Kielhoffner pitches, hits Oran past East Prairie

ORAN -- On a hot Thursday afternoon, it was hard to distinguish which was hotter -- the weather or the bats of the Oran High School softball team.

Oran (2-0 overall) pounded out 11 hits against East Prairie, to pick up a 6-0 victory.

The Eagles, led by pitcher Callie Kielhofner, proved to be too much for East Prairie. Kielhofner not only had a blazing pitching performance, but also was on fire at the plate as well.

She earned the win by throwing all seven innings, facing two batters over the minimum and striking out eight. Kielhofner, who hit one batter and allowed only one hit, was 2-for-3 at the plate with a single, a double and a RBI.

"I'm proud of her," Oran head coach Sara Heisserer said. "She did the same thing on Tuesday. She's done really well this year."

The bottom of the Oran lineup faired well against East Prairie pitcher Adalyn Woodard, pushing across three of the six runs scored.

Jodi Urhahn (2-for 4 with two singles), Halle Woodfin (2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored), Ellen Sikes (2-for-3 with two singles, two RBIs and one run scored) were the catalysts of the Oran offense in addition to Kielhofner.

"It's great that they came around," Heisserer said. "They had a tough time Tuesday at the plate, but they did really well for us today."

East Prairie's lone hit came off the bat of Brittany Grigsby, who was

1-for-2, with a single.

"It boiled down to (the fact that) we didn't hit the ball," East Prairie head coach Steve Stokes said. "The last couple of innings we started swinging the bats better."

The loss came at the mercy of Woodard, who threw six innings, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs. She accumulated no walks and struck out one.

After the loss came in East Prairie's first game this season, Stokes remained excited about the season.

"We knew coming in that Oran would hit the ball," Stokes said. "We have East Carter (at 4 p.m.) Monday, and I figure that will be a good matchup for us."

Oran will visit Clearwater at 4 p.m. Tuesday before it participates in the Notre Dame Classic on Thursday. The Eagles will face Goreville, Ill., at 5:30 p.m. and Scott City at 7 p.m. with both games being played in Kelso.