Hodson Hurls No-Hitter as Eagles Soar Past North Kansas City in District Opener

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

The Grain Valley High School Eagles rolled up their sleeves and went to work Thursday night at the Class 5 District 7 softball tournament at Truman.

Riley Hodson threw a three-inning no hitter in a 15-0 mercy rule victory over North Kansas City and the Eagles flexed their muscles to make life easy for the senior starter, who improved to 4-1. 

The No. 2 seeded Eagles will face No. 3 seed Blue Springs in semifinal action at 1 p.m., Saturday at Truman High School.

The Eagles gave Hodson an early 4-0 lead and added 10 runs in the second and the game-ending 15th run in the bottom of the third on Ashlynn McConnell's RBI double.

"It felt great getting that 4-0 lead in the first," said Hodson, who pitched her first prep no hitter. "I didn't even know I had a no hitter. I just knew our girls were taking care of me at the plate and they played great defense, too."

Addie Wright's 3-run double was the biggest hit in the bottom of the first.

Madison Rust hit her first of two triples in the bottom of the second and Sydnee Wagner followed with a three-run homer.

"We really want to win this district tournament," Rust said. "We haven't gotten out of district the past two seasons, and this is a great way to start. Riley did a great job on the mound and we really hit the ball hard."

Rust's second triple of the second inning drove home two more runs.

"Riley got the job done in the circle and we're really been hitting the ball hard," said Sydnee Wagner, who hit a long three-run homer in the bottom of the second. "Our girls are getting on base and we're finding ways to get them home."

Courter said it was important to keep his team focused as they played the No. 7 seeded Hornets.

"Getting that 4-0 lead off the bat was huge," coach Flip Courter said. "We hit the ball hard, really hard, and Riley threw a good game. 

"We will come focused and prepared when we play Blue Springs Saturday."
 

Riley Hodson threw a three-inning no hitter in a 15-0 mercy rule victory over North Kansas City and the Eagles flexed their muscles to make life easy for the senior starter, who improved to 4-1. The No. 2 seeded Eagles will face No. 3 seed Blue Springs in semifinal action at 1 p.m., Saturday at Truman High School.
Photo credit: Bill Althaus
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