Sneads Darlings are headed to state
By: Shelia Mader
The Sneads Darlings took the runner-up spot in district play, having played in the blazing sun in Blountstown June 13-15. The feisty little team didn’t walk away with the district championship but they did earn a bid to play in the Darlings State Tournament scheduled to be held in Belleview. Opening ceremonies will be at a banquet Thursday, June 26 with games starting Friday, June 27.
The Sneads Darlings won game one, 8-4 over Liberty County. The Sneads Darlings came up short against Port St. Joe, 17-11 but won handily 10-4 over Franklin County. They completed their final game Sunday with a 17-6 win over Wewa.
Sneads wins over Liberty County
The Sneads Darlings took an 8-4 win over Liberty County thanks in part to two four-run innings. They got on board with four runs in the first inning, while keeping LC off the board. Liberty County scored a run in the second inning and one in the third inning before Sneads added four more in their half of the fourth. LC came back with two runs in the fourth to complete their scoring, with Sneads earning the win.
Amelia Varieur led things off with a single for Sneads but was out on a fielder’s choice by Rhylie Branch. Branch advance to third on a single by May Mestas before Shaylee Brown singled to score a run and put runners on the corners. With two outs, Ashtyn Varn singled home a run, followed by Averie Pittman picking up an RBI when Varn scored on her single.
In the second inning, Kendalyn Stephens led off with a single with Presley Burns following with a one-out single. Both runners were left on the bags when a pair of outs followed.
In the fourth inning, Amelia Varieur singled and moved to third on a hit by Rhylie Branch to put runners on first and third. May Mestas followed with a hit that scored Varieur and left two on base. With one out, Kendalyn Stephens landed on base and picked up an RBI. Ashtyn Varn doubled to score the final run of the game. With two outs, Aria Fitzsimmons singled to put runners on the corners but a strikeout ended the inning. In the final inning, Carah Stevens had the final hit of the game for Sneads.
Sneads falls to PSJ
The Sneads Darlings took the field for game one Saturday with a win under their belt and were looking for win number two. It didn’t work out the way they had planned with Port St. Joe taking the 11-7 victory.
Sneads plated three runs in the top of the first inning starting with a leadoff hit by Amelia Varieur, followed by an RBI single by Rhylie Branch. May Mestas joined the hit parade and knocked in Branch. With one out, Shaylee Brown hit into a fielder’s choice followed by the final hit of the inning by Anslee Williams who singled home the third run of the inning. PSJ countered with four runs in their half of the frame.
Sneads answered with four runs in the top of the second inning to move ahead 7-4. Aria Fitzsimmons led off with a hit and with one out, Presley Burns singled home Fitzsimmons and scored on a hit by Carah Stevens. Stevens then scored on a hit by Brayley Davidson. With two outs, Rhylie Branch added an RBI to her stats on a single that scored Davidson before a groundout ended the inning. PSJ was held to one hit and no runs in their half of the second.
A one-out hit by Shaylee Brown was the only offense for Sneads in their half of the third inning. Port St. Joe added four runs to take an 8-7 lead after three complete. In the top of the fourth inning, A one-out hit by Kendalyn Stephens was the only offense for Sneads. Port St. Joe was held scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
In the fifth inning, with one out, Amelia Varieur singled but was left on the bag. PSJ added three runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the 11-7 win.
Sneads wins 10-4 over Franklin County
In game one Sunday, the Sneads Darlings took the field ready for their second win of the tournament, and they got just that. They dealt their competitors a 10-4 loss and paved the way for a spot in the championship game.
Sneads jumpstarted their game with three runs in the first inning, while keeping Franklin County from having a run cross the plate. Sneads added a run in the third and fourth innings, before a banner finish with five runs in the fifth inning. Franklin County answered with a run in the second, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth.
Amelia Varieur led things off when she reached first base on an error, followed by Rhylie Branch who also took advantage of an error to land safely on first. Varieur moved to third on the play and scored when May Mestas singled. Branch advanced to third on the play. With one out, Anslee Williams hit into a fielder’s choice that scored a run. Ashtyn Varn singled for the last hit of the inning.
A one-out hit by Kendalyn Stephens was the only offense in the second inning. With two outs in the third inning, Rhylie Branch singled, and scored on back-to-back hits by May Mestas and Shaylee Brown before a ground out ended the inning.
Sneads added another run in the fourth inning that started with a single by Ashtyn Varn. With two outs, Kendalyn Stephens and Presley Burns put together back-to-back singles that scored Varn. A strikeout ended the inning with Sneads leading 5-4.
Sneads’ bats came alive in the fifth inning with five runs crossing the plate, starting with a leadoff hit by Brayley Davidson. Davidson scored on consecutive hits by Amelia Varieur and Rhylie Branch. Varieur scored with two outs when Anslee Williams hit into a fielder’s choice. Ashtyn Varn singled to score Mestas and then scored when Averie Pittman reached on an error. Aria Fitzsimmons had the last hit of the inning but was left on first. Franklin County posted a run in the bottom of the frame, but it was way short of a comeback rally.
Sneads falls short in championship game
The championship game proved to be the highest scoring game of the tournament with Port St. Joe coming out on top of a 17-11 game.
Sneads took a 3-2 lead after one inning of play, but PSJ tied it up 3-3 in the second inning. The third inning was a pivotal inning for PSJ, putting eight runs on the board with Sneads held to two. Sneads battled back in the fourth inning, posting six runs but Port St. Joe countered with six of their own to take the win.
Rhylie Branch led the way for Sneads with three hits and three runs scored, followed Amelia Varieur and May Mestas both getting on base three times and scoring two runs each. Aria Fitzsimmons had two hits and one run scored, while Kendalyn Stephens, Presley Burns, and Brayley Davidson had a hit and a run scored each. Anslee Williams added a hit to her stats.
The Sneads Darling won a bid to compete in the Florida State Dixie Youth State Tournament. The tournament will be held in Bellview with opening ceremonies taking place the banquet taking place Thursday, June 26.