SHELBYVILLE, Mo. - Emelia Flores delivered in the circle and at the plate Tuesday evening, throwing a four-inning no-hitter and launching a two-run home run as North Shelby defeated Marion County 17-2.
The Lady Raiders collected 15 hits, including home runs from Flores and Taylin Prange, while extending their winning streak to 13 games. North Shelby improved to 14-2, while Marion County fell to 1-9.
North Shelby manufactured its first run without a hit in the bottom of the opening inning. Sadie Gander drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third before Clara Uhlmeyer brought her home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The slim advantage did not last long.
Prange opened the bottom of the second by driving a solo home run over the left-field fence, her first of the season, to ignite a 10-run inning. Mackenzie Wiedeman followed with a single and eventually scored when Sophia Luckett lined an RBI single into left field.
Luckett later stole home during an extended rundown, and Peyton Willey raced from first to third during the same sequence. Jessa Daniel brought Willey home with a groundout, stretching the lead to 5-0.
Uhlmeyer restarted the rally with a two-out single and scored on Kalli Parrish’s hit through the left side. Aizlin Eitel entered as Parrish’s courtesy runner before Flores drove a 3-0 pitch over the left-center-field fence for a two-run home run.
Prange and Wiedeman followed with consecutive singles, setting the stage for Luckett’s two-run hit into left. Daniel added another RBI single before Marion County finally escaped the inning. North Shelby sent 15 batters to the plate and collected 11 hits while building an 11-0 advantage.
The Lady Mustangs continued competing despite the deficit and pushed two runs across in the third. Desiree Boden was hit by a pitch and stole second before Kinzleigh Schaefer reached on a ball mishandled in the circle, allowing Boden to score. Schaefer later stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Jada Worrell reached on a dropped third strike.
Those were the only runs Marion County could generate against Flores. The senior struck out eight, walked none and did not surrender a hit over four innings. One of the two runs charged to her was earned.
North Shelby answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Emmalou Rife walked and stole two bases before being caught in a rundown between third and home. Alexis Browning was hit by a pitch and later scored on Wiedeman’s single. Wiedeman came around on a Marion County error to make it 13-2.
The Lady Raiders ended the contest in the fourth. Ada Jones walked, Eitel reached on a bunt that was mishandled and Rife drew another walk to load the bases. Lauryn Thrasher dropped an RBI single into right field, and two more runs scored when the ball got away from the Marion County defense.
Wiedeman then ended the game with a ball into left-center, scoring Thrasher and activating the 15-run rule.
Wiedeman finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Luckett went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three stolen bases, while Prange was 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and an RBI. Flores drove in two with her home run, and Daniel added two RBIs.
Marion County received a standout defensive play from Julia Wood, who made a diving catch in left field to take a hit away from Gander during North Shelby’s second-inning rally.
Lady Raiders head coach Dan Uhlmeyer was pleased to give several members of his roster an opportunity, although he said the team must continue playing with greater urgency.
“It takes a full team effort, and every one of these girls shows up to practice every day,” Uhlmeyer said. “We have to get the at-bats when we can. No matter who’s on the field, or if you’re in the dugout, you’ve got to bring the intensity.”
North Shelby has displayed more power in recent games after relying heavily on small ball for much of the season. Uhlmeyer said the home runs are a product of hitters being prepared when they receive a pitch to drive.
“If the pitcher is giving it to you and you have the opportunity to hit it, go hit it,” Uhlmeyer said. “You hit it hard, you get the center of the ball and good things happen.”
Anna Luckett took the loss for Marion County after allowing 11 runs on 11 hits over two innings. Kayla Smith worked the final inning and two-thirds in relief.
North Shelby will travel to Memphis for a Lewis and Clark Conference matchup against Scotland County at 5 p.m. Thursday. Uhlmeyer said the Lady Raiders’ focus will be on “picking up the intensity, coming back and playing with a purpose.”
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
