Kelly, Powell one-hit Delta in 10-0 victory
BENTON -- Improving to 2-1 on the season, the Kelly Lady Hawks came out firing on all cylinders in Tuesday game with the visiting Delta Lady Bobcats.
With starting pitcher Kristen Powell pitching a one-hit shutout, the Lady Hawks offense combined for 12-hits on the afternoon as Kelly mercy-ruled the Lady Bobcats 10-0 in five innings of play.
"I thought we had a near perfect game as far as the hitting goes," Lady Hawks head coach Melanie Heuring said. "We we're aggressive on the bases, got our bunts down and had one-hitter from Powell. Can't expect anything better than that."
Putting up runs in every inning, the Lady Hawks started out the game with back-to-back three-run innings.
In the first lead-off hitter Emily Grojean got things started reaching on an error with Haley Glastetter bring her home two batters later with an infield single.
Before the inning came to a close, both Glastetter and clean-up hitter Kristen Vetter would cross the plate before the frame was over with Powell capping off the rally scoring Vetter from second on an triple to right-center field.
After following up with the above mention three runs in the second, Kelly went on to score two in the third and one in the fourth to set up a bottom of the fifth where the Lady Hawks needed only one-run to close out the ball game on the mercy rule.
Leading off the fifth, Jessica Worth sent a pop up back to the pitcher that looked to be caught for an out. Fortunately for Worth, Delta's pitcher made a bad read on the ball after which she would be unable to come up with it leaving Worth safe at first.
Next up, Sydney Vinyard ended the ball game with a drive to left field that at first looked like it would only leave Worth at second.
Coming over the field the ball, however, the left fielder watched the ball slip past her glove and roll to the fence, allowing Worth to score uncontested to end the ball game.
"Offensively we hit really well all the way up and down the line up today," Powell said. "Everyone had good hits. "Especially as a pitcher it helps whenever your team can hit and give you insurance runs."
Seven of the nine Kelly starters came away with a hit in the contest as Grojean, Glastetter, Vetter, Powell and Vinyard all tied for the team lead with two-hit apiece.
"Almost everybody up and down our lineup had a good hit throughout the game today," Vetter said.
For Powell, Tuesday's win improved her and the team's record to 2-1 on the young season. In facing one batter over the minimum she allowed no walks and one hit while striking out three.
"She's keeps her balls to a minimum and she throws a lot of strikes," Heuring said. "(She's throwing) good pitches that they're chasing and getting ahead in the count.
"I think she's doing a good job just getting them to hit little grounders and pop ups right to our fielders."
The lone hit Powell allowed came in the third when, with two outs, Delta's Ashleigh Slinkard hit a ball that dropped into right field to break up the perfect game.
With the Lady Hawks on a two-game winning streak after opening the season with a disappointing loss to East Carter, Glastetter likes the way her team is performing right now.
"We had a lot of hits and our fielding was errorless," she said. "We have improved a lot. We've played together the whole summer and we're still improving, but I'm very proud of us right now."
Next up, Kelly with take part in the week's Notre Dame Softballfest at Notre Dame high school in Cape Girardeau. They will open up against Saxony Lutheran Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Delta 000 00 - 0
Kelly 332 11 - 10
WP -- Kristen Powell (2-1). LP -- Myra Henson (0-3). Multiple hitters -- (K) Emily Grojean 2-3, Haley Glastetter 2-2, Kristen Vetter 2-3, Kristen Powell 2-3, Sydney Vinyard 2-3. 2B -- (K) Glastetter, Vetter. 3B -- (K) Powell.