Lady Eagles improve to 13-0

The Oran High School softball team picked up its thirteenth victory without a defeat last night with a convincing 9-0 win over the Advance Lady Hornets in a game played at the Southeast Missouri State University softball complex.

Kaylee Payne got the start in the circle and gave up a single with one out in the top of the first but the runner advanced no further.

Oran put three on in its half but was unable to score.

In the second, it looked as if the Hornets would have another one out single, but the one-hop line drive to shallow right was fielded by Kenzie Graviett and with the throw to Maddie Graviett at first it was a 9-3 putout.

Coach Jim Eftink said of the play, "The Graviett twins pulled off a pretty good play early in the game. When a right fielder throws out a runner on a force at first it kinda takes the wind out of your sails."

And that wind quickly shifted to the Eagle side as Oran scored 4 in the second on 3 walks, 3 hits and an error.  The big blow was a bases-clearing double by Payne that drove in 3.  

The momentum shift was also evident when Oran was in the field as, after that play, Payne retired the next 6 in a row and the Advance recorded no more hits the rest of the way.

The Eagles meanwhile, added 2 more in the third.  Payne drove both in with a single.

On Payne's performance, Eftink had this to say, "Kaylee probably had her most complete game since we played Kennett. Outstanding on the mound and at the plate."

Oran would close out the scoring in the fifth when 3 more crossed.  Leah Cauble tripled to left and drove in two before Jessie Long grounded out allowing Cauble to come home.

Payne improved to 6-0 with the shutout.  She allowed only 1 hit and walked 3 while striking out 9.

At the plate, she was 2-3 with 5 RBI.  Cauble was 2-4 with 2 driven in.  Sydney Kern and Katelyn Streeter both had 2 hits. Streeter scored 3 times and Kern twice.

Eftink said, "We've got this streak going but it may not last long if we don't clean up some things. We blew some chances for big innings by being a little sloppy--not running out a pop up--not sliding on a steal--trying to pull the ball instead of going the opposite way--and popping up way too many pitches. Fly balls make for easy outs.

We'll regroup after the break and hopefully, the days off will bring back the intensity we saw earlier in the season. Hope the girls rest up and enjoy their Easter Break. We head to Ste Genevieve Monday. It'll be Sam's turn on the mound. I plan on her making two starts next week as we start to look ahead at districts."

The next game is at Valle Catholic.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

The district tournament begins May 1st and will be held at Advance.