08/07/2026
Last weekend, Bremen took its 12U team to compete in the Glow Tournament for some late-night fun and plenty of competition. Out of eight teams, Bremen advanced to the semifinals, finishing tied for 3rd place with a 2-2 record.
Game 1: Bremen 4 vs. Porter County 5
Bremen started slowly, failing to score in the first two innings while surrendering three runs in the opening frame. In the second inning, Ashlyn Thompson kept Porter County off the scoreboard with the help of an inning-ending double play turned by Thompson and Jayde Atkins.
Bremen got on the board in the top of the third when Emmie Bellman scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single. Porter County answered with two more runs to take a 5-1 lead into the fourth.
Bremen mounted a late rally in the top of the fourth. Jayde Atkins reached on a walk, Savannah Nixon singled, and Mila McKinney reached on an error as the first three batters all came around to score. Unfortunately, Bremen couldn't complete the comeback, falling 5-4 in its opening pool play game.
Bremen managed just two hits in the contest, one each from Savannah Nixon and Emmie Bellman.
Game 2: Bremen 7 vs. Southeast (South Bend) 6
After nearly a four-hour wait between games, Bremen returned to the field against Southeast.
Southeast jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning on four hits. Bremen answered in the bottom half when Payton Rodriguez led off with a triple down the left-field line and later scored on an RBI single by Jayde Atkins.
In the second inning, Mila McKinney settled into the circle, striking out the side for her fifth strikeout through two innings.
Bremen did all of its damage in the bottom of the second with two outs. Lilly Krumrie singled to left, advanced to second on a passed ball, and stole third. Emmie Bellman drove her home with a single before stealing second herself. Ashlyn Thompson followed with another RBI single to score Bellman.
Payton Rodriguez then singled, putting runners on first and second. Sydney Doyle lined a single into center field, scoring Thompson, while Rodriguez crossed the plate with the tying run.
Southeast regained the lead with a run in the third, but Bremen answered again when Savannah Nixon scored on an Emma Roberts groundout. In the bottom of the fourth, Bremen scored the eventual game-winning run as Lilly Krumrie crossed the plate on a groundout by Ashlyn Thompson.
Mila McKinney earned the complete-game victory, pitching six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing just three earned runs.
Game 3: Bremen 10 vs. Concord 6
Saturday's weather delayed the start of single-elimination play by an hour, but Bremen didn't let the rain slow its momentum, turning in its best performance of the tournament.
Mila McKinney allowed just four runs in the victory, while the offense produced a true team effort with nearly every player reaching base.
Emma Roberts and Jayde Atkins led the offense with two hits apiece, while Roberts also scored twice. Payton Rodriguez, Emmie Bellman, Ashlyn Thompson, and Maddi Ford each added a hit. Sydney Doyle, Mila McKinney, Josie Weldy, and Lilly Krumrie all reached base via a walk or hit-by-pitch.
Bremen scored 10 runs over the first three innings—two in the first, four in the second, and four more in the third—to earn a convincing win and advance to the semifinals.
Game 4: Bremen 1 vs. Hartford 8
In the semifinals, Bremen faced the tournament's No. 1 seed, Hartford, from Michigan.
Hartford featured one of the strongest pitchers Bremen has faced in quite some time. Combined with five defensive errors, it proved to be a difficult game for Bremen.
Jayde Atkins scored Bremen's lone run after drawing a walk and later crossing the plate in the top of the fourth inning.
Despite the loss, Bremen finished the Glow Tournament at Harris Softball/Baseball League in Granger with a 2-2 record and a tie for third place.
Congratulations to these young ladies on another competitive weekend and a strong showing against quality competition!
