SHELBYVILLE, Mo. - Emelia Flores got North Shelby’s Senior Night started with a pitch. Clara Uhlmeyer took it from there, striking out a career-high 20 batters in a seven-inning no-hitter as the Lady Raiders defeated Schuyler County 8-0 Monday in Lewis and Clark Conference play.
Flores, a senior sidelined by a leg injury, started in the circle and threw a ball to Schuyler County leadoff hitter Maddox Berry. She then left the game to an ovation, and Uhlmeyer moved over from third base. North Shelby coach Dan Uhlmeyer said the teams had discussed the plan beforehand, and he thanked Schuyler County for allowing Flores to have that moment on the field.
Once Clara took over, the Lady Rams had little time to settle in. She struck out the first nine batters she faced, reaching 200 strikeouts for the season with the final out of the third inning. She walked none and allowed just one baserunner all night.
“She just went after it,” Dan Uhlmeyer said. “She danced all around the zone. She was in, out, high, low. She hit her spots. She hit everything I called for, and only shook me off once.”
North Shelby supplied two runs in the first inning. Sadie Gander led off with a double to left-center field after a nine-pitch battle with Schuyler County starter Clara Dabney. Gander advanced to third on a groundout, and Kalli Parrish drew a walk before Lauryn Thrasher brought Gander home on a groundout. Alexis Browning followed with a single that scored Parrish.
Schuyler County answered that opening inning with strong defensive plays. In the second, shortstop Berry dove to catch Kinsley Hinshaw’s slap attempt and doubled courtesy runner Jessa Daniel off first base. In the third, Parrish doubled to right field to score Payton Willey, but Nicole Poe retrieved the ball and threw to Berry, who relayed it to Jalee Snowbarger for the out as Parrish tried to reach third. The run still gave North Shelby a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Raiders widened that lead in the fourth. Browning singled and stole second, and senior Sophia Luckett drew a walk after a lengthy at-bat. Both scored when Ada Jones reached on an error at shortstop. An inning later, Clara Uhlmeyer led off with a triple, Parrish hit her second RBI double of the game, and Browning’s steal of second drew a throwing error that allowed Parrish to score. Emmalou Rife singled home Browning to make it 8-0.
Dan Uhlmeyer said the offense reflected an approach his team has worked on with runners aboard. “I want ball in play, make them earn the out,” he said. He added that the Lady Raiders have been backing away from uppercut swings and focusing more on line drives and ground balls.
Schuyler County’s only baserunner came in the sixth, when Maybelle Lusher reached on a dropped third strike. Clara Uhlmeyer retired the next three hitters, then struck out the side in the seventh. She faced 22 batters in all and finished the game with her 20th strikeout.
That many strikeouts left North Shelby’s fielders with little action, but Dan Uhlmeyer said they still had to stay prepared. “From a defensive standpoint, you have to be ready at every given moment,” he said. “If she misses this location, they put a good bat on it, we have to be ready.”
Parrish led North Shelby’s seven-hit offense with two doubles and two RBIs. Browning had two hits, an RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Following the game, North Shelby recognized Flores and Luckett, along with senior team manager Hazel Yoder.
Dabney took the loss for Schuyler County, while Maddison Severns pitched the final two innings in relief. Lady Rams coach Tristan Daniels credited Severns with giving his team another chance to bat. “She looked really good. She did her job,” Daniels said. “Gave us another at-bat, and that’s all I can ask, just give us chances.”
Daniels said his hitters have faced a difficult stretch of pitching and will keep working through it. With a home conference game against Scotland County scheduled for Tuesday, he hopes the Lady Rams can “relax and get back to playing our best.”
North Shelby improved to 19-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Schuyler County fell to 7-9 and 1-3 in the conference.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
