Lady Eagles ease past East Prairie

The Oran High School softball team rode the one-hit shutout complete game pitching performance from freshman Kaylee Payne and the 7 hit, 5 rbi output of the bottom three in their batting order on their way to a 10-0 six-inning mercy-rule win at East Prairie on Thursday to improve to 11-0.

Oran picked up a run to open the affair, Sydney Kern reached on an infield error, stole second, went to third on a ground-out and scored on Leah Cauble's sacrifice fly.

East Prairie threatened in the second.  An error started the inning, a one-out walk, followed by another error, this one with two outs, loaded the bases.  Payne was able to escape as all three outs went down swinging.

The score remained 1-0 until the fourth.

Sam Welter led off with a base on balls.  She advanced to third on Maddie Graviett's single and scored on Kenzie Graviett's base hit.  Kenzie's hit also moved Maddie to third.  Maddie would score on Kern's bunt single and Kenzie would cross on Cauble's ground ball out. The Eagles were up 4-0.

Oran blew the game wide open in the sixth when they sent ten to the plate and scored 6.

Kern reached on an infield single, stole second and third as Payne walked.  Kern was out on a fielder's choice as Cauble reached first and Payne advanced to third.  Cauble stole second before Jessie Long drove in both with a double to left.  Claire Ramsey reached on an infield error to put runners at first and second.  Macy Senciboy ran for Ramsey.  The bases would be loaded after Welter's bunt single.
Long and Senciboy crossed on Kenzie Graviett's single to center.  Welter and Graviett scored on Katelyn Streeter's double to set the final 10-0 margin.

The game ended after a one-two-three bottom of the sixth.

Payne improved to 5-0, she allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out 11 batters.

Coach Jim Eftink said, "Kaylee had another outstanding performance on the mound. She allowed only one hit and it was questionable. Her changeup was working and she used it to get five or six outs."

Maddie Graviett led the Eagles with 3 hits.  Coach Eftink said, "Gotta give a shout out to Maddie. She had a career day 3 for 4. She upped her average to .393. She's figured something out and is becoming very reliable at the plate."

Kern, Kenzie Graviett and Streeter each had two hit apiece for an Oran offense that pounded out 13 on the day.  Eftink mentioned, "Once the team figured out that fly balls were going to be outs due to the wind, adjustments were made and we played a speed game. The girls were all over the bases. That was good to see as we've kinda gotten away from that lately."

Kenzie drove in 3, while Cauble, Long and Streeter had 2 rbi's each.  Kern swiped four bases in the game.

The Lady Eagles will be back in action on Monday when they travel to Woodland for a softball/baseball doubleheader beginning at 4:30.