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Renaissance Defeats Western to Secure PSL Softball City Championship

On Tuesday, May 21, the Renaissance Phoenix faced off against the Western Cowgirls for the PSL Softball City Championship at the Gary L. Bryce Field at Wayne State. Renaissance defeated the King Crusaders to make the championship game, and Western upset the Cass Technicians in the semifinals to reach the championship game. 

On the mound to start the game for the Phoenix was freshman, Kerrington Brown, who had a dominant start with two strikeouts and a flyout to keep the Cowgirls scoreless in the top of the first. On the mound for Western was sophomore, Samaya Springer. The Renaissance hitters got the ball rolling early with four runs in the bottom of the first. The first run came courtesy of the catcher Kyle Hanks with an RBI triple that brought Marleen Hernandez home giving the Renaissance an early 1-0 lead. Then, the pitcher Brown, hit an RBI single that allowed Hanks to run home increasing the lead to 2-0.  To increase the lead to three, third baseman Jayanah Branch hit an RBI single to left field, and then another run was walked home giving first baseman Saniya Lakey the fourth run of the day as Renaissance established a 4-0 lead at the end of the first. 

In the top of the second, the Western bats started to gain some momentum as with the bases loaded, the shortstop Yaneiry Castillo hit an RBI single to left field allowing Yarielis De Hoyos to score cutting the Phoenix lead to 4-1. Then center fielder, Naydelys De Leon Rosario ,hit an RBI single to right fielder bringing Stephanye Castillo home. At the end of the second inning the Phoenix led 4-2. 

In the bottom of the third the Renaissance hitters regained momentum as Hernandez knocked in two runs for the Phoenix with an RBI double that brought Christiara Foster and Skyler Carter home increasing the Renaissance lead to 6-2. Then after an error on a hit by Brown, Hernandez got her second run of the game taking the Phoenix to a 7-2 lead. 

At the top of the fifth, the Western Cowgirls had one last chance to rally and tie the game at 7. They showed some positive signs early in the inning as De Leon stole home off a wild pitch cutting the lead to 7-3. Then, second basemen Evelin Garibaldi hit a groundball to first base that was poorly fielded which allowed Springer to run home making the score 7-4. However, the comeback was cut short as with two outs and the bases loaded, Karrington Brown sealed the championship victory with a strikeout. She was excellent from the jump finishing with 11 strikeouts and an RBI. 

Congratulations to the Renaissance Lady Phoenix for winning the PSL Softball City Championship! 

Western player pitching Renaissance player running home Renaissance player stealing second base western player sliding to second western players on defense western coach huddling with players Renaissance posing with trophy

By Ellington Smith