The Claremont U10 girls softball team made a valiant run at the state slowpitch softball title last weekend, falling just a run short of a championship in a tournament played in Watertown Saturday and Sunday.
The Honkers drew a first-round bye in the six-team tourney and then dropped a heartbreaker to Warner 10-9 in their opener. Claremont battled back in a loser’s bracket game on Saturday downing Webster 9-2 to stay alive and get into Sunday play.
Then the Honkers caught fire. Starting at 8 a.m. the Claremont nine defeated the Diamond Warriors 8-2, edged Faukton 8-7 at 10 a.m., and then avenged their loss to Warner in an 11 a.m. game with an 8-0 shutout to earn a spot in the title affair against Ipswich. Ipswich earned its title shot by defeating Webster 10-5, Faulkton 18-0, and Warner 14-8.
Claremont had things going its way for much of the championship game, leading 2-1 for most of the seven-inning contest. But Ipswich rallied late and came out on top 4-3.
“With grit, heart, and determination, the Honkers came back Sunday with three wins to play in the championship,” said Claremont coaches. “The Honkers kept persevering before falling just short.”
