Softball

ORAN, Mo. — Oran third baseman Lily Knotts drove in six runs while Molly Spane earned the win on the mound after punching out 10 batters in a 12-2 win over Oak Ridge on Wednesday, March 29 at Oran High School. Knots finished 2-for-4 and Spane threw all five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and no walked batter. Spane also went 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored and was walked twice...

LEOPARD, Mo. — The Scott County Central softball team secured its largest victory in recent memory with a 26-1 win at Leopold on Wednesday, March 29. The Bravettes (2-3) registered 21 total hits in the lopsided victory over the Wildcats (1-2) and were led by Maddy Carlisle’s 4-for-4 and six-RBI performance...

BROSELEY — A slow and steady game plan helps the Doniphan Donettes pick up an impressive win on the road. After trailing in the first couple of innings, the Donettes exploded with a rampage of hits to get a dominant 17-5 win on Thursday over the Twin Rivers Lady Royals...

KENNETT – An early collection of runs gave the Kennett softball team the cushion needed to down Holcomb 22-12 at home Monday, March 27, 2023. The Indians racked up 12 runs in the first inning, all of which were kickstarted by a double to center field hit by Hadley Wilson which brought in Lauren Barton and Handley McAtee. ...

The Advance Hornets (3-0) used a six-run second inning to propel them into a 9-6 victory at Oak Ridge (0-1) on Monday night. Freshman Brogan Wright-Hawkins led the Hornets with two hits and three RBIs, while Maggie Stubenrauch and Kaylee Cline both finished with two hits, with Cline finishing with another two RBIs while drawing two walks, reaching base a game-high four times...

BERNIE, Mo. — Oran earned a 5-3 win at Bernie on Thursday, March 23. Lilly Knotts recorded 10 strikeouts on the mound for the Lady Eagles (2-0), while Molly Spane provided the bulk of the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. “Knotts came through for us on the mound,” said Oran coach Jim Eftink. ...

HOLCOMB – The Holcomb softball team took on Gideon and Delta C-7 at home Thursday evening, and as the team continues to find its stride, the Hornets won 20-5 and 19-0, respectively. “It was a pretty good start,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said. “We hit the ball fairly well and we're still working on finding our niche on pitch selection. We've got some young ones and they're growing in that, and the discipline will come. Still, it was a pretty good outing for us...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — The season got off to a rocky start as the East Prairie softball team committed six errors in a 13-2 loss to Kennett. “We hung with them for a while, but couldn't get the offense going,” said East Prairie coach Jade Marcum. “Then they had a pretty good inning and hits lots of gaps and we couldn't come back unfortunately.”...

East Prairie softball is starting the season with some high expectations. The Lady Eagles have a talented roster that features at least two future college players in seniors Kennedy Cogdill and Tori Stinnett. “The team is looking forward to getting the season started and having everyone back and healthy to compete to our fullest ability,” said East Prairie coach Jade Marcum. ...

SENATH – The Senath-Hornersville softball team, partnering with Southland, rolled past Delta C-7 Monday night with a 19-4 win that ended with the run rule at the bottom of the third inning. There was a distinct lack of fanfare after the Lions’ monstrous display of offensive prowess, but that may be due to the fact that it comes just days after an incredibly similar 20-6 rout of New Madrid County Central on Saturday...

The Oran softball team opened its season up with a win, scoring a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning to negate a two-run top of the inning, winning 5-4. Molly Spane and Dalaini Bryant both tallied two hits in the win for Oran, with Spane holding the team lead in RBIs with two in the win. Spane pitched a complete game for the Eagles, striking out 10 and giving up just three hits...

The New Madrid County Central softball team and first-year coach Matt Hartman will have their work cut out for them this season with a youthful roster. The Lady Eagles are expected to start five freshmen, and several others could see significant playing time...

Portageville softball has improved its win total in each of the past two seasons, and the team hopes to continue that trend this season with several key contributors returning. “It is great to finally get back on the field with the girls,” said Portageville coach Kelsey Snider. “I’m sure all of the girls would agree. For weeks they were telling me they couldn’t wait to get back into softball.”...

The Oran softball team has its sights set on a third straight district championship. The Lady Eagles return seven starters including junior Moly Spane, Lily Knotts and Bralynn Morgan. “Our strategy from day one--as in the past--is to develop strong pitching, top-notch defense and timely hitting,” said Oran coach Jim Eftink. ...

Scott County Central competed in the fall softball season for the first time last year, and the team hopes the skills and experience gained will pay dividends this spring. The Bravettes finished 1-9 last spring and 0-18 in the spring, but the team was competitive in several tough losses and is likely on the cusp of breaking through...

KENNETT – Not many teams can boast a run at the state championship in six of the last eight years, and it certainly can't be done without finding the balance of playing “in the now” and developing young athletes along the way. Luckily for the youthful 2023 Kennett softball team, player development has become something of a science...

