HUMBOLDT — A pair of dominant pitching performances turned into a tournament championship Friday for Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs. THE FILLIES took an early 1-0 lead on Weseloh’s inside-the-park home run. HUMBOLDT’S OPENER against Neodesha was devoid of any drama, courtesy of the Lady Cubs’ nine-run first inning.
Humboldt’s Jaci Ross and Courtney Richey combined to give up only three runs with 18 strikeouts as Humboldt rolled past Neodesha 17-2 and Yates Center 11-1 in the title game.
“It always means a lot to me and the Lady Cubs to win the Lindsey Friederich Tournament,” Humboldt coach Brad Piley said.
The tournament crown wasn’t secure until Humboldt erupted for four runs in the fifth and six in the sixth to break a scoreless tie.
“We played a very good team with a good pitcher (Yates Center’s Aubrey Smith), which is going to help us down the road,” Piley said.
Meanwhile, Iola High’s Fillies bounced back nicely from a 10-2 loss to Yates Center to open the tournament. They responded with a 15-2 romp over Neodesha to claim third place.
Yates Center took advantage of walks in the third and fourth innings to erase an early 2-0 deficit to Iola.
While only gaining one hit, the Wildcats scored two in the third and four in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.
Iola’s Katie Thompson doubled to lead off the second inning. Mackenzie Weseloh reached on an error. Both players later scored for Iola’s two runs.
Weseloh later delivered a single, as did Katie Shields and Hannah Endicott.
Endicott started for the Fillies, giving up six hits. She struck out two.
Courtney Arell had a single for Yates Center, as did Smith. Allie Bruner had a double. Shannon Staats singled twice.
Smith struck out four Fillies batters.
The Fillies scored two in the second, four each in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
There were several hitting stars to lead the way.
Weseloh went 2-for-4 with a single and home run. Endicott singled twice. Thompson had a single and three runs. Shelby Reno also delivered an inside-the-park home run, a single and two runs.
Holly Schomaker knocked in three singles with an RBI and had two runs. Shields and Halie Cleaver each scored twice. Baylea Thompson had an RBI single.
Weseloh pitched for the Fillies, giving up six hits with four strikeouts.
The lead grew to 13-0 after two and 17-0 after three.
Kayle Riebel had three hits and six RBIs to lead the way with a double and home run. Breanna Kline stroked two doubles with three stolen bases and three RBIs.
Courtney Richey had a double, triple, stolen base and two RBIs. Kasey Beeman singled. Jaci Ross had a single, double and RBI. Delaney Umholtz had two stolen bases. Megan Herder had a single. Megan Hudlin had two singles, two stolen bases and two RBIs. Haley Riebel had a single and two stolen bases.
Ross pitched, giving up a hit and two walks with eight strikeouts.
“Jaci threw four good innings and got us off to a great start,” Piley said.
Richey was the pitching star in the title game, allowing only one hit in seven innings. She struck out 10.
“It was another great outing on the mound for Courtney,” Piley said.
Most of Humboldt’s offense came up late.
Kline had a single, double, stolen base and two RBIs. Kayle Riebel had a single, double and two RBIs. Brook Turner had a single, double and three RBIs. Richey had two singles, a triple, three stolen bases and two RBIs. Beeman singled once. Morgan Morris had a single and triple. Herder had a single and RBI. Hudlin had three singles and an RBI.
Lady Cubs nab tourney title
