Ark Valley News - Softball team sweeps non-league doubleheader

Ashley Thorne prepares to make contact with Campus' catcher in a game April 24. Valley swept the Colts 7-4 and 6-3.

Softball team sweeps non-league doubleheader
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: April 26, 2018

The Valley Center High School softball team had a welcome break from a tough Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II schedule this week, capturing a couple of wins against Campus at home April 24.

“It feels good for everybody," coach Corey Jones said. “It gives our pitchers some confidence heading in to last four games."

The 7-4 and 6-3 victories came after 9-6 and 7-2 league losses to Andover at home April 20.

With four regular-season games left — all in the league and all on the road — Valley Center's record is 6-10 (0-8 in the league).

“Our league is very tough," Jones said. “You have to play well in order to win."

Consistent pitching was the key to the sweep of Campus as Valley's two starters walked just one batter all night.

In the opener, the Hornets took a 3-1 lead after the first inning before the Colts tied the game in the fifth.

Valley Center broke the tie with a two-run fifth and lengthened its lead with two runs in the sixth.

In the fifth, Lia Groves hit a single to center and Fantasia Sams drew a walk. Ashley Thorne hit a triple to right field, scoring Groves and Sams, but was put out trying to stretch the hit into a run. The play gave Valley Center a 5-4 lead.

Pitcher Emma Anderson forced three ground-outs to get Valley to the sixth, where an Eliza Grady triple and a heads-up play on a Campus error gave the Hornets a three-run cushion.

Anderson finished the game by forcing three pop-ups in the seventh.

Valley Center never trailed in the second game, scoring three in the fourth inning and adding another three in the sixth.

After three scoreless innings, the Hornets struck in the fourth. Groves reached first on a dropped third strike and Sams doubled to center to score Groves. Thorne doubled to left for another run. Taylor Rowley hit a two-out double to center to score Thorne.

Thorne struck again in the fifth, hitting a grounder to score Caitlin Edwards and Groves and give the Hornets a 6-2 lead.

Edwards gave up a double in the seventh inning, but forced three grounders to finish the game.

It was senior night for the Hornets, honoring Rowley, Thorne, Emma Meyer and Reagan Fischer.

“It's hard to see seniors go," Jones said. “You spend four years together, on average 15 hour a week, you get to know them more than just softball. They are the leaders of the team."

Thorne is a four-year starter who played third base for three years and was moved to outfield.

Rowley is a four-year starter at short. Both are going to college and will play softball.

Meyer has caught many different pitchers in her four years.

“She has been very helpful in them maturing as a pitcher," Jones said.

“Reagan is such a good right fielder but has been moved to left because her speed is so good," Jones said. “Believe it or not that is a huge transition in softball. These four have done everything that is asked of them. That is why I will miss them."

In the opening game against Andover, Valley Center struggled at the plate as Andover's starter recorded 11 strikeouts and walked just one.

After two scoreless innings, Andover took a 4-0 lead in the third. The Hornets tied the game in the fifth inning as Thorne hit a sacrifice fly to score Sams, and Meyer knocked in Edwards on a single to right. Then Rowley hit a two-run home run with two outs. The rally ended with the go-ahead run at first.

Andover answered with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh. Valley scored two in the seventh on a two-RBI triple by Grady, but couldn't keep the momentum going.

Rowley had three hits. Grady, Fischer, Sams and Edwards had two hits each.

Anderson gave up 13 hits, including two home runs. She walked two and struck out one.

In the nightcap, Andover broke a stalemate with a five-run fourth inning and held on for the victory.

Valley Center struggled at the plate again as Andover recorded eight strikeouts.

Grady knocked in a run in the first inning.

Mallory Feather singled to center in the sixth, scoring Edwards.

The Hornets left runners on base in each inning except the fourth.

Andover hit three home runs against Edwards, who gave up eight hits.

Valley will play at Eisenhower April 27 and at Goddard May 1.

Valley Center 7, Campus 4

CAM 102 010 0 — 4 4 2

VC 300 022 x — 7 8 4

W — Anderson. L — Johnson. 2B — VC: Fischer. 3B — VC: Grady, Thorne; C: Stanley. HR — VC: Rowley.

Valley Center 6, Campus 3

CAM 000 020 1 — 3 7 0

VC 000 330 x — 6 8 0

W — Edwards. L — Martins. 2B — VC: Fischer, Rowley, Sams, Thorne (2), Groves; C: Garrison.Andover 9, Valley Center 6

AND 004 002 3 — 9 13 0

VC 000 040 2 — 6 13 0

W — Eubank. L — Anderson. 2B — VC: Edwards, Groves; A: Way. 3B — VC: Grady. HR — VC: Rowley; A: Way, Wilmoth.

Andover 7, Valley Center 2

AND 100 500 1 — 7 8 2

VC 100 001 0 — 2 6 7

W — Conley. L — Edwards. 2B — A: Chambers, Pryor. HR — A: Conley, Peck, Wilmoth.