Recap: Early Success Put Team Palacios in Winning Mood With 6-3 Victory Over Team Kilfoyl

Corrick, who earned MVP 1 honors and 198 leaderboard points, upped her record to 2-0 on the season after conceding just one run on one hit over 4.0 innings.

Outfielder Haylie McCleney, who became the second player in league history to play 100 career games, followed with MVP 2 accolades and 180 leaderboard points after belting her first home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh inning.

Middle infielder Sis Bates completed the Game MVP sweep for Team Palacios with MVP 3 notice after collecting two hits with a run scored and a run batted in. Middle infielder Aubrey Leach also added a two-hit performance in the victory.

Corner infielder Baylee Klingler paced Team Kilfoyl offensively with two hits and a run scored, while outfielder Kayla Kowalik chipped in a two-hit performance. Captain Lexi Kilfoyl dipped to 3-2 in the circle after allowing five runs, including four earned runs, on nine hits over 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.

KEY MOMENT

Team Palacios never trailed in the contest after striking for three runs in the top of the first inning. Bates drove in the game’s first run with a double to right center field before coming around to score on a ground out by catcher Sashel Palacios. McCleney upped the advantage to 3-0 when she scored on a sacrifice fly by infielder Sam Fischer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Despite the loss, Kilfoyl moved into first place on the leaderboard with 832 points, while catcher Sashel Palacios surged into second place with 820 points. McCleney vaulted 16 spots up the league standings and holds seventh place following her season-high 180-point effort.

GAME NOTES

• The top four hitters in Team Palacio’s lineup accounted for six of the team’s eight hits in the victory, combining for a 6-for-14 effort at the plate.

• Team Palacios nearly became the sixth squad to sweep the 120 win points, but Team Kilfoyl plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the 10 win points.

• McCleney became the second player in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball history to appear in 100 career games after taking her first at-bat in the top of the first inning on Saturday … McCleney, who joins outfielder Morgan Zerkle on the exclusive list, has started 99-of-100 career games over eight AU seasons (AUX and Championship Season).

• McCleney becomes the 13th different player to hit a home run through 13 games this season with her solo shot in the seventh inning … It also marked her first home run in Championship Season play since August 6, 2022, against Team Eberle … McCleney now has 10 home runs in her Championship Season career.

• Bates has now hit safely in seven consecutive games after registering a double in the top of the first inning on Saturday … She is the only player to hit safely in all seven possible games this season.

• Leach has a four-game hitting streak after her two-hit performance on Saturday … She has posted a 7-for-14 effort at the plate during the run, including a three-hit performance last Sunday.

• Palacios and corner infielder Andrea Filler own a 6-1 overall record after winning their third consecutive game

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Georgina Corrick (Team Palacios, +60)
• #2 – Haylie McCleney (Team Palacios, +40)
• #3 – Sis Bates (Team Palacios, +20)