Eagles softball offense continues hot streak in 21-2 blowout of Bears

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
The offense has been on fire for the Grain Valley softball team.
 
Going into Tuesday’s Suburban White Conference contest against William Chrisman, the Eagles have had three consecutive games with double digit runs.
 
That continued against the Bears as the Eagles tagged their opponents for 15 hits, with eight coming against starting pitcher Avah Barmore in a 21-2 mercy-rule victory in four innings at William Chrisman High School.
 
“The whole batting order is putting the ball in play,” Sophomore Mackenzie Rust said.
 
Added head coach Flip Courter: “We’re starting to string some things together. Earlier in the year, we would have opportunities to score with runners on base, and we weren’t able to come through with a big hit to drive them in.
 
“Since the Blue Springs South game last week, we have been able to do that.”
 
The Eagles (11-5, 4-0 conference) got off to a 6-0 lead in the top first inning as senior Sydnee Wagner had a run-scoring single; senior Addie Wright had a two-run single; senior Ashlynn McConnell doubled in two runs and junior Madison Rust had an RBI single.
 
Grain Valley went scoreless in the second, while the Bears got a run due to some errors from the Eagles.
 
In the third, the Eagles got back on track with three runs in the top of the third, which was highlighted by a solo home run from junior Molly Jones. The team then put it away with a 12-run fourth inning that featured a solo home run from Abe Scott and a two-run triple from McConnell.
 
Meanwhile senior starting pitcher Riley Hodson earned her first varsity win. She allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out two batters in four innings. With her team having such a comfortable lead, she was able to pitch without any pressure.
 
“I went into it not trying to be too confident,” Hodson said. “I was working on putting spin on my pitches and hitting my spots. It worked well.
 
“My changeups got a few ground balls, which was good. I threw more fastballs than normal and my drop ball was working well.”
 
Courter praised his senior for the downward movement on her pitches and her control.
 
“She’s not an overpowering pitcher, but she does not make mistakes,” Courter said. “She’s not going to walk people. She’s not going to hit people. She has good command, and she makes the ball move a little bit. Her pitches dive off the table.”
 
Wagner was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI; Rust was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored; and McConnell was 2-for-2 with three runs and five RBIs for the Eagles.

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