Offensive explosion keys Lady Cats in sweep

Louisburg sophomore Bailey Kern sprints down the line as she tries to reach on a bunt Tuesday against De Soto at Lewis-Young Park. The Lady Cats swept De Soto and have now won four consecutive games.

 

The Louisburg High School softball team continued to pile up the runs Tuesday at home against De Soto, and those hot bats have led to four straight wins for the Lady Cats.

Louisburg scored 20 runs in the doubleheader at Lewis-Young Park – including four home runs – and left with an 8-5 comeback win in the opener and then responded with a 12-2 run-rule victory in the second game.

In the their last four games, the Lady Cats have tallied 38 runs, which averages out to more than nine runs a game, and has been a big reason for their success.

Early on in game one, Louisburg struggled to get the big hit they were looking for and De Soto actually built a 4-0 lead. However, senior Allyssa Griggs gave the Lady Cats the spark they were looking for.

Griggs hit a pair of two-run home runs, one in the third inning and the other in the fifth to cut the De Soto lead to one.

The Lady Cats (7-7) put four runs on the board in the sixth on an RBI single from Emalee Overbay and then Griggs drove home two runs after she hit a line drive to the outfield and reached on an error that allowed two runs to score. Madison Svoboda sacrificed home another run and all but sealed the win.

Along with Griggs’ big day at the plate, Overbay had a team-high three hits, including a double and Svoboda also finished with three hits.

On the mound, Griggs started the game and pitched five innings and struck out five before giving way to reliever Allison Boles, who pitched the final two frames.

“The wins against Desoto were huge, especially since we had to battle back in game one to pull it out,” Louisburg coach John Ozier said. “We hit the ball hard all night, without much to show for it. Allyssa kept us in it with a pair of two-run homers. The hard hit balls finally started to drop and we put together a great finish.

“Allie Boles came in and did a fantastic job in relief when Allyssa began to wobble. Bailey Kern and Hailey Crowder turned in a couple of great catches in the outfield as well.”

Louisburg left no doubt on which team was going to win the nightcap. The Lady Cats batted around in the first inning and scored nine runs to take a lead it would never relinquish.

Karson Griggs and Overbay provided a big punch at the top of the lineup as they tallied two hits and 3 RBIs. Griggs recorded a double and triple, while Overbay tripled and hit a 2-run home run in the first inning.

Two batters later, sophomore Molly Rison cranked a 2-run home run to give the Wildcats a 4-0 advantage.

Still in the first inning with the bases loaded, Karson Griggs had a bases-clearing triple and later scored herself on a triple from Overbay.

Svoboda also finished with two hits and double to join in the offensive parade. Kennia Hankinson added 2 RBIs in the win.

“This was the performance I have been looking for out of this group,” Ozier said. “We came out with strong pitching, great defense and hit the ball very well. Emalee Overbay’s bat is really beginning to heat up, and Karson Griggs’ bases loaded triple was the shot we have been looking for all season. It was a great game because everyone did something to contribute to the win.”

Allyssa Griggs pitched four innings in the nightcap and gave up two unearned runs, two hits and had five strikeouts. Boles pitched the final inning and got a strikeout to seal the win.

Louisburg will try and keep its winning streak going today when it travels to Garnett for a doubleheader with Anderson County. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.