Softball

Centralia all-around contributions walk-off Mexico 9-8

Olivia Adams had just made a run-saving catch in the top of the seventh inning, and it was up to her to walk it off.

Centralia defeated Mexico 9-8 on Tuesday after Adams hit a ball through the legs of first baseman Kierstan Epperson to allow Madi Johnson to score from second base. The Lady Panthers swiped eight bags, including Johnson stealing second in the final inning for her second stolen base. The Lady Bulldogs committed six errors that led to five unearned runs, equaling the amount Centralia allowed on its five errors, and also matched Centralia’s 11 hits.

Mackenzi Adkisson finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and allowed one unearned run in 2⅓ innings for Centralia while Autumn Hawkins went 3-for-4, scoring two runs and stealing two bases. Mexico’s Jo Thurman hit a two-RBI home run for her second long ball in as many games, Epperson finished 2-for-4 with an RBI to make her 9-for-18 in her previous five games with an RBI in four straight, and three other Lady Bulldogs each picked up two hits. 

Centralia head coach Elizabeth Bostick said everyone had a role to play in Tuesday’s win and every Lady Panther responded well even after a mistake was made in the field or after Mexico tied the game at 6 and then 8. 

“All of my kids contributed,” Bostick said. “Every kid did something in this game. Whether it was just courtesy running, pinch running, pinch hitting or anything else, everybody had a role and they all fulfilled it to their needs.”

Centralia’s and Mexico’s roles seemed to be reversed from how the Lady Panthers’ season ended in districts last year. Bostick said Centralia was the one in an early hole and just couldn’t catch up with Mexico until losing 14-9.

It was a new year for the Lady Panthers as they jumped on Mexico pitcher Emma Cunningham to take a 6-1 lead after two innings. Adkisson and Ellie Page each had a two-RBI hit in the first inning after Harper Sontheimer and Adkisson added on with runs in the second inning.

Mexico head coach Curt Riley said falling behind early is not an ideal strategy as the Lady Bulldogs had to use a lot of effort to get back in the game with four runs in the fourth inning.

“We dug ourselves a hole early defensively, and we had to fight back,” Riley said. “When you have to fight back, you use up a lot of energy and that’s what we did. I thought we really did a good job of fighting back and getting ourselves in a position to win a ballgame.”

Centralia (7-6, 2-1 CCC) played at Clarence Cannon Conference foe Brookfield (5-3, 1-2 CCC) on Wednesday before its hosts Monroe City on Monday. Mexico (8-8, 2-1 NCMC) plays at North Central Missouri Conference rival and Class 3 No. 3 Fulton (16-4, 4-0 NCMC) on Thursday.

Ladybirds offense falls short vs Clopton, Yates

North Callaway hopes Tuesday won’t be a deciding factor in the Eastern Missouri Conference race.

The Ladybirds went into their home game with Clopton as undefeated in conference play but have that blemish on their record after losing 4-3. Clopton’s Shana Yates struck out 11 and allowed four hits and one walk.

North Callaway finished with four hits, often scoring on one of four Clopton errors or a groundout. The groundout is how the Ladybirds picked up their only RBI with Faith Cash being credited. After Lauren Speight allowed three earned runs on nine hits through 4⅓ innings, Olivia Knoepflein shut out and no-hit the Lady Hawks through 2⅓ innings.

“The pitching kept us in the game,” head coach Mariah McKee said. We just couldn’t get our bats going tonight. Sometimes, a young team like us will have games like that.”

Clopton took a 3-0 lead after two and half innings before North Callaway answered with two runs in the third inning and another in the fourth inning. The Lady Hawks scored the winning run in the top of the fourth inning after the Ladybirds committed all three of their errors in the frame.

North Callaway (3-3, 3-1 EMO) faces the conference leader and Class 2 No. 3 Elsberry (9-0, 4-0 EMO) to attempt to get back in the conference race at home Thursday.

Van-Far shut down 4-1 by Elsberry, Steele

Van-Far’s offense wasn’t making headway Tuesday at Eastern Missouri Conference leader Elsberry but neither were Elsberry’s bats.

The Lady Indians lost 4-1 against the recently ranked No. 3 team in Class 2 in a game that saw a total of 10 hits. Dalana Gay and Mara Jensen combined to allow four earned runs and strike out three batters, with Gay walking seven of the nine by the pair. Elsberry’s Addyson Steele struck out 15 Lady Indians in her seven innings of work.

Jensen also had two of the Van-Far offense’s hits and its lone RBI in the third inning on a double. McKenna Engh-Hoffman and Kayla Heaton each had a hit at the bottom of the order, with the former’s hit going for two bases.

Elsberry (9-0, 4-0 EMO) had all the offense it needed in the third inning when it scored three runs following a hit by pitch and two walks to lead off the frame. 

Van-Far (2-6, 0-3 EMO) will search for its first conference win at home Thursday against Mark Twain (1-6, 1-2 EMO).

Boys soccer

MMA defeats Canton 2-1 in overtime

Missouri Military Academy is finding a knack of winning overtime soccer games.

The Colonels won 2-1 in extra time at Canton on Tuesday two games after winning 3-2 in overtime against Kirksville at home. Gorka Yarte and Lucas Almeida scored MMA’s goals, just as they did in the team’s previous game against Fulton.

Yarte has a goal in two straight games, and Almeida has a goal in three consecutive, totaling five during that span.

“It was a tough game for us against a Canton side who made it very difficult for us,” head coach Eliot Goodwin said. “I’m happy we found the winning goal, but we have to be able to learn from difficult moments and overcome frustrations in the game. We have some good players in our squad, so if they can find consistency with their performances, then results will come our way.

Goodwin recalls winning a 4-3 game last season with today’s opponent Elsberry (1-4) so he expects another tough game for MMA (3-2) tonight at home.

Mexico wins tight contest with Moberly 1-0

The Mexico boys really had to work for that first conference victory.

The Bulldogs defeated North Central Missouri Conference foe Moberly 1-0 on Monday at home, giving them a 1-2 conference record and 2-3 overall record. Brendan McKeown scored the only goal of the game in the 11th minute off an assist from Kevin Lopez, who was back after being ineligible the previous game at Battle.

Head coach William Gleeson said Mexico’s defense gave Moberly fits all night, highlighted by goalkeeper Emille Scanavino’s 11 saves.

“Our defense shined by pulling them offsides multiple times,” Gleeson said.

Mexico played at conference foe Kirksville on Tuesday night before traveling to another conference opponent in Hannibal the next Tuesday.

Girls golf

Mexico’s Rowe, Centralia’s Pace finish in top at Westran Invitational

Mexico and Centralia had their best golfers show up Tuesday during the Westran Invitational.

Mexico’s Kennedi Rowe was one stroke short of the winner, Jefferson City’s Mia McGraw, as she finished with an 84 to be the runner-up. Centralia’s Bailey Pace shot a 93 to finish fourth individually and help the Lady Panthers take fourth as a team with a 438. 

Paris had a team score of 496 that was led by Allysa Webb’s 108 and followed by Halle Rossen’s 125.

Mexico didn’t have enough golfers to set a team score but had Ella Connell shoot a 134 and Reagan Craig finish with a 137.

Centralia’s next best individual score belonged to Tess Stephens as she shot a 107. Olivia Morris and Cami Moser each followed with a 119.

Hallsville won the team competition with a 417.

Look for the full stories in the Sept. 17, 2022, edition of The Mexico Ledger or the website on the same day.