By Thomas Grant Jr.
The summer runs for Irmo Little League softball and baseball ended this past weekend.
The Southeast Region champions finished 2-3 at the Senior League Softball World Series played in Sussex County, Deleware. They went 1-3 in Pool B play, the lone victory taking place against the Europe-Africa Region by a 4-3 score.
Trailing 2-1 in the Bottom 6th, Kate Shealy of Batesburg-Leesville tied the game with an RBI fielder’s choice. She and Savanna Padgett of Pelion both scored off an error on a groundball hit by Malia Lewis of Irmo.
After Europe-Africa got within a run, Shealy retired the final two batters for the complete game win. She also had a sole home run.
Following a 12-6 loss to the West Region, Southeast (Irmo) faced Southwest in a Purple consolation game. A trio of players accounted for three home runs in the 12-1 rout in five innings.
Melinda Veler of White Knoll went 2-4 with four RBI. She and Padgett, who went 3-4 along with Shealy who had a solo home run, both had 3-run homers.
Katherine Goff picked three innings and struck out two for the victory.
The Irmo Little League team began its quest to return to the Little League World Series last Thursday in Warner Robbins, Georgia. They opened the Southeast Regional with a 4-1 win over West Virginia after scoring three runs in the Bottom 6th.
An 8-1 loss to Florida Friday knocked Irmo Little League into the loser’s bracket. They rebounded Saturday with a 5-0 win over Virginia and were a victory away from playing for a spot in the Southeast Regional final for the second straight year.
Instead, Irmo Little League’s season ended with a 6-1 loss to Tennessee. The Tennessee/Florida winner faced Alabama Tuesday in the final.
