By Noah Dalton
LINTON – Mitchell High School hit the road on Monday for their fourth straight game away from Parker Field, this time heading to Linton-Stockton to take on the Miners.
The game was a rematch from last year’s opening round of sectional play, which saw the Bluejackets hold off Linton to advance despite multiple rallies from the resilient Miners team.
This time around, Linton was able to complete their comeback efforts, taking control of the game after a strong offensive start from Mitchell to hold on for a narrow 4-3 lead.
The Bluejackets gained their advantage in the first inning, putting runners on base, Page Mullis (walk) and Alyssa Young (single) in the first two at-bats. A pair of wild pitches gave way for Mullis to travel to third and eventually score to give Mitchell a one-run advantage.
They kept their momentum going in the second, loading the bases with two outs on back-to-back singles from Mullis and Young, as well as a walk from Davaney Roop to set up Emma Chastain, who drove in two runs (Mullis and Young) with a base hit to right field, putting the Bluejackets in the drivers’ seat 3-0.
The Miners found their way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Addisyn McKee led off the inning with a walk. After two outs recorded by Mitchell, Addi Ward stepped to the plate to hit a double out to center field, allowing McKee to head home for Linton’s first score of the night.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Miners’ push continued, loading the bases with one out (Bella Franklin, walk, Alyvia McKee, single, and Maelee Pilant, walk). Bluejackets’ pitcher Karsyn Coleman managed to strike out the next batter, Addisyn McKee, but hit the next, Bradie Chambers, with a pitch, forcing Franklin home from third. In the next at-bat, Pyper Bland drew a walk, bringing Alyvia McKee in to tie things up at 3-3.
The winning run for Linton came in the next frame. With one down, Abbi McKee drew a walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch during an attempt from Franklin, who stepped to the plate next. She sacrifice bunted, bringing Abbi KcKee to third, where she’d score from on a passed ball.
Mitchell notched four hits in the game, those coming from Mullis, Chastain and Young, who had two.
Coleman pitched the majority of the game after taking over for Natalee Nissley in the second. She faced 23 hitters, striking out eight.
The Bluejackets (0-4) will play their first home game of the season next, taking on Eastern Pekin on Wednesday.
