The Battle Mountain High School softball team finished second at the NIAA 2A State Championship this past weekend at Hixson Park in Reno.
Tony Erquiaga
RENO — It was a long three days for the Battle Mountain High School softball team but a rewarding one.
The Lady Longhorns advanced to the title game of the NIAA 2A State Championship at Hixson Park in Reno this past weekend and came away with a runner-up finish to Needles, Calif.
Battle Mountain opened the tournament with a 10-7 win over White Pine on Thursday and lost to Needles 20-0 in the winner’s bracket game on Friday morning.
The loss sent the Lady Longhorns to an elimination game with White Pine on Friday afternoon.
Battle Mountain overcame adversity and a 7-4 deficit to score eight runs in the final three innings to beat the Lady Cars 12-7.
In the championship game on Saturday morning, Needles came away with an 8-0 win. Battle Mountain finished the year 19-8-1.
BMHS 10,
White Pine 7
In the tournament opener, Battle Mountain jumped on the board with three runs in the first inning of an RBI-triple by Jazmin Johnson, an RBI-ground out by Shea Jones and an inside-the park-home run by Lilliana Haney.
White Pine got a run back in the top of the second, when the Lady Longhorns added a pair of runs in the second inning on a throwing error from the catcher on a pick-off attempt.
The lead grew to 9-1 in the third inning, as Battle Mountain took advantage of a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch to go up 7-1. Jones finished the frame with a two-RBI double.
White Pine rallied in the seventh for four runs but Jones eventually shut down the rally.
The senior struck out 10 in the game and walked five.
Needles 20,
BMHS 0
Needles came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed from the Southern 2A and finished the year 32-4.
The Mustangs scored runs in every inning and led 5-0 after the first inning.
Needles closed out the game with five runs in the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth.
The only Battle Mountain hit came from Jennifer West, breaking up a perfect game from Needles’ Jaylen Garcia.
BMHS 12,
White Pine 7
Battle Mountain was right back on the field in an elimination game on Friday morning to take on White Pine, who knocked out Pershing County earlier in the tournament.
White Pine jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third inning, when Battle Mountain tied the game with a pir of runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Lady Cats went back in front 7-4 in the fourth inning and Battle Mountain saw third baseman Kiana Gonzales go down with an injury, as she attempted to dive for a foul ball and hit her head on the field turf.
The game was delayed for about 30 minutes, as she was taken to the hospital. She was back with the team on Saturday at the field.
Battle Mountain rallied from there, scoring two runs in the fourth inning and three runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to lead 12-7.
White Pine loaded the bases in the seventh when Jones fought the jam and allowed no runs.
Needles 8, BMHS 0
The championship game was much closer, as Needles scored single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings to lead 4-0. The Mustangs broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning.
Johnson and Haney picked up hits for the Lady Longhorns.
TONY ERQUIAGA • Great Basin Sun
Battle Mountain’s Thalia Gonzalez tags out a White Pine runner in the Lady Longhorns’ 10-7 win on Thursday.
TONY ERQUIAGA • Great Basin Sun
Battle Mountain’s Ella Moore catches a foul ball by the dugout in Saturday’s championship game..
Kelcee Robey stretches out for as catch in center field.
TONY ERQUIAGA • Great Basin Sun
Battle Mountain’s Jazmin Johnson puts the ball in play against White Pine.