Lady Cats stifle Anderson County to record fourth straight win

Louisburg sophomore Ashley Moreau tags out an Anderson County runner trying to steal thanks to a good throw from catcher Amaya Weilert on Thursday in Garnett.

GARNETT — Fresh off its second sweep of the season last week, the Louisburg softball team wasted no time getting its third.

Louisburg traveled to Anderson County for a doubleheader Thursday and left with a pair of 13-1 and 12-7 victories, which increased the Lady Cats’s win total to six on the season. They had just one win a a year ago.

In all, the Lady Cats combined for 25 runs on 28 hits in the two games to get their fourth straight win.

“I thought Anderson County was another great night for us,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Junior varsity and varsity both swept, which I think is a first for our program since I took over. Our JV girls are rocking it out and playing great team softball. Anderson County is a pretty good 3A team and we found a way to grab a couple wins from them. 

“Our bats were hot all night long. We got runners on and found ways to score them whether it was using some small ball or just putting the ball in play and making the defense have to make plays. We had a lot of girls hit the ball hard and found gaps. Our quicker girls were able to lay some awesome bunts down and find a way on base that way and score some runs off that. Everything was clicking for us at the plate.”

Six Louisburg players had multiple-hits in the first game and were led by a three-hit performance from sophomores Ashley Moreau and Izzy Moreland. Both players also finished with a pair of RBIs.

Freshman Addy Stohs had a big day at the plate as well with two hits and 3 RBIs. Senior Mia Wilson also had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. 

Freshmen Mackenzie Rooney and Sabra Brueggen added two hits, while Brueggen and Jenna Cauthon each had a double.

The Lady Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back. They added three runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and three more in the seventh to seal the win.

Sophomore Megan Quinn stifled the Anderson County bats in the first game as she had 10 strikeouts in a complete game performance. Quinn allowed just one run on one hit.

“Megan pitched really well,” Chapman said. “She had 10 strikeouts on the night and made them put the ball in play for our defense. She’s continuing to grow on the mound. She does a great job of not giving up a lot of walks and competes very well. I’m very pleased with how Megan is growing every time she steps on the mound.”

Game two was a little closer as the game was tied at 3-all going into the fifth inning. From there, the Lady Cats scored three in the fifth, one in the sixth and five more in the seventh to leave Garnett with the sweep.

Rooney had a big game from the leadoff spot as she had four hits, including a double, and scored all four times she reached.

Moreau had her second-straight three hit performance with a double and 2 RBIs. Wilson and Moreland also had two hits and drove home two runs

Stohs, Brueggen and Cauthon also had a run driven in for Louisburg.

Wilson started the game for Louisburg and had her second consecutive 12 strikeout performance as she gave up three earned runs on five hits.

Moreland took over for Wilson in the fifth inning and she was able to close the game out.

“Mia and Izzy worked very well together to tag team the second win,” Chapman said. “Mia came in with another 12 strikeout night. She got into a little bit of trouble in her last inning, loaded the bases, but Izzy had her back, came in and held the others off with a couple strikeouts to close out that inning. 

“When our pitching staff is on, they are ON and they work together very well. If someone struggles, the next girl has her back when she comes in. I’m very proud of all three of them.”

Louisburg (6-9) is back in action tonight as the Lady Cast host Eudora (13-2) for one game on Senior Night at Lewis-Young Park.

Lady Cats drop make-up game to Ottawa

OTTAWA — Louisburg traveled to Ottawa on Friday for a make-up contest of the second game of a doubleheader that was postponed on Apr. 19.

Louisburg couldn’t keep up with the Ottawa bats in a 14-3 setback at Orlis Cox Park.

“Ottawa was not our best showing,” Chapman said. “We showed up with some old bad habits and didn’t compete very well. We are beating the teams we need to, but we have to learn how to play well against the good teams. That’s our next area of growth. We have two good games this week and we are going to have to step up this week to find ways to give ourselves a chance and compete in all aspects of the game.”

Louisburg took a 1-0 lead in the first when Ashley Moreau scored on a Mia Wilson single.

From there, Ottawa scored three in the first and five more in the second to jump out to a big lead. The Cyclones scored six more in the fourth and took advantage of six Lady Cat errors.

Moreau lead the Lady Cat bats with two hits, while Addy Stohs also had a double for Louisburg.