FRONTENAC — A tough first inning put Humboldt High’s Lady Cub softball team in a hole too deep to escape.
Host Frontenac plated nine runs in the first, and raced to a 12-0 lead after two innings.
Humboldt found its offense in the top of the third, erupting for four runs, but Frontenac ended with a wallop, racing to a 19-4 victory in the season-opener for both teams.
The first six Raider batters reached base to set the tone.
After going down in order the first two innings, Humboldt found its groove with a one-out walk to Kamry De La Torre in the top of the third. Carly Weilert followed with a single, and a ground ball put runners on second and third with two out. Skylar Hottenstein roped a line drive to center to score two. Shelby Shaughnessy chased her home with a double, and Taevyn Baylor’s hard grounder was misplayed for an error, accounting for Humboldt’s fourth run.
But the rally ended with runners at the corners.
Frontenac put the game away with five more in the bottom of the third and two in the fourth.
Hottenstein, Shaughnessy and Weilert had Humboldt’s three hits. Each scored a run, as did De La Torre. Hottenstein and Shaughnessy had RBIs.
Baylor stole two bases; Hottenstein had one steal.
The Lady Cubs will return home Monday for a doubleheader against Neodesha.
