Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week four of the spring sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
IZZY MORELAND, SENIOR, SOFTBALL
Louisburg senior Izzy Moreland was a big part in what was a successful week for the Wildcat softball team. Moreland helped Louisburg to a 4-1 week and did it with the bat and on the mound. At the plate, Moreland finished the week with 10 hits and eight RBIs and also added her first home run of the season.
On the mound, Moreland picked up two big wins for the Wildcats against Bonner Springs and Baldwin. She finished the week with 22 strikeouts, including a 10 strikeout performance against Baldwin on Friday. She earned a win in the first game against Bonner Springs as a starter, then came in for relief in the second game to help get the sweep over the Braves.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the spring season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
The Louisburg softball team greeted Megan Quinn at home plate after Quinn hit a 3-run home run in the first inning Friday against Baldwin at Lewis-Young Park.
It has been a long, but successful week for the Louisburg softball team and the Wildcats ended it Friday with a bang.
The Wildcats hosted Baldwin for a single game and rolled the Bulldogs for a 13-2 victory. Louisburg has now won six of its last seven games and are now 7-5 on the season.
“Last week was definitely a long, crazy week,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “I thought the girls responded really well, stayed locked in all week and won 4 out of 5 games. You can’t be mad about that.”
It all started with the bats for Louisburg as the Wildcats scored 10 runs in the first three innings and seniors Megan Quinn and Izzy Moreland were a big reason for that.
In the first inning, Quinn and Moreland hit back-to-back home runs to set the tone. Quinn hit a 3-run shot and Moreland followed with a solo home run to give the Wildcats an early 4-run lead.
The two players combined for 10 RBIs on the game and Quinn led the way with six runs batted in.
“Everything was clicking at the plate for us,” Chapman said. “A lot of girls were hitting the ball hard and making things happen. Megan and Izzy have been a giant part of our offense that is scoring a lot of runs. It was awesome to see both of them have a huge game, and even better that, they go back-to -back to start the game. They have put a lot of work into honing their craft and it’s really showing this season.”
Louisburg senior Izzy Moreland got the complete game victory Friday over Baldwin with 10 strikeouts.
Moreland also thrived on the mound as she recorded the complete game victory. She gave up three hits and the two runs were unearned. Moreland also finished with 10 strikeouts.
Senior Ashley Moreau also had a strong night offensively with a pair of hits, as did junior Addy Stohs, who added a double. Moreau also scored three runs.
Freshman McKinley Harmon recorded her first two varsity hits, while senior Jenna Cauthon added an RBI double. Sophomore Katelyn Smart also had a hit and a run scored.
Louisburg will try and keep its winning ways going today as the Wildcats travel McPherson for a quad. Louisburg will face McPherson at 4 p.m. and will play either Derby or Emporia in the second game.
Louisburg splits doubleheader at Tonganoxie
Louisburg made the trip to Tonganoxie in what it thought was going to be just a single game.
After some confusion, the Wildcats played a doubleheader with the Chieftains and left with a split. Louisburg lost the first game 5-3, before rallying for a 9-4 win in the nightcap.
“Tongie was a weird night because of schedule confusion,” Chapman said. “We showed up expecting to play 1 game, sat around while our JV got warmed up, and then all of sudden we were having to get ready quickly to play a doubleheader. Still, the girls responded well.”
The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first game, but mistakes on defense led to three runs for Tonganoxie in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Megan Quinn had two hits, a double and 3 RBIs to lead the offense, while Izzy Moreland, Ashley Moreau and Jenna Cauthon also had two hits.
In the nightcap, the Wildcats got a complete game performance from Quinn on the mound. The Louisburg senior went seven innings, gave up one earned run and struck out four.
Senior Rylee Hickey provided the fireworks with the bat as she tallied three hits, a double and a team-high 3 RBIs.
Cauthon and Quinn each had two hits and 2 RBIs, while Moreau had three hits and scored three runs. Moreland also had two hits and an RBI.
