MC Softball vs Hermann (15-9 W) by Alan Brake

SOFTBALL LADY WILDCATS COMES FROM BEHIND TWICE TO WIN SEASON OPENER

The Montgomery County R-2 Lady Wildcats softball team came from behind twice to win their 2012 season opener and earn their first win in two seasons.  The Lady Wildcats hosted Hermann on Thursday/August 23, scoring 7 runs in the sixth inning, and then holding Hermann scoreless in the seventh inning to win 15-9.

Both teams threatened to score in the first inning, but were unable to produce any runs.  Hermann also loaded the bases in the top of the second inning, but the inning ended with a pop up to R-2 third baseman Payton LaBrier and no runs scored.

R-2 scored 3 runs in the bottom of the second inning when Emily Walton, Taylor Lauer and Miah Klekamp reached base to load the bases.  Walton and Lauer scored on a single by LaBrier and Klekamp scored on a ball hit by Shelby Roark to make the score 3-0.

Hermann came back and tied the game in the top of the third inning, scoring 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks.  In the top of the fourth inning 5 consecutive Hermann batters walked, which led to 2 runs scored and a 5-3 Hermann lead.

The Lady Wildcats staged their first “come back” of the game in the bottom of the fourth with 4 runs on 5 hits.  Lauer started the inning with a single, followed by a single by Klekamp.  Roark then hit a 3-run home run to give R-2 a 6-5 lead.  Roark’s home run was followed by a triple by Shelby Miles and a single by Caleigh Lively, giving R-2 a 7-5 lead.

Hermann came right back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits, and an R-2 error to regain the lead 9-7.  In the bottom of the fifth, Klekamp singled with one out, stole second base and third base, and scored on a double by Roark to close the gap to 9-8.

R-2’s pitching and defense tightened up from that point on, as Hermann had only one base runner in the sixth inning and one in the seventh.  Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats staged their second “come back” in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring 7 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and a Hermann error.

The inning started with walks to Lively and Lauren McGarvey, and a single by Walton, which scored Lively to tie the game at 9-9.  Lauer walked to load the bases, and Klekamp singled to score McGarvey and make the score 10-9.  Walton was thrown out at home plate on a force play on a ball hit by LaBrier.  However, the Lady Wildcats scored 5 runs with two outs on a double by Roark, and singles by Miles, Lively and McGarvey (Lauer, Klekamp, LaBrier, Roark and Miles scored the runs).  As was previously mentioned, R-2 held Hermann scoreless in the seventh inning to give the Lady Wildcats a 15-9 season opening win.

Several players contributed offensively to this exciting victory.  The individual statistics were as follows (listed according the batting order):  Klekamp 3 hits, 4 runs scored, 4 stolen bases and 1 run batted in (RBIs); LaBrier 1 hit, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs; Roark 2 hits, 1 home run, 2 runs scored and 7 RBIs; Miles 2 hits, 1 triple, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs; Lively 2 hits, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs; McGarvey 1 hit and 1 run scored; Walton 2 hits and 1 run scored; and Lauer 1 hit and 3 runs scored.

Walton was the starting pitcher for R-2.  She pitched 3 innings and game up 5 runs on 2 hits and 10 walks.  She struck out 2 batters.  Roark pitched the last 4 innings and earned the victory because she was pitching when R-2 gained its final lead.  In her four innings of work she gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks.  She struck out 6 batters.

The Lady Wildcats have a busy schedule this week and next, with 3 games this week and 2 games and a 3-game tournament next week.  On Monday/August 27, they hosted St. Clair.  On Tuesday/August 28, they travel to Wright City, then Thursday/August 30 they host Van-Far.  The St. Clair game was a non-conference game, while the Wright City and Van-Far games are East Missouri (EMO) Conference games (they both start at 5:00 p.m.).

Next week the Lady Wildcats travel to Clopton on Tuesday/September 4, and then host Wellsville-Middletown on Thursday/September 6.  Both of these games start at 5:00 p.m. and are EMO Conference games.  On Saturday/September 8, they will play 3 games in the North Callaway Tournament (at the Auxvasse Ball Field).  Information for this tournament was not available at the time this report was written.  Reports for all of both weeks’ games will be in the September 12 issue of the Standard.

Congratulations to the Lady Wildcats for this exciting win in their season opener.  Best wishes in these upcoming games.