NB#2 finishes a close 2nd in the Southwood 12U Girls' Softball Tournament that was held this past week in Bloomdale. Head Coach is Sean McNett and Assistants are Bill Bucher, Matt Weinandy & Dale Kepling.

Bloomdale took 1st place and NB#1 finished 3rd place. NB#1 is coached by Dan Hopple, Josh Hopple and Joe Lord.

In the final game of the consolation's bracket on Friday, NB#2 defeated NB#1 with a final score of 8 to 6. With this win, NB#2 advanced to the Championship Game to play Bloomdale immediately following that win.

In the championship game (NB#2 vs Bloomdale), the game was tied up at 7 after 7 innings of play, which took the game into extra innings where the international tie-breaker rule came into effect.

In the top of the 8th inning, NB#2 scored 2 runs going up 9 to 7. That brought Bloomdale up to bat in the bottom of the 8th, and NB#2 was able to hold them FOR THE WIN. Final score was 9 to 7.

Since this was Bloomdale's 1st loss of the tournament, a 2nd game had to be played on Saturday, as Southwood tournaments play in a double elimination format. On Saturday, it was another close one, with the game was tied at 8 after regulation.

This sent them into extra innings against Bloomdale for the 2nd day in a row, and NB#2 was up to bat 1st. In the top of the 8th, 2 runs were scored by NB#2, but in the bottom of the 8th, Bloomdale's big-hitters were up, and they scored 3 runs to WIN the 12U girls' tournament, beating NB#2, with a final score of 11 to 10.

These last 2 game were nail biters for sure! Both teams did extremely well and there were many lead changes throughout both games. There were 9 teams in the girls' 12U tournament seeded as follows - NB#1, NB#2, Bloomdale, Wayne, Portage, Bradner, Weston, Risingsun and Haskins. Both NB teams did great this year finishing 11-1 in their regular season.

McNett Team Photo

Top Row - Coach Matt Weinandy, Morgan Bretz, Makayla Light, Katelyn Weinandy, Emily Swope, Coach Bill Bucher

Bottom Row - Head Coach Sean McNett, Alivia Light, Jasmine McNett, Gabbie Kepling, Allison Kepling, Sierrah Johnson, Jordan Bucher, Coach Dale Kepling

Not Pictured: Kennedy Bretz

Hopple Team Photo

Top Row - Coach Joe Lord, Grace Rein, Paige Hyatt, Hailey Watson, Valerie Buchanan, Coach Josh Hopple

Middle Row - Head Coach Dan Hopple, Haylee Hopple, Andrea Roddy, Kiley Brooker, Olivia Hyatt

Bottom Row - Lanie McCartney, Alexis Bear, Hannah Lord