PLEASANTON — After running through a 12-game gauntlet against some of the best softball teams in the state, Crest High’s softball team was able to right its ship Tuesday against Pleasanton.
The Lady Lancers took full advantage, rolling to a 16-4 victory.
Then, after trailing 5-1 in the nightcap, Crest ended the contest by outscoring the Blu-Jays 12-2 the rest of the way for a 17-7 win.
The doubleheader sweep caps the regular season for Crest, which advances to next week’s Class 2-1A Regional hosted by Jayhawk-Linn.
Lady Lancer head coach Casey Cook expressed pride in Crest’s second-game comeback.
“This is the first time this season they’ve been able to do that,” Cook said. “The younger players stepped up and contributed. McKenna Hammond had some awesome bunts for us. They were aggressive on the bases.”
In the second game, Pleasanton took a 3-1 lead after two innings and tacked on a pair of runs in the third.
Crest was held in check through four innings, scoring their only run after Kaylee Allen reached on an error and scored in the second.
The tone changed in the fifth.
Hammond smacked a single, and Lili Blaufuss reached after a dropped third strike.
That set the stage for Aubree Holloran, Brooklyn Jones and Kayla Hermreck, who all singled.
By the time the dust settled, the Lady Lancers were on top 13-3.
A Pleasanton error paved the way for another run in the sixth. Jones singled to lead off the seventh to kick-start a three-run rally to cap the scoring.
Holloran, who pitched both games, gave up eight hits with eight strikeouts.
Jones and Kayla Hermreck each singled twice. Holloran, Vivian Noah, Anna Hermreck, Allyssa Adams and Hammond all singled once.
