A furious rally in the top of the seventh inning came up just short Monday for Adams County Christian School at the MAIS AAA fast-pitch state softball tournament.

Silliman Institute defeated ACCS 5-4 to eliminate the Rebels, giving ACCS a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.

“We just couldn’t get the timely hits that we needed until that last inning,” ACCS coach Tate Lipscomb said. “I think the girls fought hard and did well.”

The Lady Rebels loaded the bases with two outs in the final frame with Bailey Boyd batting and trailing by a lone run. The senior laced a line drive to the outfield, but the Silliman Institute right fielder made a running over-the-shoulder catch to end the threat and the game.
“I thought (Boyd) had her burned,” Lipscomb said. “I was sending every one of (the baserunners home).”

Silliman Institute scored two runs in the first and tacked on solo runs in each of the second and third to build a 4-1 advantage.

Shelby Mason delivered a two-run double in the seventh to trim the deficit to a single run.
Pitcher Brianna Henson tossed six strong innings. allowing just two earned runs.

Boyd alongside Anna McDaniel are the lone seniors on the ACCS roster, and Lipscomb said he is excited for what the future holds for his program.

“For my first year (as head coach), I didn’t have expectations too high,” he said. “I just wanted them to learn and build on that … We’re returning seven on nine seniors, and I expect us to at least get back to this point next year.”