SPORTS SHORTS: Tiger softball splits conference opener

Jade Kranawetter and Lexi King were locked in a pitching dual in the Black Diamond West softball conference opener Thursday, but three Goreville errors allowed three unearned runs to give Trico a 3-1 win to extend the Lady Pioneers season-opening winning streak to seven games. Although the Mustangs were able to score one run in the bottom of the sixth, their rally fell short and Peetz won the game 6-3.

“It’s a tough way to lose a ballgame but I was really pleased with the way our guys competed”, Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said.

Duncan got the start on the mound for Lake and picked up the win.

Marshfield spread six hits among six different players. She hit.546 with 15 home runs, 52 RBIs and 51 runs scored a year ago. Senior Alana Burges-Campbell was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Five different Ripon Christian batters hit a double – Kelly Engel, Elizabeth Thomas (two RBI), Morgan Van Elderen (2 for 5, RBI) and Sarah Brown (2 for 5, two RBI).

Sterling Williams, Sierra Ward and Dahlia Soto-Kanui each had a run and an RBI.

Records: Warrior Run is 2-0. “We had two hits, one by Drew Salamy and one by Luke Campbell, both freshmen”. “We had some timely hitting and our defense was awesome”.

Purcell was to host Tecumseh and Newcastle on Tuesday and host Chickasha on Thursday.

Seguin senior Shyann Atchley scored the first run of the game after hitting an inside the park home run in the bottom of the first.

Another junior, Jordin Cecere, will be moving from first base to catcher this season after she hit.308 with 13 stolen bases previous year – “She is one of the toughest competitors in our lineup and a real vocal leader for us”.

“We jumped out 3-0 and the girls thought they could play with those girls”, Crusaders coach Mike Centrullo said. Corey Farrow came into the game in the seventh and pitched a scoreless frame for the save.

Highland got 10 hits in the game, drew six walks and took advantage of four errors.

The Falcons scored another in the fourth inning, and two more in the fifth on doubles for Katie Chambers and Rodriguez plus an RBI single for junior Brittney Rockwell to make it a 5-0 win for Millennium. The Lady Jackets held on to the lead to get their second win of the season 13-12.

“I struggled getting ahead in the count sometimes, but as the game went on, my teammates stood behind me and kept me confident and helped me get it done”, Phillips said.

Doubles: John Dinda/Dylan Lutch (JS) def. Cole Geiger/Jared Gageon 6-0, 6-3; Josh Kern/Zach Burkhart (M) def. Luke Maneval/Lincoln Lilly 7-5, 6-2.

Sophomore Kelsey Crawford, who shared Loganland Player of the Year honors with teammate Mandi Hettinger a year ago, will miss at least most of the regular season with a foot injury.

The boys will be home to Westhampton Wednesday. “I’m excited to get going and see what we can do”. “But once I got going, I was fine”. “It should be a good game”.