Area sports digest 8/8/07

Heartland NationalU-12 ends play

The Heartland Nationals 12-and-under softball team surrendered 10 runs over the first two innings and fell to 1-3 at the Babe Ruth Softball World Series with a 12-4 loss to host Luzerne County (Pa.).

Heartland concluded play as it failed to qualify for the double-elimination portion of the tournament that begins today. The top three teams in both pools advanced to bracket play.

Luzerne (4-0) took a 2-0 lead into the top of the second inning, where it scored eight runs for a 10-0 advantage.

Heartland closed the gap to 10-3 in the third inning, but Luzerne scored two more in the fourth. Heartland closed out the scoring with a run in the sixth.

Karlie Ashcraft went 2-for-2 for Heartland, which had seven hits overall.

Ashton Elfrink had a hit and two RBIs. Elfrink pitched 1 2/3 innings and suffered the loss.

SEMO women'sbasketball scramble

The team of Jamie Dodd, Kevin Garland, Darren Rhodes and David Hopper carded a 56 to win a three-team scorecard playoff at the SEMO women's basketball scramble at Dalhousie.

The second-place team of Chuck Nash, Dale Fuchs, Matt Rockamann and Julie Metheny also shot 56, as did the third-place team of Jim Reynolds, Greg Brune, Bobby Brune and Kent Phillips.

Mark Stuart, Mark Buerch, Ernie Nordman and Todd Nordman won A flight in a playoff, finishing with a 60.

John Thompson, Moe Sanfort, Jim Walker and Bill Gosche claimed B flight with a 66.

Closest-to-the-pin winners were Roger Tolliver (No. 5), Julie Metheny (Nos. 8, 11)and Paul Giebler (No. 13). Longest-drive winners were Gabe Sauer and Emily Matthews.

-- From staff reports