“We came out hot again in the second game and this time we didn’t let up and took care of business,” Chapman said. “We kept adding 1 or 2 runs an inning and then Rylee came up big in the seventh with bases loaded and hit a shot to the outfield to clear the bases. Our offense is really solid right now. If we can find a way to shore up our defense, we are going to be really dangerous as we get closer and closer to regionals.”
Wildcat softball sweeps Bonner Springs to continue winning streak
Rylee Hickey was all smiles after scoring one of the team’s 13 runs Tuesday in the second game win at Bonner Springs.
BONNER SPRINGS — The road was kind to the Louisburg softball team Tuesday as the Wildcats earned a sweep over Bonner Springs.
However, the Wildcats won each game in vastly different ways.
Louisburg won the opener, 4-1, behind a complete game effort from Izzy Moreland on the mound and got a 2-run home run from Megan Quinn.
The nightcap provided more of a fireworks show as the Wildcats scored eight early runs and held on for a 13-10 victory over the Braves. It marked the fourth straight victory for Louisburg, which is now 5-4 on the season.
“We came out and played our best game of the season in that first game,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “After that first inning, our bats got going, which gave us confidence in the field and played our best defense. Everyone was making plays. Everyone was hitting.
“We keep a ‘Quality At-Bat’ chart and at one point, going through our whole lineup, everyone had a quality at bat. I’m so proud of them. This is our first time beating Bonner Springs in my tenure. That’s an awesome feeling, let alone we swept them and it was a league opponent. It was a fun night for us and the credit goes to the girls for coming together and playing great team softball.”
Louisburg senior Jenna Cauthon receives a throw on a rundown to tag out a Bonner Springs player Tuesday.
Moreland kept the Braves offense off-balance in the first game as she pitched seven innings and struck out six. She also allowed just the one run on four hits.
Bonner Springs took a 1-0 lead early, but the Wildcats came back to tie it in the second on an RBI bunt single from Shyloh Waite.
Louisburg took the lead in the third as Quinn hit a 2-run home run to put the Wildcats up for good. Senior Ashley Moreau added an insurance run with an RBI single in the fourth.
“As always Megan and Izzy were huge for us,” Chapman sad. “Izzy on the mound, pitching all of game 1 and then closing out game 2, plus had some great hits. Then Megan hit that home run and continued to do good things at the plate. However, it was the things that don’t always get recorded in the stat book. Before Megan hit that home run, Shyloh put a bunt to move her baserunner and sprinted her butt off to get down the line to beat the throw which led us to a run.
“Then in the same inning as Megan’s home run, Ashley and Rylee (Hickey) both put great bunts down. Rylee’s was a sacrifice bunt. Jenna (Cauthon) moved Ashley to third and then Megan finished the job. It was a great team inning. Sometimes people don’t realize the sacrifices that happen before the big play that makes the big play happen and I hope the girls realize that those little things matter the most. That’s what really got us going.”
The bats came alive for both teams in the second game. Louisburg jumped out to an early 8-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Bonner Springs cut the lead to two with a 5-run inning, but the Wildcats scored five times in the next three innings to hold on for the win.
Several Wildcats had big days at the plate. Moreland and junior Brynley Bauer each had a team-high three hits, while Moreland had 3 RBIs and a triple.
Louisburg junior Brynley Bauer makes contact on one of her three hits Tuesday against Bonner Springs.
Senior Rylee Hickey had one of her better hitting nights of the season with two hits, including a double and also had 3 RBIs. She also just missed a home run.
Senior Jenna Cauthon had two hits, that included a double, and 3 RBIs. Moreau, Hickey, Cauthon and Bauer each scored three times.
“Rylee had a huge game two,” Chapman said. “She has worked her tail off to get better at the plate and it’s starting to pay off. She does a lot of the behind the scenes stuff for us. She’s a solid wall as a catcher and does a great job keeping baserunners honest. She does a great job of moving baserunners by her swing or her bunts. She’s doing some great things.
“Jenna is just constantly hitting the ball hard somewhere. She was frustrated because it was directly to someone every time but she is seeing the ball really well and finding the barrel of the bat consistently. Brynley got her bat going also and made a couple huge plays in the outfield.”
