Maxwell girls are queens of D-VI softball

Three runs, and a superb pitching performance by freshman Jani Bowen proved to be the right formula for the Maxwell High softball team Saturday, as they knocked off visiting Fall River 3-1 to claim the Northern Section Division VI championship.

The Lady Panthers broke a scoreless deadlock with a pair of third-inning runs. With one out, Laura Wells' keen batting eye resulted in a walk, and Tori Burrious reached on a fielder's choice on a play where Alexz Miller was thrown out at third following her lead-off single.

Using the element of surprise, left-handed hitting Andi Robledo then laid down a bunt, and the catcher's throw to first sailed into right field, allowing Wells to sca per home with the game's first run. Kylie Word followed by roping a single to center, plating Burrious, and making it a 2-0 ball game.

Maxwell tallied another run in the fourth, when Maddie Dunlap reached on an error, and later scored on an overthrow when Nikole Burg bunted for a hit.

Bowen, meanwhile, worked well with catcher Robledo, finding her mitt consistently and not surrendering a single walk, instead making the Bulldogs earn all bases.

While definitely on her game, the freshman did fess up to getting a little nervous in the seventh. In the frame, Catie Thompson led off with a double to right, moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single by Lauren Vestal.

"I was nervous they were going to keep on scoring," Bowen said after the game, while giving major kudos to the defense her teammates supplied behind her. "We wouldn't be here without the defense — they're the best."

Maxwell wrapped up the season with a 23-6 mark.