the top of the fourth inning, but Vidalia added five more in the bottom of the frame as they went on to win the game, 14-6.
VRD vs. Wayne Co.
Championship That put Vidalia into the State Championship Game with a rematch against Wayne County. Vidalia did fare better in this game, but Wayne came out on top again as they took the State Title over Vidalia.
Vidalia scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, but Wayne plated six runs in the bottom of the inning and then added five more in the second inning to take an 11-1 lead over Vidalia.
Vidalia kept fighting though, as Ryan Sasser picked up a home run, Jaycee Lowther added an RBI single, Harper Bowen drove in a run and Addy Kate Ellis picked up an RBI single. That closed the lead to 11-6. But in the bottom of the third Wayne added three more runs to push the lead back to 14-6.
Vidalia scored two runs in the fourth inning, but Wayne closed out the game in the bottom of the frame with six runs as they took the win, 20-8, with VRD taking second place in the State Tournament.
