HUMBOLDT — A cold front came roaring into the area Monday evening, while Humboldt High was hosting Neodesha for a softball doubleheader.
But by the time the temperatures dipped, the Cub pitchers had already put the big chill on Neodesha’s bats, shutting down the Bluestreaks in both games of their doubleheader, 12-0 and 14-4.
“Our pitching was a lot better,” Humboldt head coach Brad Piley said. “A lot better.”
Unlike Humboldt’s season-opening loss a week earlier at Frontenac, the Lady Cubs were in control from the outset against Neodesha, scoring runs in every inning of both games.
Shelby Shaughnessy got the pitching nod in the opener and struck out 11 over five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and three walks.
There was plenty to smile about offensively as well.
The Lady Cubs accentuated their six hits by keeping constant pressure on the Bluestreak defense with stolen bases aplenty — 21 in all.
Skylar Hottenstein was particularly pesky, stealing seven bases by herself.
Taevyn Baylor hit a home run and garnered three RBIs with two stolen bases. Laney Hull managed a single, double, RBI and three stolen bases. Hottenstein also singled.
Rylan Covey and Carlie Weilert added RBI singles as well. Weilert also had two steals.
Others with stolen bases were Ella Schomaker, three, Shaughnessy, two and Hadley Galloway and Kamry De La Torre with one apiece.
The drumbeat continued in Game 2, with the Lady Cubs stealing 25 bases, led by Shaughnessy, who drove in five RBIs, had two singles and stole seven bases. Hull had a pair of singles with four steals and an RBI. Baylor singled and doubled with two RBIs and a stolen base. Chanlynn Wrestler and Galloway both had two steals and two stolen bases. Galloway also had a pair of RBIs. Rilyan Covey and Ella Schomaker chipped in with one single apiece. Covey also had a steal. Lakyn Meadows and Kinley Hart added three and two stolen bases.
Piley praised his team’s ability to overcome the elements.
“When it starts warm, but gets cold, it’s a lot harder to get used to than if it was cold all along,” he noted. “But the girls handled it well.”
THE LADY Cubs will host Erie for a doubleheader Thursday.