Quinn started the game for the Wildcats and sophomore Raeya Keagle came in for relief. Moreland then pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and got three strikeouts to close the game out.
Louisburg will try and keep its winning streak going as the Wildcats travel to Tonganoxie for one game. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Moreland helps Wildcat softball to sweep of Wellsville
Louisburg senior Izzy Moreland helped the Wildcats to a pair of wins on the mound.
After losing a pair of games to one of the top teams in the Frontier League in Spring Hill earlier in the week, the Louisburg softball team needed to get back on the winning side of things.
The Wildcats did that in a big way Thursday during a home doubleheader against Wellsville. Louisburg got out to big leads in both games and were able to hold on for 4-3 and 7-6 victories over the Eagles.
“It’s always great to win two games and sweep a team,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We needed that after playing Frontenac, Ottawa and Spring Hill to start our season. I’m proud of how hard our girls fought to win those two games. It came down to us playing great defense in top of the 7th, in both games, to win those.
“Wellsville is young but they have some girls that are going to do some good things as they get older. The top of their lineup can swing it pretty well. They had more hits than us in the second game and we had really had to dig deep to go get those wins. I’m so proud of our girls for how they battled, came together, and pulled it off.”
Louisburg pitcher Izzy Moreland gave the Wildcats some good innings on the mound in the both games — one as a starter and one in relief.
Moreland started the opener and got the complete game victory as she allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out five.
Then, after senior Megan Quinn gave the Wildcats a four-inning, seven strikeout performance in the second game, Moreland came on in relief and pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to preserve the win.
Ahead by just a run, and runners on second and third with no outs, Moreland struck out the next three batters to help the Wildcats secure the sweep.
Louisburg junior Addy Stohs makes contact with a pitch Thursday against Wellsville.
“Izzy was huge for us on the mound,” Chapman said. “She threw the whole first game with 99 pitches, and the second game our whole pitching staff worked as a team and got the job done. Megan started for us and did a fantastic job as always. They figured her out about the fifth inning, then Raeya (Keagle) came in and threw really well. She does a great job of getting weak contact for our defense to make plays. She did her job and then Izzy came in and finished it up on the mound.”
In the opener, Louisburg jumped out to a a 4-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning thanks to an RBI double from junior Addy Stohs in the second. Quinn then followed it up with another RBI double in the third.
It would be all the runs the Wildcats would need as they held off a late Eagle rally that saw them cut it to one with two runs in the sixth inning.
Stohs led the Wildcat bats with two hits and an RBI, while Quinn and Moreland also had RBI hits.
It was much of the same in the nightcap as Louisburg jumped on Wellsville early and took a 7-1 lead into the top of the third.
Quinn had an another big day at the plate with two hits, a double and 4 RBIs. Senior Rylee Hickey also had two hits and an RBI, while senior Jenna Cauthon had a double and scored twice.
Sophomore Shyloh Waite also contributed a triple in the win and drove home a run.
“Megan is just swinging it really well right now,” Chapman said. “I know that when she’s up to bat, she’s going to hit it hard somewhere. If she has a bad at bat, she’s going to make an adjustment and fix it for her next at bat. She was a giant part of why we got out to a 7-1 lead to start the second game with 4 RBIs.
“Jenna and Addy are in the same boat. They are finding ways to make solid contact and do some damage at the plate. We have had some really great offensive innings this year. Now we just need to be more consistent about it.”
Louisburg (3-4) will try and continue its winning ways Tuesday as the Wildcats travel to Bonner Springs for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
Wildcats drop pair to Spring Hill
Louisburg hosted Spring Hill for a doubleheader on April 2 and the Broncos showed why they are one of the top teams in the Frontier League.
Spring Hill swept the Wildcats in a pair of 13-2 and 16-5 victories.
Louisburg took a 2-1 after one inning in the first game, but the Broncos scored six times in the second and third innings to put the game out of reach.
Spring Hill’s Jaleigh White got the complete victory in the opener and had three home runs between the two games, including a grand slam.
