Tuesday night’s game between the Hooks and the Jr. Sluggers, all 13- to-16-year-old girls — was a competitive one with the Hooks taking the game after five innings 7-5.

The top of the first went fast for the Hooks, scoring no runs and getting no runners on base even though three batters gallantly attempted to make a play.

The first batter in the Hooks’ line up, Madeline Worley, hit to Sluggers’ shortstop Mytia Williams who threw to first baseman Alexis Jones for the out.

The second and third batters, Victoria Pope and Blake Faircloth, hit their balls to second and first baseman Jones, who completed the plays for the final two outs in the inning.

With the Sluggers up to bat next, their first batter was out after Hooks’ second baseman Pope made the play.

The next batter took her base along with Jones, and as Ashley Lane attempted to get on base, a pitch went lose and both runners stole second and third.

Although Lane struck out, Taylor Brazell was at bat next and was walked, leaving Taylor Malpass to play with bases loaded; however, she got out.

With the score still knotted 0-0 going into the top of the second, Rhiannon Britt was at bat and she hit a single to right field to get on first.

The next batter also hit a single, but this time to left field, and during this time Britt was able to steal second and eventually moved to third off the batter’s single.

With Morgan Steed next at bat, Britt stole home off a lose pitch, scoring the first point of the game.

Steed eventually took her base and stole second when Heather Goodrich was at bat; however, Goodrich struck out.

During the top of the second, the Hooks were able to score two more runs, making the score 3-0 going into the bottom of the second.

Peyton Mitchell was first at bat for the Sluggers during the bottom of the second; however, after bunting the ball she was out after Hooks’ first baseman Megan Wrench made the play.

The next batter, DeAsia Edwards took her base and stole second when a pitch to Williams got lose.

Williams eventually took her base as well, and the next batter was able to get one RBI off Edwards who scored the first point for the Sluggers, making the score 3-1.

The Sluggers were able to score two more times in the inning to tie up the game 3-3.

The top of the third was another active inning for the Hooks as they scored four more runs while at bat.

Wrench was first at bat, but struck out, and the next batter, Ashley Jarman, took her base.

The following batter, Morgan Matthis, struck out, but Worley came in with an in-field homerun, gaining two RBIs off herself and Jarman, making the score 5-3.

Pope was next at bat, hitting a double, and Faircloth followed with a walk to first. During Faircloth’s time at bat, Pope was able to steal third off a lose pitch.

With Britt next at bat, Faircloth stole second, leaving runners on second and third.

After a lose pitch, Pope stole home to gain one point, and eventually Britt connected with the ball for a double bringing in Faircloth for one RBI.

The next batter ended the top of the third with the final out.

With the score 7-3, the bottom of the third was a no-run scored inning for the Sluggers even though they were able to get runners on bases.

During this inning, Jones was walked to first; Lane was hit by the ball allowing her to take her base; and Brazell also took her base.

With bases loaded, Malpass hit a single, but when Jones ran to home to score she was tagged out by Hooks’ catcher, Britt.

With bases still loaded, Mitchell attempted to bring home Lane, but as she tried to steal home, she, too, was tagged out by Britt closing the inning 7-3.

The top of the fourth and the bottom went fast for both the Hooks and the Sluggers with no runs scored.

The top of the fifth went much the same for the Hooks with no runs scored.

During the bottom of the fifth, which was the last inning played, the Sluggers were able to bring in two runners to end the end the 7-5.

To catch the girls in action, check out when the Hooks take on the Grasshoppers, Thursday, July 2, at 7 p.m., and the Sluggers take on the Grasshoppers, Tuesday, July 7, also at 7 p.m.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@myclintonnc.com