RIVERTON, Kan. — College Heights Christian last fielded a softball team in 2019. The Cougars won three games that entire season.
In just three outings, this year’s squad has matched that win total.
College Heights improved to 3-0 on the season with an 8-1 non-conference softball victory over Riverton on Friday.
“We’ve been very consistent and I’m excited about our start to the season,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said. “We’ve done well hitting. We’ve had good pitching. And when the ball has been put in play we’ve done a really good defensively.”
Freshman pitcher Maddy Colin had a stellar outing in the circle. Colin struck out 15 and allowed just three hits and one walk.
“She’s a special player even though she’s just a freshman,” Howard said. “She’s played travel ball her whole life. You can really tell that experience helps her out.”
Colin has allowed just one run in three victories.
“Maddy’s been a workhorse for us,” Howard said. “She’s really started the season well. She’s just been really consistent with her pitches.”
Kloee Williamson, Sarah Painter and Colin had two hits apiece for the Cougars, who also feature players from McAuley Catholic. Williamson and Ari Calandro scored two runs apiece.
Riverton’s Elizabeth Wells, Courtney Ross and Kayla Greer had one hit apiece.
Morgan Compton was charged with the loss in the circle. She struck out seven and allowed 10 hits.
The visitors scored twice in the first inning, as Williamson was hit by a pitch and later scored on Layne Jackson’s RBI double to center.
Later in the frame, Colin singled, Avery Good and Aaliyah Perez both walked before pinch runner Calandro scored on a passed ball.
College Heights erupted for six runs in the third.
Williamson reached on a bunt single and came home on Colin’s RBI single.
Good and Perez both reached on dropped third strikes, with Calandro scoring on the second.
Painter delivered a two-run double to left and then Lauren Ukena added a run-scoring single on a bunt.
After Jayli Johnson’s single, Ukena charged home on a passed ball for an 8-0 lead.
“Once we got on-base, we did a good job on the basepaths,” Howard said. “We were able to steal several bases and we kind of played small ball to move the runners. We did what we could to manufacture runs.”
Riverton’s lone run came on Elizabeth Wells’ home run in the fourth inning.
College Heights will host Exeter at 5 on Tuesday.
BASEBALL: Riverton 15, College Heights 0
The Riverton Rams earned a run-rule victory over the visiting Cougars by scoring three runs in the first, one in the second, four in the third and seven in the fourth.
Down 3-0, the Cougars had their chances in the top of the second.
With one out, Nathan Williams and Caleb Evans both walked before Rolen Sanderson moved the runners over with a ground out. Bo Sitton was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
But Riverton starting pitcher Kaden Hedrick induced an inning-ending lineout off the bat of Kelton Welch.
Hedrick earned the pitching victory, while CHC’s Ben Thomas was charged with the loss.
Riverton’s Kyler Harper had three hits, while Walker Mallatt drove in three runs on two hits. Noah Valenti and Ryder Phillips had two RBIs apiece.
The Cougars (1-1) were limited to two hits. CHC will look to bounce back against Exeter on Tuesday.
