Statesman photo/Loyd Cook Danielle Bynum makes it to first base after the throw pulls the fielder off the bag. The Bearettes took a 9-5 win over Palestine on Monday, April 20th in Brownsboro. A win over Fairfield on Tuesday, April 14th and a win over Palestine on Monday, April 20th ... that was what the Brownsboro Bearettes needed for a shot at the District 20AAA title.

Mission accomplished.

The Tuesday win put the softball team in a tie for first. The Monday win (played to make up a Friday/Saturday rainout) ensured the title.

It is a shared title, as Fairfield also won on Monday to preserve the first place tie with both teams at 7-3 after the end of district competition.

But the Bearettes are now co-District Champs of 20AAA.

April 20th

Brownsboro 9, Palestine 5

BROWNSBORO - The Bearettes sprinted out to an eight-run lead after scoring three runs in the first and second innings, then two more in the third.

Danielle Bynum doubled. Carley Smith singled and stole second. Then Randi Smith doubled both of her teammates home in the bottom of the first inning.

Statesman photo/Loyd Cook Bearettes first baseman Chelsea Holcomb makes the unassisted out at first in a game against Palestine, held in Brownsboro on Monday, April 20th. Brownsboro pitcher Krystin Groothuis walked, firstbaseman Chelsea Holcomb singled and stole second base, and - with the bases loaded - Taylor Barnes drew a RBI walk.

In the second, Randi Smith added another RBI with her single driving home Bynum. Carley Smith, who had singled and stolen second earlier - for the second inning in a row - scored from third on a wild pitch.

Barnes again got the little things done ... this time, driving home Randi Smith from third by putting the ball in play and getting the run home even though she made an out on the play.

Groothuis pitched all seven innings, striking out six and walking two while giving up five earned runs - all of which came after Brownsboro was up 8-0.

Randi Smith went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Danielle Bynum

went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Chelsea Holcomb went 3-for-3 with a run scored.

Lacey Petit went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Carley Smith went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs scored and a RBI.

Barnes went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Palmer went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Lindsey Wood went 2-for-4.

April 13th

Brownsboro 5, Fairfield 3

FAIRFIELD - Brownsboro pitcher Krystin Groothuis pitched a perfect fifth, sixth and seventh innings to back up a two-run fifth inning by the Bearettes offense and take home a 5-3 victory over the Fairfield Lady Eagles.

It was important for the Bearettes, who tied the Lady Eagles for first place in District 20AAA with the victory. Both teams were 6-3 in district play after the game.

In Brownsboro's pivotal fifth inning, Randi Smith drew a walk, then moved to second on a single by Groothuis.

After Holly Grave went in as a courtesy runner for the Bearettes pitcher, first baseman Chelsea Holcomb got an infield single to load the bases.

Taylor Barnes hit a double down the left field line to drive in Smith and Hargrave and put Brownsboro on top for good.

It was Groothuis' 15th win on the season and her sixth in district competition. She went the distance, striking out eight while walking only one.

All three Fairfield runs were unearned, thanks to four errors by the Brownsboro defense. The Bearettes are 2-2 over the last four games, as they've committed 15 errors and given up 14 unearned runs during that stretch.

Brownsboro broke on top in the first inning of the road game in Fairfield. After a deep flyout by Danielle Bynum, Carley Smith singled to centerfield and sister Randi hit a two-run, towering homerun over the leftcenterfield wall.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the third when the Lady Eagles used a hit, a sacrifice bunt and a Bearettes error to score once.

The Bearettes offense answered right back in the top of the fourth inning with a single run of its own.

Barnes led off the inning with a double to right, then moved to third on a Lace Pettit sacrifice bunt. She came home on a groundout to second by Malea Sims to make the score 3-1 after four.

Fairfield gave its own answer in the bottom of the fourth, scoring twice to know the score at three, with two more hits and thanks to two more errors by Brownsboro.

But the Bearettes weren't through at the plate, again responding ... this time with the pivotal, two-run fifth that provided the final margin of victory.

Randi Smith was 2-for-3 with a walk, homerun, two runs scored and two RBI. Barnes was 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI.

Carley Smith was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Malea Sims was 0-3 with a RBI. Groothuis was 2-for-4 with courtesy runner Hargrave scoring once.

Chelsea Holcomb was 1- for-3. Danielle Bynum was 1-for-4.