Shyloh Waite and Ashley Moreau each had two RBIs to lead the Wildcat offense the second game. Jenna Cauthon and Izzy Moreland each had two hits.
Quinn no-hits Ottawa to give Louisburg first win of season
Louisburg senior Megan Quinn recorded a no-hitter for the Wildcats on Thursday in their win over Ottawa.
OTTAWA — Coming off a close loss to Ottawa in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, Louisburg needed a spark.
The Wildcats got one in Megan Quinn.
Quinn pitched a complete-game no-hitter as the Wildcats cruised to a 10-0 win over the Cyclones in the nightcap at Orlis Cox Sports Complex in Ottawa. The Wildcats took out their frustration after an 11-10 loss in the opener.
It was also the first win of the season for Louisburg and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Although Quinn worked around a couple of errors and a pair walks, the Louisburg senior also got some big plays from her defense to go along with her four strikeouts. Senior Jenna Cauthon ran down a ball in foul territory and junior Katie McKain made a diving catch in the outfield to help the cause.
“Megan came in and threw lights out,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Her and Rylee (Hickey) worked their hitters and found ways to get them to roll over and pop up. Our defense play fantastic behind her. All over the field, we made the fundamental plays but we also made some big time special plays. Jenna had a catch in foul territory where she had to haul to go get. Katie had a sweet diving play in the outfield that came at a crucial moment in the game where we stalled at the plate for an inning and needed a big defensive stop.
“Right after that is when we had our big inning at the plate. It set the precedent for how our defense should play this season. We made a couple mistakes and that’s going to happen but we never let that get us down. The whole team was in it for each other to go get this one.”
Louisburg got out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, but the Wildcats broke the game open with a 5-run sixth inning.
Senior Ashley Moreau had a two-run single to score Brinley Bauer and Shyloh Waite. Quinn then helped out her own cause with a 2-run double and later scored on a sacrifice by Addy Stohs.
The Wildcats added two more runs in seventh as Moreau recorded an RBI double and Rylee Hickey had an RBI single to secure the win.
Louisburg senior Jenna Cauthon throws out a runner during last week’s home opener against Frontenac.
Moreau, Quinn and Cauthon each finished with two hits and Moreau had a team-high 3 RBIs. Quinn and senior Izzy Moreland each finished with 2 RBIs.
Offense wasn’t a problem for Louisburg in the first game, either. The Wildcats pounded out 10 runs on 15 hits in the 1-run loss.
Quinn finished with a pair of doubles to go along with 2 RBIs, while Cauthon drove home a team-high three runs. Hickey led the Wildcats with three hits and an RBI.
Moreau, Cauthon, Moreland and Waite all had two hits as well, while McKain had a double. Stohs added an RBI single to the cause.
“We had a pretty solid night at the plate overall,” Chapman said. “All 10 girls found a way on base. We had to make some adjustments to the first pitcher who slowed it down on us, compared to what we saw on Monday against Frontenac. I’m proud of how we are hitting once we figure out the pitcher. Our biggest improvement is figuring her out sooner and not letting up once we do have her figured out. We can be a very dangerous offense as we keep getting better.”
Louisburg was cruising along early as it took a 4-1 lead into the fourth inning, but the Wildcats had six errors as Ottawa scored 10 runs in the next three innings.
The Wildcats made it interesting with three runs in the top of the seventh thanks to RBI singles from Moreau and Cauthon, but could get no closer.
“We just had one inning where we had a let down and that carried into the rest of the game and we came up short,” Chapman said. “However, I’m so proud of the girls with how they responded to that. They came out and played some great softball in the second game. This is the first time we have beaten Ottawa since the year we went to state five years ago when I was an assistant.
“Especially after almost upsetting them last year in the regional game, it feels good and the girls were excited to get that. This was the game we talked about most of the week. Now we have some momentum going into this next week where we play three games, including Spring Hill who always has a good program.”
Louisburg will try for back-to-back wins tonight as the Wildcats host Baldwin in a one-game makeup contest. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.
