Dillon’s 8U All Stars fell 23-11 to Darlington in the first game of the 8U All Stars softball championship series on Wednesday, June 26, but won the second 6-5 on Thursday night after a rain delay to advance to the state championship tournament.

Dillon got off to a 3-0 lead over Darlington in game one on Wednesday night with #17 hitting safely to first and #7 hitting a grounder to short stop to pick up a RBI. Dillon’s batters followed up with a double and a hit to center that picked up two more runners to put Dillon up 5-0. Dillon’s #9 hit one to center for an inside the park home run to bring in three runners to put Dillon ahead 8-0 heading into the bottom of the first.

But Darlington wasted no time in the bottom of the inning, getting runners on base and scoring on an inside-the-park homer of their own to trail 8-5. Darlington’s #10 hit one up the middle for a triple to put the Darlington All Stars down by just one point at 8-7.

In the top of the second, Dillon’s first two batters both flew out before #17 hit one up the middle and #3 hit a hard grounder to second to get runners on base. Dillon’s #2 hit one to the short stop to pick up a RBI, but the next batter flew out. Darlington started off the bottom of the inning with a line drive to Dillon’s short stop for the first out. Darlington’s #24 hit a hard one up the middle but the next batter struck out swinging. But #7 hit to the short stop and a missed ball by the third baseman allowed Darlington to score and tie the game at 9-9. Darlington scored again on the next two at bats to pull ahead 12-9. Darlington’s #5 hit a double over third and after two innings, Darlington had pulled ahead 15-9.

Dillon singled to start off the third inning and #14 hit one over second but was caught for the first out. The runner got caught passing second before returning to first and was also thrown out to give Dillon two outs in as many batters. Dillon’s #9 hit a long one to the right to score with a runner on base but the next batter hit a grounder for the third out with Dillon trailing 15-11. Darlington kicked off the bottom of the inning with a line drive that left the runner safely on second, followed by a short hit towards third that put runners on first and third base. Darlington’s #24 hit one by the short stop to bring in two, and Darlington broke loose with a series of runs to take a 23-11 lead after three innings.

Dillon went to bat again in the top of the fourth but went three up, three down to end the game and force a second game to decide the championship.

After a short break, the second game began with Darlington leading off with a pop-up to the pitcher. The next batter lined one to second and Dillon got the runner out at second base for the first out. Darlington’s #18 flew out to the short stop and #12 hit one to second for a fielder’s choice for the third out. Dillon’s first batter of the second game ground out to first, but Dillon’s #3 made it safely to first on an error after flying out to second. The next batter hit a grounder to second for a fielder’s choice and the second out, and Dillon’s #7 hit to second, where the runner stepped off base and was tagged out to end a scoreless first inning.

Darlington went to bat in the top of the second with a safe hit over the short stop and another safe hit to second to score two runners. Darlington’s #29 hit one over third for a double, but the next two batters ground out and popped out. Darlington’s #38 hit a grounder to first to score another runner, and #23 hit to the pitcher, bringing in another runner on a missed ball. A fielder’s choice ended the top of the inning with Darlington up 4-0. Dillon started the bottom of the second with a base hit but two batters flew out and another hit to second to end the inning.

Darlington couldn’t get any momentum in the top of the third, but the game was delayed due to rain. When play resumed on Thursday, Dillon took the lead in the bottom of the fourth and managed to hang on for a 6-5 win.

Dillon’s 8U All Stars will now travel to Iva in Anderson County, South Carolina, to play for the state championship in a double elimination tournament beginning Friday, July 12.