HOLCOMB – While all eyes are fixed on a championship trophy in May, the Holcomb softball team finds itself in search of a new identity which will include many new faces on the field after graduating an enormous amount of talent the last two years. The Hornets have taken a trip to Springfield to compete in the MSHSAA State Tournament in both of the last two spring softball seasons. The team brought home a third place trophy last year and a second place trophy in 2021...

Life is full of adversity and struggles, but it takes a tough person to dig deep and face any obstacles head-on. Such is the story of athlete Gracen Kirby and her final season at Doniphan High School. Kirby has endured many setbacks and injuries, but she hasn’t allow them to keep her from competing with her teammates...

PORTAGEVILLE – Throughout the 2022-23 school year, Portageville High School has won MSHSAA District championships in three of the four sports that it has participated in, so far.

The Southeast Missouri State (2-3) softball team rebounded from a season-opening sweep at Louisiana Tech with a doubleheader sweep on the road, defeating Saint Louis (2-5) first by a 10-9 margin in 10 innings followed by a 7-4 win in the back half. Center fielder Paige Halliwill led the Redhawks with four hits across 17 innings in the two wins, including a home run in the second game, as the Redhawks generated a run-per-inning 17 runs...

Three Rivers College athletics came together like a fist Friday night at the Poplar Bluff Holiday Inn.  That’s because the school welcomed the newest five-member Hall of Fame class as Don Crandell (contributor), Danny Foster (men’s basketball), Chuck Malone (baseball), Mallory Siebert (softball), and Anna Vogt (women’s basketball) were immortalized in front of dozens of Raiders supporters who made it known the importance of Three Rivers sports and the contributions of the newest inductees. ...

The Three Rivers College banquet honoring the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees is set to take place 6 p.m. tonight at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff. The Class of 2023 includes Don Crandell, Danny Foster (men’s basketball), Chuck Malone (baseball), Mallory Siebert (softball), and Anna Vogt (women’s basketball)...

PORTAGEVILLE – The calendar turns to February today and throughout Southeast Missouri, that can mean a number of things. However, for sports fans throughout the region, it means that spring training starts this month.

PORTAGEVILLE – There are some commonalities that you will notice when you look at the coaching staffs at Portageville High School. All six of the coaches are natives of the Bootheel of this state. All six of them have enjoyed success in their careers, and with the exception of first-year softball coach Kelsey Snider, have won a lot of games for the Bulldogs.

PORTAGEVILLE – Early in his tenure as the Portageville High School football coach, Ian Penrod noticed that the school “sort of had some fragmented kids,” which if you’re coaching at Jackson High School, and have over 1,300 students, perhaps that is fine. But if you are at Portageville, every coach, in every sport, needs the best of the 173 potential student-athletes that walk the halls of the school.

PORTAGEVILLE – Whatever your involvement in athletics has been throughout your life, be it a coach, an athlete, or simply a fan, it has become evident that success – or lack thereof – is often a roller coaster. When teams are struggling, it can seem like there is no end in sight, but when things are rolling, and in the case of Portageville High School athletics, the Bulldogs are rolling with ferocity of late, it can appear to be on cruise control.

As the sports world put the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic behind it in 2022, several teams and individuals in this area rose to the top in their respective sports. From history-making achievements on the hardwood to first-in-school-history performances on the diamond, this year proved itself to be a memorable one for local sports fans...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Kennedy Cogdill recently signed to continue to academic and athletic careers as a member of the Missouri State University-West Plains softball team. “I felt it was right the fit with the degree and classes I want to pursue as well as athletically I was impressed with the coaches and bond with the team,” she said. “I’m looking forward to most being able to play at a higher level with girls that appreciate the game as much as I do.”...

Malden senior Rachel Rommel took a seat behind a table lined with five different softball jerseys Thursday, soon to add another to the collection. The two-time All-State Green Wave softball catcher signed a letter of intent to continue her softball career at East Mississippi Community College...

ELLSINORE — She was a stranger from a different land and became an important cog in the East Carter softball machine. But more than that, Mia Niesters of just outside of Frankfurt, Germany, became a friend an inspiration and even a little bit of a sensei on how to go about a challenge head on and with a smile...

Kaydyn Bond, a Doniphan High School senior, signed a letter of intent to play softball at Missouri State University-West Plains beginning in the fall of 2023. Bond said their two-year nursing program was a major factor in her decision. “I want to be an RN, and they have a good nursing program,” she said...

BENTON, Mo. — Kelly’s Madison Yount made her longtime dream of playing college softball come true when she signed to continue her athletic and academic careers at Mineral Area College during a ceremony at KHS on Thursday, Nov. 17. “I went to a camp [at Mineral Area] my sophomore year of high school and knew I wanted to play there in the back of my mind,” Yount said. ...

Cape Central seniors Ki Bogan and Keri Williams both signed letters of intent to play softball at Mineral Area College on Thursday at Cape Central High School. The duo — who describe each other as family — are looking forward to continuing to share the field at the next level...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — East Prairie senior Tori Stinnett signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her athletic and academic careers at Three River College during a ceremony at EPHS on Thursday, Nov. 10. “Overall, everything thing went very well,” Stinnett said. ...

