IPRD girls win first three in pool play, had one more outing before start of bracket competition Tuesday

Plaquemine’s IPRD 12 and Under girls all-star softball team won its first three games of pool play in the annual Babe Ruth World Series in Winston County, North Carolina through Sunday.

At article deadline Monday a.m., the local state and regional softball champs were set to play Kinston/Lenoir, N.C. in another pool contest. Bracket play began Tuesday and odds highly favored the locals to be in the championship playoff.

The IPRD girls turned back Port Angeles, Washington by an 8-2 score Sunday. After receiving a first-round pool play bye, Plaquemine opened Series competition Friday with a 9-1 victory over a Wisconsin team. They beat Dover, New Hampshire by a 6-2 score Saturday.

IPRD 8, Port Angeles, Wash. 2:

The IPRD girls were sluggish as they warmed up for the early Sunday morning game, but when the action began on the diamond, they got hot, scoring a run in the first inning and then three more in the second. Shelby Willis began the contest on the mound and won it with relief help from Mallory Perrault.

Shylar O’Bear led the offensive attack and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Joining her with key hits were Willis, Skylar O’Bear, Chloe Richard, Perrault, Alana Blanchard, and Emily Anzaldua. Blanchard had a triple that nearly cleared the fence.

Leading the defensive effort were Keri Yarbrough, Blanchard, and Kyndal Guillory.

“Everyone has played hard over the first three days of the Series. Willis, Skylar O’Bear, and Mallory Perrault have been solid on the mound and Skylar and Shelby (Willis), along with Anzaldua, have been very consistent at the plate, while Keri Yarbrough has been tremendous in the field,” commented IPRD Director Mike Markins.

IPRD 9, V.C. Everest, Wisconsin 1:

The locals opened pool play and the World Series by beating the Ohio Valley champs behind the seven-strikeout performance by pitcher Willis and the extra-base hitting of Skylar O’Bear, who delivered a huge triple. Other hitters for IPRD were Anzaldua with a two for two batting effort and hits by Willis and Shelbi Strickland.

IPRD 6, Dover, N.H. 2:

Plaquemine won its second game in pool play with Skylar O’Bear and Perrault combining their pitching efforts and Anzaldua pushing her two-game effort to four-straight hits without an out. Anzaldua was named the game’s MVP in honor of her consistent hitting. Adding a double and a single was Willis.