Lady Cats end losing skid with sweep of Wellsville

Louisburg sophomore Addy Stohs makes contact with a pitch during a game earlier this season. The Lady Cats scored 20 runs in Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Wellsville.

WELLSVILLE — It had been a rough start to the season for the Louisburg softball team as the Lady Cats lost five of their first six games.

All that took a turn for the better Thursday when Louisburg traveled to Wellsville for a doubleheader. The Lady Cats pounded out 20 runs and left with a pair of 15-3 and 5-2 victories over the Eagles.

It was the kind of outing the whole team was waiting for as the Lady Cats were able to get back on the winning track.

“We needed to have a good night against Wellsville and we definitely did,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We adjusted some things at practice, the girls wanted to get better, and we did just that. I’m so proud of our girls and how they responded to some early adversity this season. We came out strong, played great team softball and got the job done last night.”

In the opener, Louisburg (3-5) found itself in a close game through three innings as the Lady Cats held a 5-3 lead going into the top of the fourth. It was there where the Lady Cats broke the game open.

They scored six runs in the fourth, and four in the fifth, to complete the run-rule victory.

Junior Ashley Moreau had a nice showing for Louisburg in that opening game as she went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including a pair of doubles. Junior Jenna Cauthon and sophomore Addy Stohs also had 3 RBIs and a pair of hits.

Another junior, Izzy Moreland, finished with three hits, three runs scored and 2 RBIs. Freshman Delaney Nelsen had two hits and a run batted in. 

Sophomores Brynley Bauer and Katie McKain, along with freshman Shyloh Waite, also drove home a run. 

Junior pitcher Megan Quinn got the start and held Wellsville to just one earned run over four innings and picked up the win.

“Ashley had a fantastic night,” Chapman said. “She hit the ball hard and found gaps in their defense. She was also aggressive on the bases. She was fun to watch. But we also had several girls step up at the plate. 

“As a team, we finally hit the ball hard and found gaps. Addy, Jenna, and Izzy got their bats going as well. They all hit the ball hard and found gaps in the defense. Delaney and Shyloh played some great small ball. Katie and Brynley had a couple solid hits as well. Just overall, a great night at the plate and on the bases for us.”

Runs weren’t as plentiful in the nightcap for Louisburg and the Lady Cats found themselves down 2-0 going into the fourth inning. The Lady Cats were able to claw their way back.

Louisburg tied the game with two runs in the fourth and then took the lead with a run in the fifth. The Lady Cats added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Moreau, Quinn, Stohs and Bauer all had two hits to lead the Lady Cat bats, while Moreau, Moreland, Bauer and Waite each had a run batted in. 

Moreland started the game on the mound for Louisburg and went four innings and gave up just one earned run. Quinn came in and pitched the final three innings and allowed four hits and no runs.

“It took us a little bit to get refocused in Game 2,” Chapman said. “We made a couple errors that allowed two runs to score, but we responded with some momentum changing plays that got us going. Izzy got out of a bases loaded situation only allowing only one run. Delaney, behind the plate, threw a girl out stealing for her first time. Shyloh made a huge play, throwing a girl out from center. 

“We pushed through a couple bad plays and created momentum for ourselves and eventually got going in the fourth inning. I’m proud of how we responded to adversity and worked as a team to get the job done.”

Louisburg will try and add to its win total tonight as the Lady Cats host Bonner Springs for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.

Lady Cats fall in doubleheader to Spring Hill

Louisburg went up against one of the top teams in the Frontier League last Tuesday as the Lady Cats traveled to Spring Hill.

The Broncos got the best of the Lady Cats from the opening pitch as they defeated Louisburg 17-0 in game one and 16-2 in the nightcap.

Katie McKain had the lone hit for Louisburg in the opener. Ashley Moreau and Jenna Cauthon each had two hits in the second game and Cauthon had both of the team’s RBIs.