KAHOKA, Mo. - Clark County collected 23 hits and received a two-hit shutout from Emma Pitford to open its varsity softball season with a 28-0 victory over La Plata on Thursday at the Indian Athletic Complex.
The Lady Indians scored 10 runs in the first inning and added 18 in the second before the game ended after the top of the third under the run rule.
After Pitford retired La Plata in order to begin the evening, Kennyck Nixon and Hollyn Perry opened Clark County’s half with singles. A walk to Cabell Palmer loaded the bases for Chloe Shatley, who delivered a three-run double. Cadence Morss followed with an RBI single as the Lady Indians established an early lead.
Clark County continued producing throughout the lineup in the second inning, with run-scoring hits from several players. Maggie Wheeler contributed two doubles on the evening, and the Lady Indians finished with five doubles overall.
Nixon led the offense with a 5-for-5 performance, driving in three runs and scoring four times. Palmer went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and four runs scored, while also drawing a walk.
Morss finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Amanda Yoder went 3-for-3 and scored three times. Wheeler added two RBIs, and Shatley drew three walks in addition to her bases-clearing double.
Pitford worked three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four. The senior also helped her own cause with two singles and two RBIs.
La Plata put together a scoring opportunity in the second when Hailey Mitchell and Josie Ebling opened with consecutive singles. Pitford answered with two strikeouts and a groundout to strand both runners. The Lady Bulldogs placed two more runners aboard in the third as Rylee Lewis and Logann Hall drew walks, but Clark County kept the shutout intact.
The Lady Bulldogs started six freshmen, including pitcher Kinsley Jones, who worked both innings in the circle. Freshman shortstop Paizley See contributed a defensive highlight with a backhanded stop in the second.
La Plata coach Wendy Travis said the opener gave her young team experience to build on, with Jones gaining confidence in the circle and Logann Hall transitioning from second base to catcher.
“But once she gets comfortable, and we've got this one under our belt, I think you’ll see a new team,” Travis said of Jones and the Lady Bulldogs.
Travis also pointed toward continued work on defensive positioning as her young team settles into the season.
“Once we get our players into positions that they need to be in, it’ll look different,” she said.
Clark County coach Megan Claiborne praised her team’s approach at the plate. The Lady Indians finished without a strikeout.
“I love seeing kids put the ball in play, making the other defense work,” Claiborne said.
Clark County begins the season 1-0, while La Plata opens 0-1.
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Hometown Journal
(This recap is based on game coverage by the Hometown Radio Sports Network. All statistics are unofficial and subject to correction.)
