Lady Jackets defeat 3 Kentucky teams to start season
The Mount Vernon Lady Jackets softball team started the season 3-0 on a Florida trip that accelerated from with a 4-3 win over Raceland (Kentucky), March 27, to a 13-6 win over Johnson Central, (Kentucky) March 28 to a 14-3 drubbing of Pikeville (Kentucky), March 29, at the Beach Bash in Destin, Fla.
In the Johnson Central game, the batters were ahead of the pitchers in the first, with the Yellow Jackets putting up three runs in the top of the first and the Golden Eagles answering with four.
Following a scoreless second, the Lady Jackets tacked on a run in the third to tie the game and a run in the fourth to go ahead 5-4. Mount Vernon padded the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Johnson Central closed the gap with two of their own in the bottom of the inning.
From that point on, it was all Lady Jackets, who added two more in the sixth and four in the seventh to win 13-6.
Mount Vernon outhit Johnson Central 14-7 and committed two errors to six by the Golden Eagles.
Emma Calkins, Addison Christopher and Sydney Silvery each bashed out three hits, Calkins drove in three runs and McKenzie Krownapple added two RBI. Emilee Burke pitched 5 1/3 innings, struck out four and threw 16 first-pitch strikes.
Against Pikeville, the Panthers struck first with a deuce in the first. The Lady Jackets took the lead with a three-run second and padded it to a 6-3 lead after three innings. A two-run fourth and a six-run fifth put the game on ice.
Mount Vernon outhit Pikeville, 14-6. Kennedi Endslee banged out three hits for the Jackets, Calkins had two hits, Kelly Sullins drove in three runs, Krownapple and Christopher had two RBI each, and Addi Parker pitched four innings, struck out three and threw 13 first-pitch strikes for the victory.
Big seventh leads Lady Knights charge over Bucyrus, 14-4
Northmor opened its softball season March 29 with a come-from-behind 14-4 victory over Bucyrus.
The Bucyrus Lady Redmen struck first with three runs in their first at-bat, but Northmor clawed for a run in the third. Down 3-1, the Lady Knights put seven on the board in the fourth and added three in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 10-run victory in their season opener.
Northmor finished with 15 hits. Taylor Cantrell went 4-for-4 and drove in four runs, and McKenna Van Dyke went 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead Northmor. Kate Kissling pitched a complete game for the Knights and struck out six.
Lady Blue Devils demolish Delaware Christian, 17-1
Danville’s season opener went its way from the start as the Lady Blue Devils shut down the Delaware Christian Eagles, 17-1, on March 29. Danville scored in every inning, leading 2-0 after one and 6-0 after two. It took an 8-1 lead into the fifth, when the,Lady Devils erupted for none runs to take the game by 16.
Keura Schilling led all batters with a 5-for-5 day at the plate, with three doubles, three runs scored and two RBI. Addison Mickley, Cordi Richert and Alicia Humphrey each chipped in with two hits, and Mickley, Humphrey and Richert each scored three runs. Humphrey drove in three and Mickley added two RBI. Grace Goneberg pitched a complete game for the win and retired seven on strikes.
Lady Bulldogs use big first, late scores to take down Utica, 13-3
The East Knox Lady Bulldogs scored five in the first and added crooked numbers in the fourth, fifth and sixth to knock off Utica, 13-3, on March 30.
The score remained 5-0 until the fourth, when Utica picked up two and EK countered with three. The Lady Bulldogs added three more in the fifth, and Utica chalked up one and EK put up two more in the sixth to extend the led to 10 runs. East Knox outhit Utica 10-5.
Ava Stiltner went 3-for-4 with two doubles and drove in three to lead East Knox. Natalie Smith also went 3-for-4 with a double and plated two runs for EK. Five Lady Bulldogs scored twice, and eight players scored runs. Maddy Cotsamire and Kayla Finch combined in the circle for the win, and each struck out five batters.
Five Lady Redskins got a hit apiece, Karleigh Lees drove in two runs with a home run, and Shelby Authorson walked twice for Utica.
