LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — When the decision to suspend Sunday night’s championship game of the girls’ 11-12 year old All-Star tournament due to weather and resume play Monday evening, North coach Shane Brewer wasn’t too happy.

“I wanted to finish the game Sunday night,” Brewer said. The teams were tied 12-12 heading into the top of the eighth inning. “I felt like Tri-City pitcher Kacie Russell was out of gas. That’s why I wanted to get it in.”

After holding Tri-City scoreless in the top of the eighth inning Monday night, Madison McDaniel singled in Alexis Gibson in the bottom of the inning to give North Laurel a 13-12 win and a trip to the state tournament, which starts Saturday in Winchester.

“It was worth the wait,” a jubilant Brewer said. “I’m more thrilled for the girls than I am for myself.”

Once play resumed Monday night, Tri-City threatened in the top of the eighth when Shawnee Cress and Nikki Creech reached on back-to-back singles off Jazz Jervis. With two on and no outs, Jervis got Destinee Jenkins to fly out to right. Cress tried to advance to third as the throw got away on the infield. McDaniel picked it up and raced to the bag, dove and tagged out Jenkins. Russell then grounded out to end the inning.

North now had the top of its line-up coming to bat, and Brewer said that made him feel confident.

“We finally got to start an inning with the top of our line-up,” Brewer said. “But I have to give credit to the bottom of our line-up the way they stepped up.”

Gibson beat out an infield single and stole second. After Madison Sechrest struck out, McDaniel stepped to the plate and singled to left, scoring Gibson as the bench raced out to celebrate the win.

“I have to give credit to Tri-City,” Brewer said. “They have an excellent team. I have all the respect for them. From the fifth inning on it was back-and-forth.”

Things didn’t start out too well for North Laurel in the championship game. The local all stars fell behind 5-0 before they even got to bat. The game was kind of reminiscent of North’s opening game 6-5 win over Pulaski County, where they trailed early before battling back for the win.

Tri-City came out and scored five runs in the top of the first off starter Madison McDaniel. The inning wasn’t without controversy, as a play at home, originally ruled an out, was overturned and gave Tri-City a 3-0 lead.

A single by Haley Blakley scored Lainey Cox to make it 1-0. Taylor Johnson then grounded to third, but there was an error on the throw to first, which allowed Autumn Dunaway, who had walked, to score. Blakley raced to home and the throw to the plate beat her as she was tagged out by Beth Marcum. During the collision, Marcum’s glove came off and the ball rolled free. Home plate umpire Brad Larkey first ruled that Blakley was out since she didn’t try to slide into home. But after a discussion, he overturned his decision and gave the run to Tri-City for a 3-0 lead.

Trailing 4-0, North Laurel started its comeback, scoring one in the second, two in the third then four in the fourth to take a 7-5 lead.

Makinlee Philpot led off the bottom of the second with a double to center and advanced to third on a passed ball. She scored when Emilee Albright reached on an error.

In the bottom of the third, McDaniel got things started with a lead-off single to left-center. After the next two batters were retired by Russell, Philpot singled to bring home McDaniel. A single by Kelsey Patton scored Philpot as North was now only down two, 5-3.

North Laurel took its first lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to make it 7-5.

Sechrest and McDaniel led off with back-to-back singles. Sechrest would score on a wild pitch. Hannah Carson drew a walk, and McDaniel scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Olivia Miller, tying the game at 5-5. Carson and Miller would later score and the Tri-City five-run lead was erased, as North took a 7-5 lead.

Just when it looked like North had the momentum, Tri-City snatched it back, scoring four runs in the fifth for a 9-7 lead off Jervis, who took over on the mound in the third inning.

But the momentum would swing back in North’s direction in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice to once again tie the game at 9-9.

Gibson led off by reaching on an error and advanced to second. Sechrest reached on another single, then both runners scored on a double off the bat of Carson.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the sixth as Tri-City scored three runs to take a 12-9 lead. Two North Laurel errors led to two of the runs.

North Laurel answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and once again the game was tied at 12-12.

Jervis got things started by reaching on an error, as Patton came in as a courtesy runner. Patton stole second then scored when Gibson smacked an RBI single with two outs to keep the inning alive.

Sechrest then grounded to short, but the throw to first was late and Sechrest was safe. The first baseman threw the ball to third in an attempt to get Gibson, but the ball got away and Gibson scored and Sechrest advanced to second. McDaniel singled her in to tie the score and send the game into extra innings.

Neither team scored in the seventh, but both had chances, leaving two runners on base. Before the eighth could get started, the game was halted due to lightning, then after a lengthy delay, postponed until Monday evening.

“We are fortunate to get the win,” Brewer said. “We held on last night (Sunday) even though we committed several errors. We weren’t making routine plays. I kept challenging the girls and asked them how bad they wanted it.”

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