The Cross County Cougars had been hanging around the .500 mark for most of the season, but after Saturday’s 3-0 record that changed.
The Cougars went into the Thayer Central Quad on Saturday and came away with wins over Thayer Central, Wilber-Clatonia and Adams Central.
The last game against the Patriots of Adams Central proved to be the championship game, and the Cougars dug deep scoring six runs over the final four innings, including three in the top of the eighth to pull off the 8-6 win.
The Cougars had very little trouble with the host Titans drilling them 12-1, then topped Wilber-Clatonia 3-2, scoring two runs in the sixth to wipe out a 2-1 Wolverine lead.
In the championship game the team was led at the plate by Melanie Baker as she was 3-4 with an RBI. The senior also pitched her third complete game of the day, an eight inning outing where she allowed eight hits, struck out four and gave up six runs.
Other Cougars doing well were Brittany Senff 2-4 with an RBI and a double, Andrea Schlegelmilch was 2-5 with two runs batted in and Sarah Anderson was 1-2 with two RBIs.
“The girls had a tremendous tournament. They battled back and fought out of some tough situations,” commented Cross County head coach Laureen Powell. “Every game we had different people step up big when we needed it. Today was a real team effort.”
Cross County 12,  Thayer Central 1
Cross County put the game out of reach with a seven-run fourth that wiped out a 1-0 lead by the hosts.
They added four more in the sixth to end the game an inning early.
At the plate , Baker was 3-3 with an RBI, Kaile Dittmer was 2-3, Cory Kush was 2-4 with an RBI, and Alicia Lindquist was 2-4 with three runs batted in.
Baker struck out 11 Thayer Central batters and allowed five hits. Bakers 11 strikeouts was a career high for the senior
Cross County 3,  Wilber-Clatonia 2
A two-run single by Kush in the sixth gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead and they never looked back.
Cross County led 1-0 at the end of the second on an RBI double by Kush, but Wilber-Clatonia answered with a two run fourth to take the lead.
At the plate Kush was 2-3 with a double and three RBIs, Lindsay Larson was 2-3. Wilber was led by Miranda Thompson with a 3-3 effort and one run batted in.
Baker allowed just six hits and struck out four.
Cross County 14-11 will be home tonight to host Thayer Central in action starting at 6:30 p.m.