Sardis-playing for a fourth consecutive championship title- came in to this year’s church league softball tournament as the favorite to win the A-league.

However, coming in to Thursday night’s championship game, West Springs had the upper hand. West Springs went undefeated in the tournament but Sardis lost a game in the double-elimination tournament. What this meant for West Springs was that one win erased Sardis’ hopes of a fourth consecutive title

After a strong start by West Springs, it appeared the championship trophy would rest behind glass in West Springs, but Sardis showed why they deserved to be in the championship game by defeating West Springs 21-6.

The second game was postponed due to severe thunderstorms and will resume play tonight at 7 p.m. to determine the league champion.

West Springs did what they had to do early in the first game as they doubled Sardis’ run total in the first inning for an early 2-1 lead. With two more hits in the second inning, West Springs added another run for a 3-1 advantage.

What seemed like eternity to the West Springs was really only 30 minutes when Sardis pounded out nine runs on ten hits in the third inning. Sardis led off the inning with eight consecutive hits to take a 7-3 lead. West Springs breathed a sigh of relief after getting the first out.

West Springs lost all momentum and could never manage to rally back from Sardis’ damaging inning.

Sardis added to their lead by scoring ten more runs on ten hits in the fourth and fifth innings for a 20-3 lead. Sardis scored another run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth to pad their 21-3 lead. Trailing by 18 runs in the sixth inning, West Springs scored two runs on a single and a home run. These were the first hits by West Springs since the second inning. The damage had been done and both teams entered the second game with one loss and a clean slate.

The game started even though lightning lingered around Timken Sports Complex. It was later postponed in the fourth inning due to severe thunderstorms in the area. When game play was suspended, Sardis led by a score of 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Play will resume tonight at 7 p.m. at Timken Sports Complex.

B-League

Philippi A- like West Springs- needed only one win to earn the league championship title. Morningside had other plans for their opponent.

Morningside defeated Philippi A 24-13 in game one, forcing a second and deciding game.