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Hornets split with Hays and Derby
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 31, 2016

The Valley Center High School softball team got the season started March 29 with a non-league doubleheader split in Derby.

The Hornets crushed Hays, 26-5, before falling to Derby in a close one, 7-5.

"We did some good things," Valley Center coach Corey Jones said. "It was a good start. It really was."

Valley started the game against Hays with a whimper but ended with a bang.

Hornet starter Ashlyn Jacobs gave up three walks in the first inning to spot Hays a one-run lead.

But the Hornets quickly went in front and never looked back. Valley Center scored seven runs in the second inning to essentially seize control of the contest and broke the back with an 11-run fourth.

"When we scored seven in the second, that got everyone settled down and Ashlyn settled in a little bit," Jones said.

The Hornets closed the door and shortened the game with eight runs in the fifth.

Jacobs walked four and gave up four hits. She also struck out four.

The Hornet defense had just one error.

Meanwhile, all but one Hornet had a hit and all but one scored at least one run.

Leadoff hitter LaTaylah Perez led the way with three hits, including her first home run as a Hornet, four runs and six RBIs.

Taylor Rowley also had three hits, including a homer. Ashley Thorne had three hits, as did Hayden Francis and Jacobs.

"We just kept hitting," Jones said. "… We hit the ball hard all night, even against Derby."

The outcome, however, was different.

The Hornets opened the game against Derby by taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Derby edged ahead 3-2 after three. After a scoreless fourth, Derby tacked on a run in the fifth to lead 4-2 into the sixth.

Valley managed to plate a run in the sixth to keep the game close, but a couple of defensive lapses gave Derby a four-run advantage that the Hornets just couldn't overcome.

"We had our chances," Jones said.

Derby scored on a fielding error trying to cover a bunt. The host team tacked on another on a hard-hit triple. Derby wasn't done. Loading the bases on a sacrifice bunt and a pitch that got away from Kaylee Burnett and hit a batter, Derby scored on a pop up to shallow right.

"They made our errors cost us," Jones said. "Derby made us pay for our mistakes."

Still, Valley Center had a chance in the seventh, despite the four-run deficit.

Abby Meyer started the seventh with a single to center field. Perez outran a bunt for a single. An error on Derby loaded the bases with no outs.

Rowley hit a sacrifice fly that scored Meyer and Burnett hit into a fielder's choice for the second out.

Thorne knocked in Perez with a single to left. But Derby closed the door on a ground out to end the game.

"I'm very excited about our hitting," Jones said. "Our defense is pretty good, but we've got to make some plays."

Burnett took the loss.

She gave up six hits, but only two earned runs. She struck out five and walked just one.

Thorne and Burnett had two hits each.

Valley Center will play at Hutchinson April 5.

Junior varsity — The Valley Center junior varsity got a pair of wins in the opener. The Hornets defeated Hays 11-4 and Derby 5-4.

Against Hays, Valley led 5-0 after three innings. Hays came back to make it interesting in the fourth, but the Hornets shut the door with a five-inning fifth.

Getting two hits each for the Hornets were Reagan Fischer, Alora Klinkhammer and Mariah Behrns. Emma Meyer and Katie Youngers had doubles. Klinkhammer got the win. She struck out 15 Hays batters while walking none.

It was closer against Derby. Valley tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning and then went ahead 5-2 in the fifth. Derby scored two runs in the seventh to give the Hornets a scare.

Kylee Fink had three hits, including a triple, and scored two runs. Fischer had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI. Meyer also had a triple. Klinkhammer pitched three innings and struck out five. Jordyn Fullhart relieved Klinkhammer in the fourth and got the win.

Valley Center 26, Hays 5

VC 070 (11)8 — 26 21 1

Hays 110 03 — 5 4 5

W — Jacobs. L — Prough. 2B — VC: Rowley, Jacobs. 3B — VC: Jacobs. H: Dinkel, Brown. HR — Rowley, Perez.

Derby 7, Valley Center 5

VC 110 001 2 — 5 8 4

Derby 003 013 x — 7 6 3

W — McManus. L — Burnett. 2B — D: McManus. 3B — VC: Burnett (2). D: Young, Web.






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