LA PLATA, Mo. – Canton scored four runs in each of the first two innings and continued adding to its lead Saturday afternoon, defeating Schuyler County 15-2 in five innings in the Class 1, District 5 semifinals at the La Plata Sports Complex. The third-seeded Lady Tigers collected nine hits behind a complete-game pitching performance from Olivia Slater, earning a meeting with top-seeded North Shelby for the district championship.
Izzy Baker led Canton with three hits, while Izzy Ruffcorn added two hits and two RBIs. Addelyn Baker drove in four runs, and Slater held the second-seeded Lady Rams to two runs on seven hits, working around scoring opportunities to keep Canton in control throughout the afternoon.
Slater helped get the Lady Tigers started with a leadoff single in the first inning, then stole second. Chayse Uhlmeyer reached on an error, and Claire Whiston was hit by a pitch as Canton put pressure on Schuyler County early. After the Lady Rams recorded a force out at home, Ruffcorn delivered an RBI single to open the scoring. Canton took advantage of additional defensive miscues to bring three more runs across and finish the inning with a 4-0 lead.
Schuyler County threatened in the bottom half as Clara Dabney and Greta Schoonover each singled, but Canton kept the Lady Rams off the scoreboard. Slater recorded a strikeout for the second out before right fielder Carter Arnold made a running catch on a ball hit by Trinity Gray, holding on near the end of her glove to strand two runners.
Lilly Myers opened the second inning with a single, and Canton again turned its opportunities into runs. The Lady Tigers added four more in the frame, which included singles from Izzy Baker and Addelyn Baker, to stretch the advantage to 8-0. Slater followed with a scoreless bottom half, retiring Schuyler County in order.
The Lady Rams put together their strongest offensive inning in the third. Dabney and Schoonover each collected their second hit of the afternoon as Schuyler County loaded the bases, and Jalee Snowbarger followed with an RBI single. Gray added a sacrifice fly to right field, cutting the deficit to 8-2 and giving the Lady Rams a chance to work back into the game. Uhlmeyer helped stop the rally from behind the plate, picking a runner off first to end the inning.
Canton answered with two runs in the fourth. Izzy Baker singled, Ruffcorn reached on an error, and Addelyn Baker walked to load the bases. A ball put in play by Peyton Spurgeon brought two runs home on an error, restoring an eight-run cushion at 10-2.
Schuyler County had another opportunity in the bottom of the fourth when Maybelle Lusher was hit by a pitch and Scarlett Henry singled. Canton again worked its way out of trouble, with Uhlmeyer throwing out a runner attempting to steal second before Slater finished the inning with a strikeout.
The Lady Tigers added five runs in the fifth to put the game within reach of the run rule. Uhlmeyer walked and stole second, Whiston was hit by a pitch, and Izzy Baker singled to load the bases. Ruffcorn followed with her second RBI single, and Addelyn Baker brought another run home on a fielder’s choice. Canton continued moving runners around the bases, adding three more runs before the inning ended.
Slater closed the game with a scoreless fifth, allowing only a walk to Halle Roberts. Whiston secured a foul pop near the first-base dugout for the second out, and Myers caught a fly ball in left field to finish the victory.
Uhlmeyer scored three runs and stole two bases for Canton, while Whiston also scored three times. Spurgeon was credited with two RBIs. Slater finished with three strikeouts and one walk over her five innings in the circle.
Dabney and Schoonover each went 2-for-3 to lead Schuyler County’s seven-hit effort. Snowbarger, Henry and Jesslyn Herring contributed one hit apiece, with Snowbarger and Gray accounting for the Lady Rams’ RBIs. Dabney pitched all five innings, striking out two and walking two. Only three of the 15 runs charged to her were earned.
Schuyler County finishes its season at 13-12, with seniors Maybelle Lusher and Kelsey Buckallew concluding their high school softball careers. Canton improves to 10-13 and advances to face North Shelby in the district championship Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the La Plata Sports Complex.
Photo courtesy for this story provided by Jayden Shuman
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
Click here to listen to the broadcast of this game.
