Fruita Monument Softball sinks Grand Junction in early SWL Showdown

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -The reigning Southwestern League champion Grand Junction Tigers took on the runner-up Fruita Monument Wildcats Thursday night. Grand Junction got the best of Fruita Monument a year ago, but Thursday it was the Wildcats who came out on top.

Fruita Monument built an early 5-0 lead and continued to stay a step ahead of the Tigers in the middle innings.

Kensley Hassenstab got out of an early jam with a strikeout followed by getting a ball on the ground to third, where the Fruita defense executed the 5-2-3 double play.

The Wildcats turned that play into instant offense. Kenley Hamlin showed discipline to take a bases-loaded walk, putting Fruita Monument up 6-0. Taylor Stephens then broke things open on a flare hit the other way that could not be fielded cleanly, as the Wildcats kept adding on. Mya Lara sent one back up the middle to keep the line moving and bring in another run.

Fruita Monument won 11-1. The Wildcats improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play with the win.

Grand Junction will get two shots at its first league win of the year with a doubleheader over the weekend, hosting Durango. The two teams split the season series last year. Grand Junction and Fruita Monument will meet again in a little over a month on Oct. 6.