The Lady Indians were piling up the extra base hits early Saturday.

Van-Far finished fourth in the North Shelby Tournament, advancing to the championship bracket after a 17-2 first-round victory in four innings against Marion County thanks to six extra-base hits. The Lady Indians were then limited to eight hits in the next two games, losing 16-0 in four innings to the host and eventual champion Lady Raiders and 11-6 to Scotland County in the third-place game.

Hailey Lowry, in particular, was a triple-machine in the Marion County game, going 3-for-3 with three triples and three RBI. Katelyn Sutton and Dalana Gay added three and two RBI, respectively, with a double hit by each. Gay struck out eight and allowed one hit in four innings.

Kayla Sutton had the lone hit in the North Shelby game as Van-Far committed nine errors to allow seven unearned runs and give the Lady Raiders 11 runs in the second inning. 

The Lady Indians trailed Scotland County 4-1 after one inning but took a 5-4 lead after the second inning, when Madelynn Caldwell and Mara Jensen reached on errors in two consecutive plate appearances that allowed a run to cross in each instance. Scotland County tied the game in the fourth inning on one of nine Van-Far errors and took control after a six-run sixth inning — with the first seven Lady Tigers reaching base in the frame. Reeve Woodall and McKenna Engh-Hoffman each finished 2-for-4 with Woodall picking up a double and Engh-Hoffman an RBI.

Van-Far took a 3-9 record and an 0-4 Eastern Missouri Conference record into Tuesday’s game at Montgomery County before it hosts Bowling Green on Thursday.

Football

Van-Far not strong enough in 64-6 loss vs Bowling Green

Van-Far didn’t appear to be physically strong Friday but maintained its mental strength.

The Indians were defeated 64-6 at home by Class 2 No. 7 Bowling Green as the Bobcats overpowered Van-Far most of the night, head coach Lucas Gibson said. Van-Far’s only points came on an 85-yard touchdown pass from Nikos Connaway to Cody Smith, who ran for the rest after about a 30-40 yard pass and lone completion by Connaway, in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Nikos Connaway had 42 yards on five carries, but the rest of the team averaged 1.7 yards per carry. Gage Gibson led the team with three tackles.

Gibson said it was important his players were mentally strong to fight all four quarters, which they did, but also had to maintain their health. Those are concerns for this season, but he and the Indians couldn’t help but view Bowling Green as an example of how good they can be if they keep working.

“The main thing is we came out healthy as we can,” Gibson said. “I think we’re banged up a little bit, but other than that, we’re healthy. I think it’s something to strive for to be that good someday because two-thirds of our guys are freshmen. They got to see what a good team looks like.”

Gibson said he wouldn’t be surprised if Bowling Green’s linemen use the weight room because the Bobcats are able to run the ball at will and will do so with effort until the whistle. He said some of those runs turn into 60-70 yard touchdowns from what he’s seen on film, but Van-Far was able to limit those out at least.

This feeds into why Gibson is proud of his team after a lopsided affair like Friday. He noticed how the Indians fought for the whole game regardless of score, and Bowling Green’s coaches saw the same thing.

“We got a lot of feedback from Bowling Green’s coaches saying how tough they are for as young as they are,” Gibson said. “That was good to hear. I’m so proud of them.”

Van-Far (1-3, 1-2 EMO) will go into undefeated Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wright City (4-0, 2-0 EMO), who won 40-24 at South Callaway in Week 4. 

Cross country

Van-Far's Childs runs season-best at Wellsville-Middletown

Erin Childs is getting closer to her best self.

The Van-Far sophomore finished fourth in the WMR1 Invite at Wellsville-Middletown on Monday, running to a season-best time of 24.59. That mark is eight seconds slower than her personal-best.

In the boys race, Richard Hayden and Austin Selsor finished 24th and 25th, respectively. Hayden ran to a season-best time, and the 5K race was the first one for Selsor, head coach Kris Cross said.

At the junior high level, Jaydon Hug-Hernandez finished second, and Garrett Hopke took fifth on the boys side  out of 60 runners.

Van-Far is scheduled to run in the Clopton Hamburger Meet on Oct. 10.