HUMBOLDT — The Neodesha-Humboldt rivalry is red hot after the Blue Streaks snapped the Lady Cubs’ 10-game win streak. Neodesha also took the Lindsey Friederich Memorial Softball Tournament title Friday.
The Lady Cubs came up short with a scoreless seventh inning as the Blue Streaks held on for the win and taking the season series so far 2-1, although Friday’s contest will not count in the Tri-Valley League standings.
Junior Jo Ellison took the loss despite racking up an astounding nine strikeouts over seven innings while allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks. Ellison kept Neodesha scoreless through the third inning as the Lady Cubs jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Junior catcher Leah Carman put Humboldt on the scoreboard with an RBI single, then senior shortstop Laney Hull plated Carman after her flyball forced an infield error.
A five-run Blue Streak fourth inning put Neodesha in control from there and scores in the sixth and seventh innings allowed them to hold on.
The Lady Cubs attempted to rally with a run in the fourth off a double by sophomore outfielder Addisyn Drake. Junior outfielder Hadley Galloway plated a pair of runners in the sixth with an RBI single, bringing the Lady Cubs within a run at 6-5, but that was as close as they would get.
Galloway was perfect in the batter’s box at 3 of 3 at-bats with one RBI due to a Neodesha error, which tied Drake and Carman for the team lead in RBIs with one each. Carman had two hits.
The Lady Cubs demolished the Central Heights Lady Vikings in the opening game of the tournament.
A nine-run fifth inning forced a 16-6 mercy-rule, moving the Lady Cubs into the championship game.
Ellison picked up the win in the opener, tallying 10 strikeouts over five innings with her only hiccup coming from a five-run Central Heights fifth inning.
Ellison allowed six runs on five hits and five walks.
A Carman sacrifice fly put the Lady Cubs on the scoreboard in the opening frame, then a Galloway single kept them ahead 2-1 after the second inning.
Junior outfielder Carlie Weilert busted the game wide open with an RBI grounder, then junior outfielder Lakyn Meadows scored on a wild pitch.
Senior second baseman Skylar Hottenstein extended Humboldt’s lead by three more runs with a two-RBI triple, then reached home on another wild pitch to put Humboldt ahead 7-1.
Already up two runs after multiple infield errors, freshman outfielder Jadey Ellis added another run with an RBI grounder.
An RBI single from Carman, sophomore Kamry De La Torre cleared the bases with a double to secure a mercy-rule. That single swing tied De La Torre with Hottenstein for the team lead in RBIs with three each.
