Wildcats fall in pitcher’s dual to Blue Valley West

OVERLAND PARK — Louisburg put together its best defensive performance of the season Thursday at Blue Valley West.

The Wildcats just didn’t have quite enough offense to leave with a win over the Class 6A opponent. Blue Valley West scored two runs in the third inning, which proved to be the difference in a 2-1 loss Thursday for the Wildcats.

“I thought Blue Valley West was our best defensive game,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We play really well in the field. We made our fundamental plays, even through the windy conditions. They had a couple little dink hits that the wind got a hold of and put the ball out of our reach that they scored two runs off of. We played as clean as we possibly could. We just didn’t capitalize on a couple opportunities at the plate.”

Louisburg senior Izzy Moreland started the game for the Wildcats as she pitched a complete game. Moreland worked around six hits and gave up the two runs and struck out two.

The Wildcats (8-7) took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the third. Senior Jenna Cauthon singled home Katelyn Smart to give their team an early advantage.

Blue Valley West answered right back with two in the bottom of the third inning on a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt. 

Ashley Moreau, Megan Quinn and Brynley Bauer also had hits for the Wildcats.

Despite the loss, the Wildcats have already eclipsed their win total from last season and are looking to make another run as the postseason approaches.

“We are getting better every game and slowly starting to play our best softball,” Chapman said. “When we can put both offense and defense together in the same game, we are going to be very dangerous going into regionals.”

Louisburg is back in action this Tuesday when the Wildcats host Fort Scott in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Wildcats earn split at McPherson quad

Louisburg made the long jaunt to McPherson for a pair of games in the 4-team tournament last Tuesday and left with a 1-1 record.

The Wildcats fell to McPherson, one of the top teams in Class 4A , 21-5, but rebounded with a 5-2 victory over Emporia.

“I thought we responded well against Emporia,” Chapman said. “The top of our lineup is consistently finding ways on base and hitting the ball hard.”

In the victory over Emporia, Louisburg jumped out to a 3-1 lead early and that would be all the run support Megan Quinn would need. The Louisburg senior pitched a complete game, allowed two runs and struck out six.

Seniors Rylee Hickey and Jenna Cauthon led the way with a pair of hits, while Hickey had a double and an RBI. Izzy Moreland added an RBI double, while Ashley Moreau tripled and scored two runs. Quinn also recorded an RBI single to help her cause.

Against McPherson, the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Bullpups in the top of the first. McPherson responded with nine runs in the bottom of the first to get out to a big lead.

Moreau led the Wildcat bats with two hits, while Moreland had a 2-run single. Quinn added an RBI single as well.

“I thought it was a good night for us,” Chapman said. “It was a long bus ride for us. The girls showed up ready to play and we jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. We were locked in at the plate for most of the game, still swinging pretty well. McPherson is a solid team. They responded with a big first inning and we stayed locked in at the plate and tried to chip away at their lead. 

“We just didn’t play clean in the field and against a good team like that we have to play as clean as possible and we didn’t. Hats off to them. They are a good team.”