CENTENNIAL | Courtney Browne picked the perfect time for her first high school home run.
Just minutes after the resumption of a game suspended by darkness three days earlier and then rescheduled by weather, the junior launched a three-run blast to put Grandview ahead and pitched the final frame in the Wolves’ 9-8 pivotal Centennial League victory Friday at Eaglecrest.
Senior shortstop Emily Supercynski threw out speedy Tayler Mashburn on a groundball in the hole to end a late rally by the Raptors, Grandview’s biggest obstacle to the league championship. Coach Dave Thies’ Wolves can seal the Centennial League crown with a victory against Overland Saturday.
Grandview (12-6 overall, 5-1 in league) may also have sealed the right to host one of eight Class 5A district tournaments with the victory. Seeding for the district playoffs is due out on Sunday.
Coach Yvette Hendrian’s Eaglecrest team — which posted a large victory over Mullen on Thursday — dropped to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in league play.
The Wolves nearly had the game closed out on Tuesday, but Taylor Maynard’s RBI groundout brought home the tying run to make it 6-6 before umpires decided not to start another inning due to darkness.
Rain showers scrubbed the teams’ effort complete the game on Wednesday and they had to wait until Friday to finish it off.
Senior Ande Troutman doubled off Eaglecrest junior Sarah Bushman to open Grandview’s ninth inning, but remained at second base as Bushman retired Loghan Thomas and Supercynski. Kat Maynard drew a four-pitch walk to bring up Browne, who ranked second on the team in RBI.
Browne drove Bushman’s pitch over the fence in left center field to give her team a three-run lead. Jordyn McDaniel followed with a double, but was stranded at second base.
Unflappable as usual, the Raptors showed signs of life when Chelsea Gorman stroked a double with one away in the bottom of the ninth inning. Browne coaxed a groundout from Alexa Romero, but Mikayla Faulkner whacked an RBI single, Kailey Wilson drew a four-pitch walk and Jordyn Wiatrak also singled in a run to make it a one-run contest.
With Wilson representing the tying run on third base, Mashburn hit a hard shot in the hole at shortstop, which Supercynski gloved and threw to first base to end the game.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
GRANDVIEW 9, EAGLECREST 8