Rock Island picks up big win in Women’s Church League

Rylan Hawkins played a huge part in Rock Island’s win over CUMC Thursday night.

Rylan Hawkins wasn't swinging for the fences, but once the ball started rolling, she wasn't about to stop running.

Hawkins capped a thrilling battle in women's Church League softball Thursday night, hitting a game-winning inside-the-park home run as Rock Island Church of Christ handed Centertown United Methodist Church its first loss of the season.

Hawkins' two-run blast slipped under the glove of the left-center fielder and rolled deep into the outfield at Edley Newman Field, lifting Rock Island to a 16-15 victory. It capped a five-run rally in the final frame, all coming with the team down to its final out.

Centertown had been the dominant force all season, but Tuesday's one-run win over Bibles on Base showed the women's division was tightening. Rock Island finally tipped the scales Thursday.

Ali Wrisner Vaughn delivered one of the biggest blows in the rally, smashing a three-run double with two outs to keep Rock Island alive.

From there, Hawkins knew a base hit would at least tie the game and force extra innings.

She did much more than that.

Hawkins scorched a line drive into the gap that skipped through the outfield and kept rolling. The three-player outfield gave chase, but by the time the ball was tracked down, Hawkins had already rounded third and never slowed, racing home with the winning run before being mobbed by teammates at the plate.

The dramatic finish came moments after Centertown appeared poised to escape with another victory.

Trailing 11-8 entering the fifth, Centertown mounted its own rally, showing the championship pedigree that had fueled its unbeaten start. Sallie Alexander, a hitting machine all night, capped a 4-for-4, five-RBI performance with a two-run single to begin the comeback, while Haven Wynn followed with the go-ahead hit as the momentum swung back to the visitors.

Rock Island still had one last answer.

Wrisner Vaughn cleared the bases to keep the game alive, and Hawkins made sure it ended on the very next swing, touching them all to complete one of the wildest finishes of the Church League season.

Be on the lookout for more from Thursday's men's games, along with updated league standings, on the Warren County Way.