Portland High teammates wait at home plate for senior Allie Tomlinson (22) following her second-inning home run on Tuesday evening.
PORTLAND With so many teams close to each other in the District 9-AAA softball standings, Tuesday evening’s game between Portland High and visiting Station Camp served as a stepping stone toward a more favorable draw in next month’s district tournament.
The Lady Panthers made their move forward in the pecking order, forging into a tie for fifth place with a 6-3 victory over the Lady Bison to sweep the regular-season series.
Portland senior pitcher Allie Tomlinson gave herself some help with her first home run of the year, a solo shot to lead off the second inning. Tomlinson (9-17-1) gave up three runs on three hits with two strikeouts to earn the complete-game victory.
Station Camp High junior Madelyne Puckett singles during first-inning action.
“I’m very proud of the girls’ determination,” Portland head coach Vanessa Tomlinson said. “(Sophomore third baseman) Rachel Jennings did a great job with some very hard-hit balls.”
Station Camp (5-23 overall, 2-7 in District 9-AAA) scored in the top of the first inning, but Portland (9-18-1, 4-6) erased that lead immediately with two runs in the bottom of the opening frame.
Ashlyn Stewart led the Lady Bison offensively, driving in a pair of runs in three plate appearances.
Portland High senior rightfielder Cristina Herrera fields a ground ball during first-inning action. Herrera singled and drove in a run in the Lady Panthers 6-3 victory.
“I was proud of them,” Station Camp head coach Ken Crook said. “They fought the whole game. We only struck out twice and hit some really hard ground balls that Portland made really good plays on.”
Portland won the first meeting by a 9-1 margin at Station Camp on March 24.
Station Camp was coming off the school’s first-ever victory against Mt. Juliet on Monday, a 6-0 triumph. Freshman Gabby Sarabia pitched a two-hit shutout, while senior Chasity Wheeley and sophomore Addie Lange homered for the Lady Bison.
Station Camp High freshman Gabby Sarabia delivers a second-inning pitch during Tuesday evening’s game at Portland.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
Station Camp 100 020 0 – 3 3 4
Portland 220 011 x – 6 9 2
Gabby Sarabia, Taylor Gaines (2) and Chasity Wheeley; Allie Tomlinson and Hollie Kepley. WP – Tomlinson (9-17-1). LP – Sarabia (3-8). Home runs: Portland – Tomlinson (1). Records: Station Camp 5-23 overall, 2-7 in District 9-AAA; Portland 9-18-1, 4-6.