The Opp Lady Bobcats lost their first game of the area tournament and had to battle all day and into the night to capture the Class 3A, Area 3 championship early Friday morning in Geneva.

OPP 10,

GENEVA 6

In the first championship game, the Lady Bobcats gave Geneva their first loss of the tournament and forced a winner-take-all game two.

Maggie Short reached off of an error to start the top of the first inning and quickly stole second base.

Short then moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice bunt from Ariyon Hightower.

The Lady Bobcats got two more runs on a bases-loaded walk and a hit batter.

Geneva tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning.

Opp came surging back and a big double from Graceanne Spears helped the Lady Bobcats take an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Back-to-back singles from Graci Kidd and Hannah Wismer put Opp on top 10-4 in the top of the sixth inning.

The Lady Bobcats held on for a 10-6 victory.

OPP 9,

GENEVA 7

The Lady Bobcats finished off their strong day with a 9-7 victory over Geneva to win the area championship.

Opp took advantage of an error in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, Wismer drew a one-out walk.

The Lady Bobcats loaded the bases when Jewel Robinson and Loryn Praytor delivered back-to-back singles.

Geneva nearly got a double play to escape the inning, but the throw was late.

Spears then made it hurt when she blasted a grand slam to put the Lady Bobcats on top 5-0.

Geneva battled back and tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Laura Lee Short doubled with two outs to get things started for the Lady Bobcats.

The Lady Bobcats took the lead back when Short scored on a single from Kidd.

Geneva then got two runs to take a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Spears was hit by a pitch to start the top of the seventh and moved to third on a single from Short.

Anna Beth Kendrick then ripped a line drive that was bobbled by the Geneva right fielder.

The bobble was costly as Spears and Short each came in to score to put the Lady Bobcats back on top.

Kidd followed with a run-scoring double to put the finishing touches on the Lady Bobcats’ championship run.