College Heights (with McAuley) broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the fifth inning before plating two more runs in the sixth en route to the 5-3 win over Lockwood on Monday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
The Cougars (12-2) took the momentum with two runs in the bottom of the first inning before Lockwood (5-10) used the long ball in the fourth inning to knot things up at 2s. College Heights manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning before bringing home insurance in the sixth thanks to a timely home run.
“Every game isn’t going to be a blowout,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said about the offensive output in the win. “We are going to have close games, and I am proud of the way they responded in the situation of a close game. (CHC assistant coach John Blankenship) likened it to basketball, which is funny because both of us are basketball coaches. Sometimes you are going to have off-shooting nights, but you win games with defense and making plays in pressure situations.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Maddy Colin started and earned the complete-game win for College Heights after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, a walk and 19 strikeouts in seven innings. Colin struck out the side in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with the Tigers going down in order via the punchout in the third, fifth and sixth frames.
“We have to shore up our defense a little bit, but our pitching was really good,” Howard said. “Other than one pitch she didn’t get up enough, Maddy did a phenomenal job. Our defense made a few mistakes tonight, but overall they played pretty well.”
Adrien Neill took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
GAME ACTION
College Heights wasted little time taking the lead, plating two runs in the first inning for the initial momentum swing. The Cougars got on the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly by Addie Lawrence that scored Jayli Johnson, who reached on an error to lead off the frame, from third base. Colin helped her own cause in the next at-bat, ripping a ball to the left-center field gap for an RBI double to push the lead to 2-0.
“Looking back at it now, those runs were really important,” Howard said of the first-inning run support. “The top of our lineup is usually very consistent. If we can get them on base, they’re full of speed and that allows us to steal some bases and manufacture some runs, sometimes by playing some small ball. To get those two runs early and give Maddy some confidence early was huge.”
Lockwood tied things up in the fourth inning when Breckyn Brummett smacked a two-run home run to center field with one out to tie the game at 2-2.
Johnson reached on a dropped third strike to start the bottom of the fifth for CHC before stealing second to get into scoring position and third on a wild pitch. Kloee Williamson followed with a groundout to second base to score Johnson for an RBI to give CHC a 3-2 lead.
“Those are hustle plays,” Howard said of his team’s ability to push a run across without recording a hit. “Knowing to run on a dropped third strike and hustling all the way through it. Getting one of our fastest girls on base was huge because she can steal bases and read balls in the first so well. … She was able to take advantage of the mistake there. Then, it was just a routine ball in play to the pull side of the field to get the run home. It was good, timely fundamental softball.”
The Cougars added insurance in the sixth inning when Kaitlyn Bates, who wore No. 9 against Lockwood for the first time this season after a mishap with her regular No. 16 jersey, launched her first-career home run to left field—with Aaliyah Perez, who singled to lead off the frame—on second for a two-run shot to push the lead to 5-3.
“She really hit the ball hard and it kept on carrying,” Howard said. “I didn’t know if it had enough to get out, but it just kept on carrying. I joked with her after she hit it that that is her new jersey now. She is now No. 9 and we are going to go with it for the rest of the year because I am superstitious.”
IN THE BOX
Bates had two hits, including a homer, two RBI and a run scored to lead CHC at the plate, while Perez had two hits, and scored a run. Williamson had one hit, one RBI and a run scored. Johnson scored twice to go along with one hit, while Colin had a hit and drove in one.
Brummett had a double and a homer, two RBI and scored twice to lead Lockwood.
ON DECK
College Heights hosts Liberal (with Bronaugh) on Thursday before taking part in the Jasper Invitational softball tournament over the weekend.
1 thought on “SOFTBALL: Late runs send College Heights past Lockwood; Colin strikes out 19”
Great story! It was a fun evening. We appreciate you guys! Great pics, Israel!