Seventh-seeded Lee’s Summit rallied back from an early hole to tie second-seeded Neosho in the middle innings of the Class 5 District 7 opening-round game only to see the Wildcats answer right back and keep the Tigers at bay the rest of the way for a 6-3 win on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
“I like that we scored early to get the lead and I thought Olivia (Emery) threw well,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said after the win. “I was a little frustrated with our defense. We just weren’t real sharp. … We had good production from the top and the middle of our lineup. … Overall, we did enough to win and that is what matters. I would like to play a little cleaner on Saturday.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neosho took the initial advantage when a pair of runs came home to score in the second inning on two Lee’s Summit throwing errors. Autumn Kinnaird hit a ground ball to short with a runner on third base and reached on a throwing error. Kinnaird advanced on the play and the return throw to second sailed into the outfield, allowing her to round third and touch home on the play for a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats picked up a third tally in the third inning when Avyn Blair drove a run in with a ground ball to shortstop, scoring Addy Hart from third in the process for a 3-0 advantage.
Lee’s Summit rallied all the way back to tie the game up on an RBI single by Ryann Arnold with the bases loaded to center field, which was compounded by a Neosho error to allow two more runs to score and tie the game at 3-3.
Arnold looked to score on a bunt in the next at-bat, before Autumn Kinnaird faked the throw to first and tagged the runner trying to score from third to keep the game tied.
“It was huge because it allowed us to get Olivia through less pressure without the go-ahead run on third,” Cummins said of Kinnaird’s play at the plate. “That was a huge heads-up play by Autumn and it was a big momentum swing for us.”
Neosho didn’t wait to respond, as Carleigh Kinnaird clubbed a ball over the scoreboard with two outs and two on for a three-run home run and a 6-3 advantage.
“As soon as it was, I just screamed,” Cummins said with a laugh. “I don’t even think it was words that came out. You just knew off the bat. … She just crushed it. I asked our coaches if it went over the scoreboard. They said, yeah, that ball is in Kansas now.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Emery earned the win after allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and three strikeouts in four innings. Carleigh Kinnaird pitched three scoreless relief innings on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
Alyssa Nichols took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits, two walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
IN THE BOX
Autumn Kinnaird had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Carleigh Kinnaird homered on the way to three RBI and a run scored to lead the Wildcats.
ON DECK
(2) Neosho takes on (3) Lee’s Summit West at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