Wildcats fall in opener to Frontenac
It was challenging season opener for Louisburg as it hosted Frontenac last Monday as the Raiders have been in the Class 3A state champions twice in the last five years.
Errors hurt Louisburg as Frontenac scored 10 runs in the final three innings to take an 11-0 win over the Wildcats in the first game of the doubleheader.
Louisburg had a lead in the second game, but rain suspended play as the two teams hope to complete it later this season.
Senior Izzy Moreland started the first game for Louisburg and kept the Raider batters off balance through three innings, but Frontenac recorded four runs in the fourth to pull away. Moreland finished the game with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings and gave up just four earned runs.
“This was a good team and we held them to 1 run for about 3 or 4 innings in the first game,” Chapman said. “We were making plays behind Izzy. They have a stud pitcher who is probably going to be the best pitcher we see this season. She was fast and had some good spin on her. We had a tough time against her. I thought we played well minus our last inning where we fell a part with errors.”
Wildcat softball hopes experience can help it take next step
Louisburg senior Megan Quinn led the Wildcat softball team with five home runs last season.
In their final game of 2023, Louisburg nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the regional semifinals.
As a No. 13 seed, the Wildcats almost knocked off No. 4 Ottawa as they played some of their best softball. With nearly everyone returning from that team, Louisburg is hoping to use that momentum and build confidence for 2024.
Louisburg returns five seniors and all have seen varsity time since their freshmen years. It is an experienced team and one that is ready to make some noise in the Frontier League.
“This has been the best start to our season that we have had yet,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We changed some things about our practices. The girls have bought into it and are working hard to make this a great season. Even better is that the energy and positive attitudes have been great.
“Our seniors have been great leaders to our younger girls. The vibe at practice has been fantastic. The girls are locked in right now and excited for this season to start, especially our seniors. They have the right mindset going into this season. I trust them and I know they are going to sell out to have one great last season.”
Three of those five seniors are returning all-league players for the Wildcats, including a pair of pitchers.
Seniors Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn will lead the Wildcat pitching staff once again this season and bring experience with them after throwing varsity innings since they were freshmen.
Sophomore Raeya Keagle will also throw on the varsity level this season, but Chapman is excited to see what Moreland and Quinn can do for the rotation.
Louisburg senior Izzy Moreland is one of two returning starting pitchers for the Wildcats this season.
“Pitching is going to be where it all starts for us and we have two girls that have pitched for the last three years,” Chapman said. “Izzy and Megan are going to be great this year. They know their strengths and their weaknesses. Izzy and Brynley (Bauer) work really well together and so does Megan and Rylee (Hickey) and I’m excited for what they are going to accomplish. Megan and Izzy are not overpowering pitchers but they are really smart pitchers and I absolutely love that. I honestly think that’s better because it keeps batters thinking.
“In the mix this year we will also add in Raeya. She will throw some innings of relief for those two. She pitched really well in the Jamboree and got a lot of batters to give our defense the weak ground balls and fly balls we needed to make plays. I’m really excited for what she is going to add to our pitching staff.”
The Wildcats will also return a bulk of their offense this season and it starts at the top of the lineup with Ashley Moreau. The Louisburg senior earned second team all-league honors a year ago thank to a .521 average and had 37 hits.
Moreland and Quinn also had big seasons at the plate for Louisburg. Moreland finished last season with a .493 average and 17 RBIs, while Quinn led the team with five home runs and had a .393 average.
“On offense, our goal is to build on what we did against Ottawa in our regional last year,” Chapman said. “We have been working on a lot of things that will help move and score baserunners that will keep the defense on their toes. We have a lot of girls that can lay a bunt down but also hit gap to gap. I think we can have a really dangerous offense if we execute.”
Defensively is where Chapman hopes his team can take the biggest step as the Wildcats gave up several unearned runs last season. He sees an improved group around the diamond.
Junior Addy Stohs and Keagle will split time at first base, while senior Jenna Cauthon will play second with Moreau at shortstop. Quinn and Moreland will share the third base spot.
Louisburg senior Ashley Moreau returns as the team’s starting shorstop and top hitter from a season ago.
