PREP SOFTBALL: College Heights matches single-season win record with district-opening win

College Heights matched the program’s single-season win record with its 16th victory of the season after the third-seeded Cougars defeated sixth-seeded Sarcoxie 10-8 in the opening round of the Class 2 District 6 tournament on Monday in Mount Vernon.

College Heights (with McAuley) took the lead with two runs in the first before Sarcoxie added a run in the second and took the lead with two runs in the top of the third. The Cougars (16-3) scored three runs in the third inning to regain the lead before adding three insurance runs. After the Bears (8-15) scored once in the fifth inning, College Heights pushed the lead to 10-4 with two runs in the sixth. Sarcoxie scored four times in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate before the final out was made.

Maddy Colin earned the win after allowing eight runs, two earned, on nine hits, two walks and 12 strikeouts in seven complete innings.

Kyann Ogle took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits, four walks and strikeout.

College Heights broke through on the scoreboard first with two runs crossing home in the bottom of the first inning after Jayli Johnson, who walked to lead off the inning, scored on a double steal with Kloee Williamson taking second on the play. Williamson, who singled to second to reach base, scored later in the inning on a groundout by Layne Jackson.

Sarcoxie cut into the lead in the second when Emma Plybon singled to right to score Kaydence Lee. The Bears added two more unearned runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead over the Cougars. After a leadoff walk and a single by Ogle put the first two runners on, Lee reached on an error by CHC that allowed both runners to score.

The Cougars answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to regain the lead, 5-3. Williamson doubled to lead off the inning before scoring two batters later to tie the game when Colin reached second on a Sarcoxie error on a fly ball to right field. Addie Lawrence followed with a double to center to plate the go-ahead run. Aaliyah Perez followed with a run-scoring single to center to push the lead to two.

College Heights added three insurance runs in the fourth inning to balloon the cushion to 8-5. Williamson drove in a run with an infield single, while Jackson picked up an RBI on a groundout. Colin wrapped the scoring with a run coming home on her infield hit.

Sarcoxie scored a run in the fifth but CHC followed up with a pair of runs scoring on a two-run single to left field from Avery Good in the sixth inning to seal the win.

Sarcoxie rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate for the Cougars recorded the final out. Reese Clifton brought home a run with a one-out triple to right field to score the first run. An error by CHC with two outs allowed the sixth run two score and two batters later, Plybon cut the lead to 10-8 with a two-run double to center field.

Williamson and Lawrence led College Heights at the plate with three hits each, with both players doubling. Williamson scored a team-high three runs and drove in one, while Lawrence scored twice and drove in one. Colin and Perez had two hits and an RBI. Jackson and Good each had one hit and two RBI. 

College Heights matches up with second-seeded El Dorado Springs (19-5) in the semifinal round at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Mount Vernon.