PERRYVILLE — Perryville senior Alyson Stortz signed a letter of intent to continue her softball career at the collegiate level with St. Charles Community College on Monday morning at Perryville High School. After collecting 500 strikeouts in her high school career and helping lead the Pirates to their first ever final four appearance in 2021, Stortz said she is excited to be able to play at the next level...

After making a verbal commitment to play softball at Southeast Missouri State last year, Notre Dame senior Hailey Burnett made it official on Monday afternoon. Surrounded by friends, family and her coaches, Burnett put pen to paper and signed her National Letter of Intent to become a Redhawk...

Lady Mule declares Three Rivers softball intentions It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Poplar Bluff’s Clara Rahlmann a modern-day McGuyver. The 80s TV show big timer could do just about anything and create something out of nothing, and it is pretty well understood that the Lady Mules senior has been making a living of doing that as a member of the school’s softball program...

The Kelly Lady Hawks softball team had seven players selected to the All-MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Tournament Team; junior pitcher Mallory Lemonds, junior catcher Allie Daniel, sophomore infielder Blaire Riley, senior infielder Madison Yount, junior infielder Kayleigh Holman and senior outfielders Paiten Groves and Leah Lambert...

TOWN AND COUNTRY — The Doniphan Donettes and Westminster Christian Academy engaged in an epic pitchers’ duel in the MSHSAA Class 3 softball quarterfinals Thursday afternoon. However, WCA and pitcher Gabrielle Merrifield prevailed in the end, as the Wildcats came away with a 1-0 victory over the Donettes to earn a trip to the final four next week in Springfield...

WASHINGTON, Mo. — An early deficit was too much to overcome for Notre Dame as the Bulldogs’ season came to an end in the Class 4 state quarterfinals at the hands of defending state champion Washington on Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Jays struck first, scoring a run in each of the first two innings to jump out to an early 2-0 lead...

EUGENE, Mo. — The Kelly Lady Hawks were in familiar territory again Thursday, trailing early in the game during their Class 2 quarterfinal game against Eugene. Unfortunately for the Lady Hawks, Kelly was unable to rally this time as their season came to an end on the road to the Eagles 5-0...

MORRISVILLE — Every team aspires to put on a legendary, if not at least admirable, performance in any state tournament. The Neelyville Lady Tigers softball team and its supporters can remember 2022 for being something they should only be proud of after falling 3-2 at Marion C. Early Wednesday night in a Class 1 sectional...

SIKESTON — For some players on the Kelly softball team, winning is just in their blood. Nearly every member of the team has a family member who has played for the program, but three current players’ mothers played for the Lady Hawks’ 1997 State Championship team...

It’s no secret that Brad Hagood is the superintendent of Doniphan schools, so being a softball coach would definitely not be considered his day job. So, after a long morning and afternoon of working with kids, staff, and parents, it’s off to the softball diamond, since he just happens to be the head coach of Donettes softball team — and that has paid dividends for the girls...

To Cindy Siebert’s knowledge, the Neelyville Lady Tigers softball team has only made it past the state softball sectional round once in the program’s history. Well, the hope now is that the Lady Tigers can equal, if not beat, that mark — and the journey toward that goal begins 5 p.m. Wednesday in Morrisville when the Neelyville girls (29-4) travel to play the Marion C. Early Lady Panthers (23-7) in one of eight sectional contests...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The Kelly Lady Hawks used a seven-run third inning en route to claiming their third-straight district title. Top-seeded Kelly fell behind upstart East Carter 1-0 in the top of the second of the Class 2, District 1 championship game Friday afternoon at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, but the battle-tested Lady Hawks didn’t waver...

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Notre Dame rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to beat Farmington and win the Class 4 District 1 championship on Friday at Farmington High School. The Bulldogs (26-4) had lost to Farmington in both matchups this season but were able to outlast the Knights 8-5 for their 12th district title in the past 16 years...

AFFTON — An offense that had its moments of ups and downs during the season decided to blast off this week in St. Louis and that only meant good news for Doniphan softball fans. In the Class 3 District 1 championship game Friday at Lutheran South High School, the No. 3 Donettes (17-7) rallied from an early deficit and another in the later innings to record a wild 14-10 win over fourth-seeded Notre Dame of St. Louis...

Notre Dame defeated Perryville 11-0 in five innings in the Class 4 District 1 semifinal on Thursday at the Farmington Sports Complex. Notre Dame’s offense was led by senior Hailey Burnett who went 2-for-4 on the day, including a home run, and knocked in four RBIs. Burnett also pitched for the Bulldogs, going the full game while only allowing three hits and striking out three batters...

SIKESTON — The Sikeston and Scott County Central softball teams lost in the opening round of the postseason, ending each school’s fall softball season. Sixth-seeded Sikeston (8-17) fell 6-2 to third-seeded Perryville (13-11) in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Quarterfinals at Lutheran South High School...