Menu
Lady Tigers notch Joplin softball tourney runner-up finish
Lady Tigers notch Joplin softball tourney runner-up finish
By Matt Resnick | Daily Mail Sports Editor
Continuing their hot start to the season, the Nevada Lady Tiger softball team placed runner-up at the Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Joplin High School Tournament over the weekend.
After winning two of three contests on Friday, the Lady Tigers defeated Monett in dramatic fashion, 10-9 — in Saturday's Gold bracket semifinal tilt. Trailing 9-4, and down to their final three outs, Nevada detonated for six runs in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Blair Wilson came home for the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, before Monett stormed back to take control of the game. The offensive damage was courtesy of a mix of soft contact, that found holes, and aggressive base-running. Headed into the home-half of the seventh, Nevada Head coach Danny Penn emphasized the importance of getting runners on base.
"We talked about how we needed baserunners, any way we could get them," he recounted. "We were fortunate to have the top of our lineup starting us off."
Bailey Ast and Kristin Buck opened the frame with back-to-back singles, and the bases-paths were loaded after Abby Harder reached via hit-by-pitch. Scorching-hot clean-up hitter Claire Pritchett followed with an RBI-single. Senior Maleigha Hinton also reached courtesy of a hit-by-pitch, forcing in another run, and trimming the Lady Tigers deficit to three. More importantly, Hinton represented the tying run, with no outs in the frame.
"However, it also meant that the bottom of our lineup would have to produce," Penn noted. "It was a great early-season test for some of our younger, and less experienced players."
Trailing by a run with one-out, Wilson reached on a fielder's choice groundout, which also plated the tying run. "Blair was then able to score on a wild pitch, winning the game — and capping a fun, early-season comeback," said an elated Penn.
At the dish, Ast finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored; Buck, 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI; Pritchett, 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, and a run scored; while Hinton went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
In the circle for Nevada Harder went the distance — yielding five earned runs, while striking out four and walking two.
Title game
The championship game was a rematch of Friday's contest, in which the Lady Tigers were defeated by Webb City, 10-4. They were unable to solve the riddle of Webb in Saturday's title matchup, falling 9-3, and concluding the tournament with a 3-2 record.
"After losing by a decent margin the night before, I was curious to see how our team would play," Penn said.
For the Lady Tigers, staff-ace Harder was back in the circle for a second consecutive contest, and it was Nevada's fifth game in less than 20 hours. Buck's third inning two-strike, two-out RBI-single put Nevada on top, 2-1. Webb replied with a three-run homer in the home-half of the frame, taking a 4-2 lead, one in which they would never relinquish.
Buck finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI — while Ast, Hinton, and Skyler Burns collected a hit apiece. "The first few innings had a lot of good softball," Penn said. "Both teams were pitching well, and making plays defensively."
Friday action
The Lady Tigers opened the tournament with a trio of contests Friday, beginning with a 5-0 victory over Seneca. Harder was in the circle and dealing — tossing a seven-inning, one-hit complete-game shutout, while fanning three.
"Abby dominated," Penn said. "She worked ahead in the count, and induced a lot of weak contact.
A scoreless contest was broken-open by Nevada's five-run fifth, sparked by Mariah Vanskike's leadoff single. At the plate, Buck and Hinton combined to go 4-for-6 with an RBI apiece.
"It took us a few innings to get our bats warmed up," summed up Penn.
In their second contest of the day, Nevada doubled up Neosho, 10-5. Buck, a hard-hitting sophomore catcher, was one of several Lady Tigers to record a huge day at the dish — collecting four hits, an RBI, and three runs scored. Additionally, Ast and Harder combined for eight RBI.
It didn't necessarily come easy for Nevada, as Neosho jumped out to a four-run lead. "We had some big, situational hitting in the third, allowing us to put two runs on the board and stop their momentum," Penn explained.
Nevada continued to pour it on the fourth, taking advantage of several Neosho errors. The big blow came in the top of the seventh, via Harder's three-run blast.
"That provided some needed insurance," Penn noted.
Making her season debut in the circle, Hinton allowed five runs (two earned), on four hits, while walking three and striking out one — en route to the pitching victory. "Maleigha did a nice job of keeping their batters off-balance, and our defense turned a big double-play behind her."
Harder finished 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored; Pritchett 3-for-5 with an RBI; and Ast 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored.
After moving to 3-0 with the victory, Nevada absorbed their first loss of the 2020 campaign, falling to Webb in Friday's finale, 10-4.
"Webb City came out swinging it really well," Penn said.
Hinton, meanwhile, was back in the circle for a second consecutive contest.
"For the most part Maleigha did a nice job of trying to mix speeds, and change locations, so they couldn't look in one spot," Penn said. "But, when she missed over the plate, their batters didn't. I was proud of Maleigha for continuing to compete, and not get down on herself."
At the dish, Pritchett led the way with a pair of hits, her fourth home run of the young season, and three RBI — while Harder concluded 2-for-3 with a double, and two runs scored.
"Offensively, we were limited in what we were able to do," Penn noted. "Abby and Claire both had solid offensive games. Claire hit a no-doubt, three-run homer, while Abby had two solid hits as well."
Final thoughts
With three victories over two days, ultimately resulting in a second-place tournament finish, Penn said he was pleased with his club's play. "Overall, I am very happy with how we played this weekend."
The Lady Tigers are still without their full complement of players, most notably, senior shortstop Tylin Heathman. "We had to move some people around," Penn said. "They all did a really nice job of responding positively, and playing good softball."
Penn continued: "We saw some of our younger players struggle a little bit, but then work their way through it, and make some solid contributions. We also had our older players play very well, and continue to encourage our entire team — which is something we'll have to have all season. I'm encouraged about our team's potential as the season progresses."
Up Next
Nevada (4-2) returns to the diamond Wednesday for a non-conference road matchup with Harrisonville (1-4). The Lady Tigers are then slated for a Big 8 West division home clash with Seneca, 4:30 p.m. Thursday.