Same stuff, different day

For the Oran High School girls softball team, it had to be like déjà vu all over again yesterday when they defeated the Delta Bobcats 10-0 in 5 innings, the same exact score as their win Monday over Scott City.

Sure, the weather wasn't as nice, but the bats were hotter and the pitching was still beach-like.

Once again the Lady Eagles jumped on top early, as they sent eight to the plate and scored 4 times.

Sydney Kern reached on a dropped 3rd strike.  Then back-to-back triples by Leah Cauble and Jessie Long made the score 2-0.  Claire Ramsey reached second on an outfield error, allowing Long to cross, 3-0.  Maddie Graviett got on board thanks to an infield error that allowed Ramsey's courtesy runner, Macy Senciboy to score.

More runs in the second as Kern blooped a single with one out, stole second and scored on Kaylee Payne's single to left.  Payne jogged home when Cauble hit a thunderous drive over the left field fence for the first dinger of the year and it was 7-0 after 2.

More scoring in the third for Oran, Maddie Graviett singled to start the frame.  Savannah Elfrink entered to pitch run.  She stole second.  With one out Katelyn Streeter walked.  Then with two down, the Lady Eagles executed the double-steal.  Payne promptly drove in  both baserunners with an RBI single to center that was misplayed, allowing Payne to reach third.  Payne scored the 10th and final run of the day on Cauble's infield single.

Coach Jim Eftink talked about his club's offense, "The top of the lineup continues to get us jump started.  And now we're starting to hit for power. Cauble had the home run. But we also had a couple of triples and those balls were scorched."

Freshman Kaylee Payne got her first start in the pitcher's circle.  She went 5 shutout innings, gave up only 1 hit, struck out 11 and only walked 1.

On Payne's performance, Eftink said, "Nice job by Kaylee. She was in control the whole game. She tossed a one-hitter but could have easily had a no-hitter if not for a bad pitch call by me."

At the plate, Cauble went 3-3 with a home run and a triple.  She drove in 4 and scored twice.  Payne was 2 for 3, had 3 runs driven in and also scored twice.  Kern was 1-3, score twice and had 2 stolen bases. Long was 1-3 with the triple and an RBI.

The 2-0 Lady Eagles are scheduled to play at Advance today at 4:30 against the combined Advance and Zalma team.

Coach Eftink said this, "Up next is Advance. Samantha (Welter) will be on the mound for her second start. She gave up a pair of hits in her first start. Payne only gave up one hit [yesterday]. As competitive as those two are, Sam will likely try to top that."

We'll let you know if she does.