Senior Rylee Hickey, sophomore Shyloh Waite, along with juniors Brynley Bauer and Katie McKain will shore up the outfield. Hickey and Bauer will also split time behind the plate at catcher.
“Our biggest thing this season so far has been working to clean up our defense and making fundamental, smart plays,” Chapman said. “It’s going to take everyone to accomplish this.”
The Wildcats will also see a little change to their schedule this season. In the offseason, the Kansas State High School Activities Association approved the increase in the number of games a team can play.
Teams across the state can now play a maximum of 26 games, up from the previous mark of 20.
“We have a packed schedule, but I honestly like that because we are playing more and practicing less,” Chapman said. “We need to play. That’s how we learn best is by playing and then making adjustments. We also get to see different teams that we could potentially see in postseason vs. league schools all the time. It’s going to be really good for us.”
As for what he hopes his team can accomplish, Chapman is hoping the Wildcats can take that next improve on improve off their 7-win season in 2023.
“I would love for our team to go above .500,” Chapman said. “It’s been a very long time since this program has gone .500 or better. I think if we can do that, we will put ourselves in a great position to get into a regional that we can compete in and then go win and get a shot at state.
“I want these seniors to go out with a bang. They have bought into this and have given me everything they have. I want them to enjoy their last season and for these younger girls to have success that they can carry into future seasons.”
Louisburg will open its season today as the Wildcats host Frontenac for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.
Lady Cats earn three spots on all-league softball team
The Louisburg softball team earned three players on the All-Frontier League team. Juniors Ashley Moreau was a second team selection, while Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn were named honorable mention.
All-Frontier League softball teams were released last week and three players from Louisburg caught the eye of the area coaches.
Juniors Ashley Moreau, Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn were selected to the all-league team as they led the Lady Cats to seven wins on the season.
Moreau was named to the second team, while Moreland and Quinn were voted in as honorable mentions.
“I thought we had a good showing for our league,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “It’s a tough league with a lot of great softball players.”
Moreau had a big season with the bat and in the field at shortstop for the Lady Cats. At the plate, she led the team with a .521 average and an OPS of 1.195. She also had 37 hits, 22 runs scored, six extra base hits and 12 RBIs from the leadoff spot.
She also finished with nine stolen bases to go along with solid defense at shortstop.
“Ashley had a fantastic season at that plate,” Chapman said. “I’m pretty sure she lead the league in batting average. She was a giant threat at the plate. She has developed so much as a triple threat hitter. She can lay a bunt down and beat it out, she can slap to gap, or she can stay in and make great contact on the ball and do damage that way.
“On top of that she is a dangerous base runner. She’s fast and very smart on the bases. She made strides as a shortstop this season, always working to get better. I’m proud of the season she had.”
Moreland earned all-league honorable mention honors for the second consecutive season as an infielder. She was second on the team with a .450 average and an OPS of 1.043.
She added 27 hits, three doubles, a home run and had 17 RBIs. She also scored 16 runs and struck out just six times on the season. As a third baseman and pitcher, Moreland had just four errors on the season.
As for Quinn, she earned her first all-league selection after a strong performance at the plate. She had a .393 average to go along with a 1.171 OPS.
Quinn had 24 hits on the year to go along with six doubles and a team-high five home runs. She also finished with 17 RBIs and struck out just five times.
She committed just five errors in 21 games with her work mainly at first base and pitcher.
“Megan and Izzy had great seasons as well,” Chapman said. “Both are able to hit the ball all over the field and racked up a lot of RBIs between the two of them. Both made very little errors in the field and were solid infielders. I’m proud of the growth they made this season.”
ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE SOFTBALL
FIRST TEAM
CATCHER: Ellie Seaton, senior, Ottawa
PITCHER: Sam Claire, sophomore, Eudora; Brielle Dee, senior, Spring Hill
Lady Cats’ season comes to close with walk-off loss to Ottawa
Louisburg junior Megan Quinn led the Lady Cats with 3 RBIs in their 7-6 loss Tuesday to Ottawa in the Class 4A regional semifinals.
