Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Report, I’m Keith Harrington.

Hartford Rolls to TCML Semifinals

Hartford rolled into the TCML Softball semifinals with perhaps their most impressive win of the season, defeating Slate Valley 12-0 in a game shortened to five innings by the run rule. The Chaos rode the dominant pitching performance of Reagan Gebo and timely hitting, taking advantage of Slate Valley walks and errors to nab the victory.

“Their pitcher struggled a little bit and we got the timely hits when we needed to,” Hartford coach Jaci Gebo said after the game.

The younger Gebo, the coach’s daughter who was the number two pitcher for the Hartford varsity team is showing she is ready to step up to the top spot next spring. She established control early by striking out five of the first six batters she faced, including the side in the top of the second. Gebo finished with 11 Ks and a two-hit shutout.

“She was very strong. She came out with a little more pop tonight and a little more speed than she’s had,” Coach Gebo added.

Hartford got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Slate Valley starter Olivia Outslay walked three batters in the frame and Emily Cutler ripped a two-run single for the big hit of the inning.

Cutler also contributed a defensive gem on a diving shoestring catch in the outfield.

In the third Arianna Raymond led off with a single. After a run was walked in, Olivia Lindridge scored on a Slate Valley throwing error. Alice Wagner then connected for a two-run double to make it 7-0 Hartford.

The Chaos tacked on five more runs over the fourth and fifth to close the game and punch their ticket to the next round.

Outslay did strike out six Chaos batters but was hindered by 12 walks.

Madi Baker and Olivia Cole-Bugay had the lone hits for Slate Valley.

Slate Valley ends the season 1-11-1.

Top-seeded Hartford, 8-3, advances to face Argyle at home in Monday’s semifinals.

Coach Gebo is pleasantly surprised with how well her squad has performed this summer.

I’m really pleased. I honestly didn’t expect us to do quite as well as did,” Gebo explained. “I hoped we’d win a few but I wasn’t expecting to end up number one. Our couple of losses probably shouldn’t have been losses but that’s the way it crumbles sometimes. Those losses were good experiences for the girls.”