MAAA softball standings remain tight

By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

With the Fredericktown Lady Cats knocking off the Farmington Knightettes on Wednesday, the MAAA Conference softball standings tightened up considerably with Central and Fredericktown only a half game back of the Knightettes. Thursday's action did not widen things out a bit.

Central 9, Potosi 6

POTOSI - The Central Lady Rebels kept their hopes alive as they utilized a huge fourth inning to down the Potosi Lady Trojans 9-6 on Thursday. For the most part, the fourth inning was nearly all of the Lady Rebels offense. Potosi rallied too late as they scored their six runs over the sixth and seventh innings.

Amber Kennedy was the winning pitcher and allowed only three hits by the home team. Kayla Jaco went 4-4 for the Lady Rebels, and Michelle Mabery was 3-4 with two doubles and four RBI. Megan Keller and Kayla Maberry had two hits each and Jamie Kennard, Kristen Gunder, Emily Clark, and Kennedy all had one hit each.

Potosi's three hits were singles by Robyn Pashia and Emily Morgan, and a double by Brittany Chazelle.

Farmington 7, North County 2

FARMINGTON - The Farmington Knightettes were outhit by the North County Lady Raiders, but not outscored. Farmington racked up five runs in the first inning Thursday and then rode out a strong defense to keep the Lady Raiders at bay for a 7-2 win.

"Defense is the backbone of our team," said Coach Stan Walden. "The girls played really good ball in the field."

Natalie Sago only struck out two batters in her seven innings on the mound, and North County outhit the Knightettes 11-6, but Farmington's defense kept things in check.

Erica Fitzgerald led the team in hitting going 3-4 at the plate with a double. Erica Sherrill hit a double and Sago, Marissa Hoehn and Sonya Galloway had one single each.

Hali Prosser led North County in hitting with a 4-4 performance at the plate. Jamie Penfield was 3-4, and Ann Boyer, Katie Gibson, Ashley Skaggs, and Jessica House had one hit each.

Fredericktown 5, Ste. Genevieve 4

FREDERICKTOWN - The Fredericktown Lady Cats were pushed to the limit after their big win on Wednesday over Farmington. The Ste. Genevieve Hunters did all they could to knock off the Lady Cats, but came up short in a 5-4 loss on Thursday.

Once again the losing team had more hits as the Hunters led that department 7-4. Jenni Kemp, Tricia Ward, Laura Mooney, and Jennifer Whitener had one hit each for the Lady Cats.

It was Whitener's hit that made the difference. The Lady Cats had squandered a 4-0 lead, but in the bottom of the seventh with Mooney on first from a walk, Whitener hit a single that the Ste. Genevieve outfielder obligingly turned into extra bases and Mooney was able to scamper all the way home for the winning run.

"We scored four runs early, but after that we were flatter than a pancake," said Fredericktown coach Eric Newell.

Fredericktown will play in the Herculaneum tourney on Saturday with their first game to be against De Soto.

FALL BASEBALL

Arcadia Valley 7, Kingston 1

Arcadia Valley 3, Kingston 0 (4 innings)

IRONTON - The Arcadia Valley Tigers notched their belt two more times on Thursday by winning both ends of a doubleheader with the Kingston Cougars, 7-1 and 3-0.

Jacob Yarbrough was the winning pitcher in game one allowing only four Cougar hits in five innings. Luch Laird was winning pitcher in game two allowing no hits in a four inning game that was called for darkness.

Logan Smith and Spencer Helms had two hits each for the Tigers, and Ryan Esselman, Nick Benz, Tyler Laird had one single each. Walter Spitzmiller hit a triple in the game.

Hitters for the Cougars were Kenny Henry, Nathan Yates Nathan Boyer, and Jessie Henry all with one single each.

Yarbrough went 2-2 and Brandon Racer was 1-1 in game two for the Tigers.