OTTAWA — Halfway through its regional semifinal game with Ottawa, the Louisburg softball team was right where it wanted to be.
The Lady Cats, the No. 13 seed, had a five run lead on No. 4 Ottawa and they were primed for an upset. However, Louisburg couldn’t quite pull off the victory.
Ottawa scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to get the 7-6 walkoff win over Louisburg at Orlis Cox Sports Complex in Ottawa.
“We started the game the way we needed to in order to give ourselves a chance to win,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Ottawa is always a solid, fundamental team. Throughout the whole lineup, we executed so many things really well. Girls were not only laying bunts down when they were called, but placed them perfectly in order for the defense to have to make a play.
“Our base-running caused chaos for them. We had girls hit the ball hard. Our pitching was on point and our defense was perfect for about five or six innings. We played really solid softball for most of the game. We made a couple errors at the wrong time.”
The Lady Cats jumped out to a big lead as they scored a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior Ashley Moreau scored on a steal of home to start the game and then Megan Quinn singled home Jenna Cauthon to make it a 2-0 contest.
Louisburg added two more runs in the third to make it a 4-0 game when Moreau scored on an Ottawa error, then Cauthon scored on a sacrifice by Quinn.
Olivia Fercho crossed home plate in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Rylee Hickey to give the Lady Cats a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth.
Ottawa started to chip away at the lead with two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game.
Louisburg took the lead right back in the top of the seventh. The Lady Cats had the bases loaded, and Quinn hit a sacrifice fly to score Moreau and the Lady Cats found themselves three outs away from a regional championship appearance.
“Right before we went to hit in the top of seventh, you could tell the girls were ready for the challenge,” Chapman said. “We got bases loaded quickly and were able to scratch one run with sac fly, but just couldn’t finish getting the others home. Ottawa threw a girl who slowed it down on us, and that has kind of been our weak spot — being able to adjust, sit back and wait on it to barrel up a ball.”
Ottawa led off the seventh with a triple by Brooklyn Hadl and scored on a single from the next batter. With one out, and runners on first and second, Ottawa hit a hard ground ball and the runner from third was able to score to seal the win for the Cyclones.
Moreau finished with three hits to lead the Lady Cat bats and also scored three times. Quinn had a team-high 3 RBIs, while junior Izzy Moreland had a pair of hits, including a double.
Moreland started the game for Louisburg and allowed three earned runs in five innings and struck out two.
The Lady Cats ended their season with a 7-14 record, but it was one that saw several positives despite their ups and downs.
“The girls wanted this one and you could see it on their face afterwards,” Chapman said. “I think as a softball culture, with club ball and all that, the emotions of losing a ball game are rarely there because there’s always ‘another game.’ For us, it hurt. That one was tough because you could tell how badly the girls wanted that game, especially with how we started.
“As tough as this one was to swallow, this loss gave our program hope because of how we played. We showed what we are capable of doing. We have a lot of potential and when we play up to it, these girls are capable of great things on the diamond. I’m excited for what is in store for Louisburg softball.”
Moreland carries Lady Cats past Paola with complete game, walk-off homer
Members of the Louisburg softball team surround junior Izzy Moreland at home plate after she hit a 2-run walk-off home run last Tuesday against Paola. Moreland also pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts.
Through seven innings, Louisburg junior Izzy Moreland put together her best pitching performance of the season last Tuesday against Paola.
Moreland had just completed seven innings and gave up just one run to the Panthers as she struck out 11. Despite that, the Lady Cats were still down a run with three outs remaining.
As it turned out, Moreland had a pretty good day with the bat as well.
After Addy Stohs singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Moreland hit a 2-run walk-off home run to give the Lady Cats a 2-1 victory over the Panthers and end a 3-game losing streak in the process.
Louisburg coach Nick Chapman was all smiles after slapping hands with Moreland following her home run.
Inclement weather prevented the two teams from finishing the doubleheader last Tuesday, but the second game was played Friday and Paola got the split as it handed Louisburg a 3-1 setback.
