King leads comeback kids to undefeated start

The Marshall County all-stars began day one of the Babe Ruth World Series with a 10-6 win over Angola, IN behind a big 11-hit attack and a stellar relief effort by Leah Hollingsworth in the circle, before shocking the hosts Santa Fe squad in a last inning come-from-behind 3-2 miracle victory to move to 2-0 in pool play.

The story of tournament so far has been the outstanding play by Samantha King, who went 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in game one, plus the go-ahead base hit, but if that wasn't good enough, King crowned that effort with a complete game effort on the hill in game two and drove home all three of Marshall County's runs in the sixth inning on a two-out, bases juiced double.

"That was the biggest hit of her career," said head coach Danny Hollingsworth about King's game winning hit. "Never will she have a bigger hit than that, no doubt ever. I don't care what happens between now and her entire high school career. Samantha King will never forget that hit or will never forget striking out those three batters in the last inning."

The King bases loaded knock was the only hit in the ballgame surrendered by Santa Fe starting pitcher Hailey Raulerson.

King, who was voted the game MVP after the contest was relentless after putting her team ahead in game two as she capped off the contest with three consecutive strikeouts looking in the bottom of the sixth inning to cap off the instant classic.

King gave an unearned run in the second and another controversial unearned run in the bottom of third, while scattering three hits and striking out eight and walking four.

Marshall County was down by two runs entering the top of the sixth and things did not look good as Raulerson worked on the no-hitter and had the home crowd behind her.

Carson Warner got things going when she reached on an error, but Raulerson struck out the next batter before issuing a base on balls to Kianna Holder.

A foul pop-out to Santa Fe catcher Emily Yakol put Marshall County within one-out of defeat before Hollingsworth walked to load the bases.

King stepped in and drilled a laser down the left field line that scored all three runners as the Marshall County travelling faithful went ballistic outside the fence.

After the side was finally retired with the MC all-stars ahead by a lone run, King mowed down the final three Santa Fe batters looking to end the contest.

"That was absolutely huge," said Hollingsworth. "That was the biggest win of my entire career, and to come here in the World Series. I am just so proud of all the girls, they never gave up and we never gave up on them."

Blair Richards won the MVP honors in game one with a 3-4 effort at the plate, including an RBI and two runs scored.

Richards also gunned down two runners from behind the plate trying to steal in the sixth inning as Angola tried unsuccessfully to mount a comeback.

Aliyah Holder also had a huge game, going 2-3 with two RBIs, Jordan Yelensky had one hit in three at bats, but scored twice and stole two bases, Hannah Singleton had one hit and one RBI as did Halle Chapman.

Kianna Holder also came up with a huge base hit that drove home one run and Leah Hollingsworth picked up the win in the circle in three innings of solid relief and scored three times, stole a base and had one base knock on offense.

Marshall County is the only 2-0 team at press time and will be back on the diamond Sunday at 8:00 a.m. versus Mineral area, MO (1-0).