Ponytail league action heats up

Dixie Youth Softball Ponytail action was hot and heavy Tuesday night at Optimist Park, with three county teams taking the field hoping for a district championship.

Grand Ridge outlasted Sneads in a come-from-behind victory, with Marianna coming out on top in their matchup.

Sneads jumped out to 6-1 lead after one inning of play before adding four runs in the second to make it a 10-2 game. Grand Ridge battled back in the third with three runs, and added three in the fourth to narrow the lead to 12-8 game, two innings remaining. One run scored in the fifth inning before a four-run sixth inning gave Grand Ridge the one run lead needed to capture the victory.

Stephanie Steweard got the nod on the mound for Sneads, going two innings, before giving way to Emily Edge, who closed out the game. For Grand Ridge, Katelyn Roberts started in the circle before giving way to Christin Suber, who closed out the final four innings and picked up the win.

Leading Sneads in offense was Edge, who was 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored, followed by Harley Hosey, who was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Logan Gilley, Brittany Fuder and Kaylee Messer all had one hit each.

For Grand Ridge, Delaina Barbee reached base in four straight plate appearances on walks and scored three runs, while Amber Clark had three walks, scoring three runs. Katelyn Roberts walked three times and scored twice. Haley Barbee, Christin Suber and Ayleen Faria all had a hit on the night.

In a repeat of last year’s championship game, Marianna Dixie softball Ponytails took on the Port St. Joe Ponytails — but with a different outcome. It was a pitcher’s duel with Breanna Willis of Marianna coming away with the 1-0 shut out.

Willis and her defense played almost perfect ball, with Willis striking out 11, allowing no runs, no hits, with just two walks and one error committed behind her. St. Joe proved to be a force also, but the one run scored in the fifth inning was all it took for the Marianna victory.

In the top of the first inning, Marianna had one baserunner, Taniyah Robinson with a one-out single. With two outs, Robinson stole second and third, but was out on an attempted steal at home. An error and a walk were the only baserunners for St. Joe in the bottom of the inning. Runners were left on second and third when a ground out to second ended the inning.

St. Joe retired the side for Marianna in the top of second and third innings. Willis repaid the favor in the bottom half of the next four innings, with 12 straight being retired. In the top of the fourth inning, a one out single by Christen Johnson was erased on a line drive shot to second, with Johnson being doubled up to end the inning.

Marianna’s only run came in the fifth inning. Shaniah “Strawberry” Spellman tripled to get things going, and scored on a double by Robinson. Robinson was out on a fielder’s choice by Caitlyn Carpenter. A single by Breanna Willis followed, but the inning ended with runners on base and no additional runs crossing the plate.

A two-out walk for St. Joe proved futile in the final inning.

Marianna was scheduled to take on Grand Ridge, with St. Joe facing Sneads in an elimination game Tuesday night. Results of those games were not available at press time.

Marianna Ponytail Breanna Willis pitches against Port St. Joe Monday. —Mark Skinner/Floridan