Big inning results in 1-0 win for Eagles

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

The Grain Valley Eagles were on a mission Thursday afternoon at Truman High School. 

After winning the Greater Kansas City Silver Division with a 3-0 record this past weekend, they suffered through a 14-5 loss to Lee's Summit West in their regular-season opener. 

"Our girls were upset, I was upset and we put all our energy into tonight's game," coach Flip Courter said after the Eagles scored 10 unanswered runs in the sixth inning to claim a 12-1 victory over the host Patriots. 

Molly Jones, Madison Rust and their Grain Valley teammates made sure that Olivia Slaughter enjoyed a special 18th birthday as they won their first Suburban White Conference game of 2025.

Jones allowed just three hits, one unearned run and struck out 15 while Rust hit a two-run double that ignited a two-out, 10-run sixth inning as the Eagles defeated Truman 12-1 on the Patriots home field Thursday afternoon.

The final score can be a bit deceiving as Truman led the Eagles 1-0 with two outs in the sixth inning.

'It's amazing what one really big inning can do for a team," said Jones, who also had two singles in the game. "And we did it with two outs. That's unbelievable, but we all kind of knew something big was going to happen in the sixth when Madison came to the plate. She was due for a big hit, and she came through."

Rust, who is among the top hitters in the metro area, made a statement before she approached the plate in the sixth.

"I can't wait much longer," said said, after her two-run double gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

But that was just the start of a rally that saw Grain Valley collect six hits, while every batter in the lineup scored at least one run.

"We had to win for Liv," Rust said. "It's her 18th birthday. She can't go home sad on her birthday."

Jones agreed.

"I love pitching to Liv," Jones said. "I've pitched to her forever. She's a real leader out there. She calls all the pitches and I never shake her off. She knows what I'm thinking before I even think about it."

Slaughter, who got in on the action in the sixth with a walk and a run scored, had an RBI double in the sixth.

"I love my girls," Slaughter said. "There's no place I'd rather be than right here tonight."

With the game well in hand, Slaughter's teammates chanted, "Happy 18th" from the dugout as she approached the plate.

"We're not a team, we're a family," Slaughter added. "I love them and I know they love me!"

Ashlynn McConnell was named the Player of the Game, as she finished with two singles, three RBIs and a two-run triple.

"That was such a crazy comeback," McConnell said. "We had that tough (14-5) loss to Lee's Summit West, and we were really pumped to come out and have a big game. It took us to the sixth, with two outs, to get the offense going, but once we did, it never stopped."

Abe Scott finished with two singles, an RBI and a run scored; Sydney Wagner hit an RBI double and scored a run; Morgan Hart singled and had an RBI double and scored two runs; Mackenzie Rust doubled, singled and scored two runs; and Ava Rosetti doubled and scored a run.

Taylen Parker threw five-hit, shutout ball through the first five innings.
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