MACON, Mo. - One timely hit proved to be the difference as Macon held off North Shelby 1-0 in a varsity softball season opener at Larry Bagley Field.
Autumn Epperly delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning, and Raleigh Weimer made that slim advantage stand with a complete-game shutout. Both teams finished with four hits in a contest that featured strong pitching and several defensive stops.
North Shelby’s Clara Uhlmeyer struck out 11 over six innings, allowing four hits and one walk. Weimer countered with five strikeouts and two walks over seven scoreless innings.
Macon’s lone run began with a leadoff walk to Taegan Nelson in the second. After a strikeout, Epperly doubled to left-center to bring home Nelson’s courtesy runner and put the Tigerettes ahead.
North Shelby created opportunities throughout the middle innings but could not push across the tying run.
In the third, Ada Jones and Kinsley Hinshaw delivered consecutive singles after an earlier baserunner was caught stealing. Weimer worked out of the inning without allowing a run.
The Raiders threatened again in the fourth when Kalli Parrish drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a groundout. Lauryn Thrasher followed with a hard line drive, but Macon third baseman Auburn Glover made a leaping catch to end the inning and preserve the lead.
Another key defensive play came in the fifth. With North Shelby threatening to score, Weimer fielded a ball hit by Hinshaw and threw home, where Nelson applied the tag for the out. Weimer then struck out Sadie Gander to escape the inning.
Uhlmeyer gave the Raiders another chance in the sixth, leading off with a single, stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout. Once again, Weimer held firm, getting two more groundouts to keep North Shelby off the scoreboard.
After Uhlmeyer retired Macon in order in the bottom of the sixth, Weimer answered with a perfect seventh to finish the shutout.
Epperly led Macon’s offense with a 2-for-2 performance, including the decisive double and the game’s only RBI. Weimer and Trinity Gooding added a single apiece.
Emmalou Rife and Hinshaw each went 1-for-2 for North Shelby, while Jones and Uhlmeyer each finished 1-for-3.
Macon opens the season 1-0, while North Shelby starts 0-1. The Raiders are scheduled to compete in the Moberly Invitational on Saturday before hosting Knox County in their home opener Tuesday.
