Lady Eagles Softball Team Celebrates Senior Night With Win

The Lady Eagles softball team recorded its third consecutive win of the week in as many tries by defeating Higginsville in Holden’s Senior Night game with a final score of 3-0 on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Lady Eagle senior softball players Lilee Keller, Abby Sisk, Lilli Bay, and Jenna McHenry all started in the game and were recognized on the field following the conference win over the Lady Huskers.

Keller got the call for the start on the mound in her first pitching opportunity of the season as she held Higginsville scoreless through four innings before Sisk took over in relief to close the door on the shutout win.

“We had a great pitching performance from our two senior pitchers in the game,” said Holden softball coach Jeff Smith. “They had a combined perfect game going until one out in the seventh. I couldn’t have asked for a better start from Lilee after not pitching in nearly a year after her injury. Abby also hasn’t pitched many innings this year and she did a great job in relief. We struggled as a team to get anything going offensively, but our pitching kept us in the game even with only scoring three.”

Holden struck first on the scoreboard when Keller singled with one out, moved to third base on a ground out by junior Addi Wooster, and crossed the plate when Sisk singled behind Wooster.

As Keller held the Lady Huskers hitless, Holden added its second run of the game on a ground out by Sisk that pushed junior shortstop Bobbie Diibon across the plate as Diibon played in place of regular shortstop Addy Campbell.

“Bobbie has done an excellent job filling in for Addy at short,” said coach Smith. “We knew she was our second option if anything happened to Addy based upon what we had seen from her defensively in practice.”

The Lady Eagles plated the final run of the game in the sixth inning on an RBI from McHenry that came on a ground out that allowed junior right fielder Olivia Wooster to score.

With two outs and the bases full of Lady Huskers in the top of the seventh, Sisk shut down Higginsville’s biggest threat of the game by coaxing a ground out that was handled by Diibon at short for the throw to first to Keller for the final out of the game.

“It was fitting to have our first run of senior night be from two hits, both from seniors,” said coach Smith. “Abby had a good night at the plate with two hits and two of our three RBIs. Jenna did a great job at first and in the outfield. Lilli played a good game at second. We will miss the leadership and performances from all of our seniors. Most have been a part of the program for the last four years, and they know what I expect of them and can help the others to be better players. These four are far from finished however. We plan on making a deep run in the playoffs to keep their careers going.”

In the senior night start on the mound, Keller worked 4 perfect innings with no hits allowed and no walks issued while recording 9 strikeouts.

Pitching three innings in relief, Sisk preserved the shutout, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 2 batters.

At the plate, Sisk had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. McHenry had 1 RBI. Keller, Addi Wooster, Haley Brooks, Olivia Wooster, and Diibon each recorded 1 hit.

Lady Eagles Shut Down Lexington
Playing in a home conference game against Lexington, the Holden softball team recorded a 15-0 home win over Lexington on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Eleven runs scored in the third inning combined with four runs plated in the fourth led to the run-rule shortened contest as Lady Eagle pitcher Olivia Wooster held Lexington scoreless.

“We got off to a slow start in the first two innings,” said coach Smith. “Luckily, Liv held their offense in check until we got the bats going. Jazzy and Bella both had three hits in the game to help us reach the run rule.”

Wooster recorded the shutout win on 1 hit allowed while striking out 6 batters.

At the plate, Jazzy Brown had 2 RBIs and Bella Haggard had 1 RBI on 3 hits apiece. Lilee Keller totaled 2 hits and 3 RBIs. Macey Greene had 1 hit and 2 RBIs. Haley Brooks and Jenna McHenry each had 1 hit and 1 RBI. Lilli Bay had 1 hit. Jillyan McHenry had 1 RBI.

Jazzy Brown Controls Sherwood
In Dominant Pitching Performance
Lady Eagle pitcher Jazzy Brown allowed no Lady Marksmen to reach base by pitching four perfect innings during a run-rule shortened game that ended with a 15-0 final score in Holden’s favor on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Brown recorded 10 strikeouts in the game while allowing no hits and no walks.

“Jazzy has been pitching against some very tough competition,” said coach Smith. “I was happy to see her get this win in dominant fashion because she is a dominant pitcher. Prior to this game, she had given up two runs, three runs and five runs, and didn’t get a win in any of them. We had struggled in getting her run support until this game. Nearly everyone hit in this game, and we did an excellent job of keeping pressure on their defense on the bases.”

Holden plated three runs in the first inning, six runs in the second, three runs in the third, and another three runs in the fourth to end the game by the run rule behind Brown’s shutdown performance.

At the plate, Brown recorded 2 walks and scored 1 run. Haley Brooks and Bobbie Diibon each had 2 hits and 2 RBIs. Olivia Wooster had 1 hit and 3 RBIs. Addy Campbell had 2 hits and 1 RBI. Abby Sisk had 1 hit and 2 RBIs. Jenna McHenry had 1 hit and 1 RBI. Jillyan McHenry, Ady Yoder, and Macey Greene each had 1 hit. Lilee Keller had 1 RBI.

Following its three wins last week, the Lady Eagles softball team held an overall record of 15-10, and stood at 7-1 in MRVC-East play.

The Holden softball team hosts Carrollton for a conference match-up this Thursday, Oct. 10, with a varsity game at 5 p.m., and a JV game to follow.