Tuesday Softball: Lady Cats alter lineup with solid results against Sikeston

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

FREDERICKTOWN – Several instances of solid contact helped the Fredericktown softball team assert control against struggling Sikeston during the first inning.

Averee Kelley and Adrienne Cox provided an extra punch from the middle of the order, each going 3-for-3 with a walk, and the Lady Cats prevailed 14-4 on Tuesday.

Freshman Abby Rehkop pitched four solid innings and struck out seven batters for the win, as junior ace Michaela Reagan was given the day off.

Fredericktown (14-4) grabbed the lead when Miley Wengler drilled an inside-the-park home run that the outfield fence barely contained. She circled the bases as an outfield throw could not be cut.

Previous hitter Jonsyn Rehkop doubled to left-center, then used her speed to induce a wide throw on a steal of third base before heading to the plate.

Abby Rehkop helped her own cause with a two-run single after two walks and another hit loaded the bases, and headed back to the circle holding a 4-1 advantage.

Sikeston (0-17) hoped to snap a 29-game losing streak dating back to last season, and jumped in front 1-0 when Amiya Green singled to left after Cambree Scott opened the game with a hit.

Rehkop quickly settled in to retire 10 of her next 12 batters, and caught Green looking after opposing hurler Brileigh Newman singled and Marlie Crook doubled with two outs in the third.

Wengler notched her second RBI on a single that brought Ella Penwell home, and Fredericktown created ample separation with another four-run push.

Kelley singled ahead of Cox, and scored from second base when the Bulldogs lacked urgency from the outfield on a deep fly ball by Abby Rehkop.

Kynlee Bridges made it 7-1 with an RBI single through the left side, and Becca Mangold lined the next pitch to center field for another hit.

Penwell launched a sacrifice fly, and Jonsyn Rehkop continued her 2-for-4 effort with an RBI single. Kelley and Cox contributed hits to another scoring sequence in the fourth.

The Lady Cats were tested just once in the outfield, and Brooklyn Josifek handled a sharp liner to right in a clean fourth inning for Rehkop.

Mangold relieved in the fifth, and Sikeston capitalized on two errors and two walks after pinch-hitter Jacey Mitchell and Dekhia Sharp sparked a rally with consecutive singles.

Cox fielded a grounder at third to obtain an out in a rundown. Mangold later fielded a slow tapper near the third-base line and threw to Kelley for the tag at home.

But a single by Crook – who finished 2-for-3 overall – preceded a misplayed ground ball that enabled two unearned runs to pull the Bulldogs within 10-4.

Fredericktown enforced the 10-run rule in the home half. Brylie Allgier singled between two walks, and Cox narrowly missed a grand slam when her two-run double struck the left-field fence.

Kelley scored her fourth run of the game as Brooklyn Hendrix picked up her second RBI on a sacrifice fly. Cox crossed the dish on a final wild pitch.

Newman allowed 15 hits while pitching the duration for Sikeston, which nearly broke through three weeks ago in an 11-10 loss to Perryville.

Fredericktown has four October games on its independent schedule before entering district play.

North County 21, Neelyville 5

NEELYVILLE, Mo. – North County sophomore Ava McClure enjoyed a memorable performance at the plate during a 21-5 stifling of Neelyville on Tuesday.

McClure homered twice and hit for the cycle with eight RBI while going 5-for-6 overall. She belted a two-run shot in the third inning plus a three-run blast in the sixth.

Raegen Pierce had a sparkling 4-for-4 effort with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Madalyn Jaco likewise provided a double among four hits with two runs scored.

North County (6-9) established a 9-0 cushion after pushing six runs across in the third, then erupted for 10 in the sixth after Neelyville (3-13) had trimmed its deficit to 11-6.

Olivia Jaco matched Sophie Rackley at 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored, and pitched all six frames for the win. Jaco yielded five runs on six hits and posted two strikeouts.

Emma Roper singled twice with three runs scored, and Madison-Anne Carroll ended 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI for the Lady Raiders.

Kensey Marler tripled and singled while Lilly Marshall provided a double with two RBI. McClure put the visitors ahead 3-0 with a triple in the second inning.

Alicia Barker highlighted the Lady Tigers by finishing 3-for-3 with a double. Parker Ernst homered in the fifth, and was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Kelly 6, Farmington 4

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Cecily Hall doubled while finishing 2-for-3, and Alexis Wilson singled twice as Kelly held off Farmington 6-4 in conference action on Tuesday.

Kaylee Still crossed the plate on an error, and Avree Riley added an insurance RBI single as the Lady Hawks regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Winning reliever Brailey Ratledge collected nine strikeouts and scattered four hits over four innings after Wilson surrendered three runs in three frames for Kelly (17-6, 3-1).

Farmington (2-12, 0-5) pursued a potential upset, and pulled even at 4-4 on a clutch, two-out single by Katelyn Heberlie after Jaylynne Payne reached with a leadoff hit.

Kylen Knight hammered a solo home run to center field in the third, and paced the Knights at 2-for-2 overall with two walks and two RBI.

Andie Hogan allowed nine hits and fanned three while lasting the duration in the circle. Four of the six runs charged to her were unearned.

Ratledge doubled while Lucy Washburn, Keira Glueck and Still singled to boost Kelly.

Farmington picked up a double from Kamryn Kennedy along with singles by Izzy Staat, Kenlee Bellew and Hogan. Gracie Mann walked and scored.