July 4, 2025
By Micah Richert
The Indiana Magic Gold outlasted the Orange County Batbusters, 2-1, in a pitchers' duel at Skyview Complex on a sunny, 85 degree afternoon. It was a defensive battle and an impressive appearance by pitchers Chloe, for the Magic, and Maddie, for the Batbusters.
The first inning started off with immediate drama. The tension never loosened up for the fans. Cassidy had a solid hit out to right field, giving Orange County their first runner on base. Siena came up and attempted to bunt but missed the ball. A throw down to first to tag Cassidy followed and she was originally called out.
The Orange County fans verbally disagreed while the umpires met to discuss the call. A few minutes later the home plate umpire turned to the crowd and reversed the call to Cassidy safe at first. The home plate umpire explained to Indiana’s coach that the first baseman bobbled the ball on the tag.
The reverse call at first didn’t pay off as Chloe got her first strikeout and ended the top half of the first inning. Maddie came out to the pitcher's mound and didn’t have it easy as Rylei and Aubrey wouldn’t give up; fouling off ball after ball.
Maddie settled in and struck out Bella to finish off the first inning with no base-runners reaching safely. Chloe really settled down in the second, grabbing her second K and going three-up-three down.
More drama pursued in the bottom of the second. Chloe clobbered a ball to right center with a one hopper over the fence. Initially, this gave the Magic their first run of the game. After another umpire visit, they declared Maggie had to go back to third on the ground rule double, taking away the first run of the game by Indiana.
The Magic couldn’t capitalize with runners in scoring position at second and third. Blakely, for the Magic, gave Maddie a run for her money, fighting off pitch after pitch. Maddie was able to come out on top and strikeout Blakely for the final out of the inning.
The third inning Orange County had great execution to put runners in the right position twice. A blooper by Lily over second base looked like the Batbusters were going to put some pressure on the Magic. Allie was thrown out at third on Lily’s hit to release the worry on Magic’s pitcher, Chloe. A single by Cassidy again put a runner in scoring position for Orange County. Chloe didn’t let it get in her head and struckout the third out of the inning.
The top of the fourth, Karsyn held off an almost sure sighted run for the Batbusters as she ran into the fence in center field, but she managed to hold onto the ball.
The bottom of the fourth the fans finally saw the first run of the game. An overthrow from the third baseman, Nisi, to first, allowed Bella to get to second. A sacrifice bunt by Brooklynn moved Bella to third with just one out for Orange County. Thea took advantage of the situation and drove in the first run of the game for Indiana with an RBI single to left field.
The time was running low for the Batbuters as the game reached the top of the fifth. They knew they needed to get a run home to tie it up and Orange County did not disappoint.
A few fielding errors by the Magic gave Orange County new life with a tie 1-1. A missed catch by pitcher, Chloe, put runners on first and second. Alyssa hit a grounder to shortstop, looking like a sure force out at second. Unfortunately, there was a bobble at second base on the catch and Cheryl, for the Batbusters, was able to cross home plate safely and tie the game, 1-1.
Indiana responded in the sixth inning, however, with an RBI single by Rylei. Bella continued her showcase on a ground rule double, taking one hop and going over the center field fence. Magic still couldn’t quite pull through. With the bases loaded, Thea popped out behind the plate to the catcher, leaving the score 2-1.
Orange County had one more chance to tie the ballgame up or take the lead. Siena led off the bottom of the sixth on a single towards third base. Nelly moved her over to second with a groundout. An attempted sac-fly by Savvy didn’t go as planned, but it still managed to work when Siena made it to third on a passed ball. Chloe came in clutch to shut down Maddie of Orange County, and leave a runner stranded at third base and take home the victory.
