Lady Eagles down Dexter in 5

It took nearly one time through the batting order before the Oran High School softball team adjusted to the lack of velocity from the visiting Dexter Bearcats hurler, but once they did it turned ugly fast, as the home team won 11-1 in 5 innings of play, yesterday.

Dexter scored their only tally in the second on a two-out walk, stolen base and a single.

The Eagles did not have hit through one out in the third when Katelyn Streeter singled.  Sydney Kern followed with a bunt base hit.  Then back-to-back triples by Kaylee Payne and Leah Cauble were followed by Jessie Long's sac fly, a Claire Ramsey double and a Taylor Lowes single to make the 5-1.

Four more crossed in the fourth.

Once again Streeter singled, as did Kern. Payne legged out another triple, Cauble doubled and Long singled.

The final runs came in the bottom of the fifth as Maddie Graviett doubled, pinch-hitter Abbey Madigan reached on an error allowing Graviett to score and then singles by Kern and Payne ended the game due to the mercy-rule.

Payne went the distance in the circle. She allowed only one run, earned, on 2 hits.  She walked 5 and struck out 7.  She improved her personal mark to 7-0 as the team improved to 15-0.

Coach Jim Eftink said, "Kaylee struggled with her control a bit. But she labored through it and made key pitches when she needed them.  While she wasn't as sharp on the mound she was a monster at the plate, hitting her fifth and sixth triples of the year and driving in five runs."

Cauble was 2-2 with a double and a triple.  Long drove in 2 and Kern was 3 for 4.  Streeter also had 2 hits on the day.

Eftink also mentioned, "We mixed things up a bit today, giving Claire a break behind the plate. Jessie filled in and threw out a couple of base baserunners trying to steal."

"Up next is the Scott City tournament with a big showdown with Malden. Rain is in the forecast and the fields we are playing on don't drain very well, so it doesn't look promising."

The pool play games are scheduled for 11 am (Malden) and 12:30 pm (Bismarck) Saturday with bracket play to follow.