Kelly trumps Royals

Kelly's Sarah Ruff slides underneath the tag.

BENTON - The Kelly Lady Hawks softball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 2 state tournament with an 11-0 five-inning shutout over the visiting Twin Rivers Lady Royals on Wednesday afternoon.

Kalie Hughes was dominant both on the mound and at the plate for the Lady Hawks. Hughes picked up the one-hit complete game victory with seven strike outs and only one walk.

At bat, Hughes went 4-for-4 with three triples, drove in two runs and scored a run for Kelly.

"Kalie pitched a great game and gave up their only hit on a change up," said Kelly head coach Rhonda Ratledge. "We have been working and working on that pitch all year long.

"She has had a good looking change up in practice hitting the outside corner, but today she just floated it right down the middle. Kalie has only allowed two hits in 17 innings the last couple of games and she seems to be clicking at the right time."

Hughes credited working on the fundamentals both on the mound and at the plate.

"I have been working hard staying after practice getting that extra throwing time in," said Hughes. "I focused on improving my fundamentals and just throwing like I know how to.

"She (Twin Rivers hurler Carlee Vancil) is a quick pitcher and a very good pitcher at that. I just focused on keeping my weight back and getting a hit for the team."

Vancil had a solid outing for Twin Rivers with nine strikeouts and allowed only six hits, but her eight walks came back to haunt the Lady Royals as did her performance against Kelly's first three hitters.

Hughes, Brittany Ponder and Katee Moore went a combined 6-for-8 at the plate with six RBIs, scored seven runs, drew five walks and stole two bases. "We have been a good hitting team all year and although their pitcher is very good," said Ratledge, "I knew we could put the ball in play. We had some good swings up there and we made some things happen on the bases once we got on."

The big hit for the Lady Hawks was a two out over-the-fence home run by Ponder in the top of the second inning.

"It felt great to get the home run for the team," said Ponder. "I kept my head in and shoulder up and made level contact. The hours and hours of practice gets you into a routine up at the plate and I just executed what I have been taught for years."

Ratledge was impressed by the home run hit by her senior third baseman.

"Brittany had another home run but it was inside the park," said Ratledge. "It was a sweet hit. Brittany is little, but is mighty with the stick. She made connection with the ball and followed all the way through like you're taught and just it sailed over the fence."

Twin Rivers (8-6) made some crucial errors out in the field that opened the door for Kelly. The Lady Hawks scored three runs on pass balls and three more runs on two fielding errors.

After the Ponder home run in the top of the second, Moore drew a walk as Hughes walked up to plate. Hughes promptly laced a hard hit single to right field which went right through the legs of the fielder all the way to the fence. Moore scored from first and Hughes came all the way around the bases to score. Kelly led 5-0 after two innings of play.

Kelly enacted the mercy rule in the fifth inning on a fielding error by a Twin Rivers' infielder and RBIs by Moore on a triple and Hughes on a single. Kelly (24-6) advances to the quarterfinals at the Ballwin Athletic Fields in Ballwin on Saturday to face Fatima.

Fatima (17-10) defeated Orchard Farm 4-0 to advance to the game with Kelly.

Kelly 11, Twin Rivers 0

WP - Kalie Hughes

LP - Carlee Vancil

HR - Brittany Ponder (K)

3B - Hughes 2 (K), Katee Moore (K)

SB - Ponder (K), Moore (K), Sarah Ruff (K)

Multiple hitters - Kelly: Hughes 4-4.

Records - Kelly (24-6), Twin Rivers (8-6)