The Lady Cats finished their season with a 7-13 record as they enter the Class 4A regional tournament as the No. 13 seed.
Moreland recorded her best all-around performance of the season on the mound as she gave up just the one run in the third inning, and Paola held on to that lead until the bottom of the seventh.
Izzy Moreland fires a pitch home during Tuesday’s contest against Paola.
With Stohs on first, Moreland hit a high fly ball to right field that hit the top of the fence and bounced over. That sent her teammates running out of the dugout to meet her at home plate.
Prior to that inning, the Lady Cats had trouble getting anything going as they had just three hits up until that point. Those came on singles from Moreland, Megan Quinn and Ashley Moreau.
Louisburg’s makeup contest was very similar to the opener as it was a low-scoring affair. Paola got two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Cats scratched a run across in the sixth when freshman Delaney Nelsen scored after Moreland grounded out on a fielder’s choice. However, that was the only run the Lady Cats would get.
Louisburg had five hits, including two from Nelsen and a double from Moreau. Moreland and Brynley Bauer each had singles.
Louisburg junior Jenna Cauthon tracks down a fly ball Friday against Paola.
Ultimately, it was the mistakes that hurt the Lady Cats as they committed five errors and all three Paola runs were unearned.
Quinn started the game for Louisburg as she gave up four hits in four innings and struck out four. Moreland pitched the final three innings and had a pair of strikeouts.
Louisburg will now begin postseason play today as the Lady Cats square off with No. 4 Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. at the Orlis Cox complex in Ottawa. The winner of that game will play the winner of Holton/Rock Creek for the championship later in the day.
Louisburg softball falls to Anderson County, Eudora
Louisburg catcher Rylee Hickey tags out a Eudora player sliding into home Tuesday at Eudora High School. The Lady Cats fell to Anderson County and Eudora after winning three straight games.
EUDORA — After rattling off three straight wins, the Louisburg softball team has gone through a couple rough patches.
Most recently, the Lady Cats faced off Eudora in a single game last Tuesday and left with a 12-1 loss against a Cardinal team that is one of the top teams in the Frontier League.
On April 27, Louisburg hosted Anderson County for a doubleheader and lost a pair of 5-3 and 8-4 contests.
“Although we lost, we did have some positives against Anderson County,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Our defense was better as we only made two errors all night long. We also have girls that are still consistently hitting the ball hard and making things happen.”
Against Anderson County, the Lady Cats got a good performance from starter Megan Quinn as she pitched a compete game. She gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.
Louisburg (6-12) had a 3-2 lead going into the sixth inning, but Anderson County scraped across a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to steal the win from the Lady Cats.
Louisburg sophomore Addy Stohs lines a base hit to the outfield against Anderson County on Apr. 27.
Quinn led the Lady Cat bats with three hits, including a double, while sophomore Katie McKain had a pair of RBIs. Junior Jenna Cauthon added two hits and an RBI, while Addy Stohs and Rylee Hickey each had a double.
“Jenna, Ashley (Moreau) and Megan are all finding ways on base and hitting the ball well,” Chapman said. “Addy is hitting the ball hard and doing a great job in the field. I’ve asked her to move around a little bit and she’s accepted that and done a great job.”
In the second game, Anderson County jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning and never let the Lady Cats in the game. The Bulldogs used their power as they connected on three home runs to pull away.
Junior Izzy Moreland started for the Wildcats, but worked around some rough patches as she was able to strike out 12 in five innings of work.
Quinn had another multi-hit performance with two hits, while Stohs, Moreland and Delaney Nelsen had RBIs for Louisburg. The Lady Cats made thing interesting with three runs in the sixth, but could get no closer.
Against Eudora, the Cardinals took a big lead on Louisburg from the first inning on and never let up. Eudora scored five runs in the first, one in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.
Quinn, Stohs, Moreland and Moreau all had hits for Louisburg, while freshman Shyloh Waite had the team’s lone RBI.
Louisburg will try and end the regular season on a good note as the Lady Cats host Paola on Tuesday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.
