By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

LINDSBORG – The Smoky Valley softball team evened their 2022 season mark at 3-3 on Monday as they split a doubleheader with Hillsboro, losing the first game 5-4 before scoring a dominating 14-4 win in the second game.

Smoky Valley held a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning and held Hillsboro scoreless until the top of the fourth when they scored once. Hillsboro then added a pair of runs in the fifth and another pair in the seventh before holding the Lady Vikings off in the bottom of the seventh to gain the final one-run, 5-4 win.

Karee Adam took the loss on the mound in the first game and now sports a 2-2 season mark.

For the Lady Vikings offense, Maliyah Koster led the team with three hits while Maddi Tolle, Karee Adam, and Catherine O’Dell had a pair of hits. O’Dell hit for a double and both Tolle and Koster pounded out home runs.

Smoky Valley exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning in game two and then added three more in the second, one in the fourth and two in the fifth. Hillsboro scored three times in the third before adding one more in the fifth as the Lady Vikings recorded a dominating 14-4 victory in the nightcap.

Maggie Rayls pitched for the Lady Vikings and evened her season record to 1-1.

At the plate, Maliyah Koster had a huge game for the Lady Vikings as she had another three hits which included a double, and a pair of triples while also getting three runs batted in, three steals and scoring four times.

Both Ava Broxterman and Catherine O’Dell also had a pair of hits.

Next for the Lady Viking softball team will be a road trip to Lyons on Friday.

GAME 1:                   1-2-3-4-5-6-7=R-H-E

Hillsboro                    0-0-0-1-2-0-2=5-8-2

LADY VIKINGS          2-0-0-0-0-0-2=4-12-3

LADY VIKING GAME LEADERS:

Pitching: Karee Adam – credit for loss, now 2-2 on season.

Hitting: C. Odell had 2 hits, 1 double, 2 stolen bases; M. Tolle had 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 home run, 2 RBI; M. Koster had 3 hits, 1 home run, 2 RBI; Karee Adam had 2 hits.

GAME 2:                   1-2-3-4-5-6-7=R-H-E

Hillsboro                   0-0-3-0-1-0-X=4-8-2

LADY VIKINGS          7-3-0-1-2-0-x=14-10-1

LADY VIKINGS GAME LEADERS:

Pitching: Ryals – credit for the win, now 1-1 on season.

Hitting: C. Odell had 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases; K. Adam had 2 stolen bases; M. Tolle had 2 runs; M. Koster had 3 hits, 4 runs, 1 double, 2 triple, 3 RBI, 3 stolen bases; A. Broxterman had 2 hits; Hipp had 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases.

(William is a free-lance writer covering McPherson County Activities – he can be reached at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)