CANEY — Humboldt High’s Courtney Richey continues to excel from the pitcher’s circle.
On Monday, the Lady Cubs’ hurler pitched both ends of a doubleheader sweep, striking out a combined 31 batters over 14 innings in 4-0 and 5-2 wins over Caney Valley.
Richey was particularly dominant in the first game, striking out 19 batters in a complete game one-hitter. She walked one and hit a batter.
“Thirty-one strikeouts in two games is a good job on the mound,” Humboldt coach Brad Piley said in what may be the understatement of the season.
The games were moved from Humboldt to Caney because of wet field conditions.
The Lady Cubs (12-2 overall and 10-2 in Tri-Valley League play) broke open a scoreless deadlock with two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Richey aided her own cause with a solo home run and a single, while Jaci Ross had a double and two RBIs. Kayle Riebel had a single and RBI.
Others contributing were Megan Hudlin with three singles, Megan Herder with two singles, Breanna Kline with a single and stolen base and Brook Turner, Kasey Beeman and Morgan Morris, each with a single.
THE SECOND GAME was a bit tighter.
Each team scored once in the second inning before the Lady Cubs took the lead for good with a two-run third. Caney Valley closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the inning before Humboldt responded with two more in the fourth.
Richey allowed three hits and a walk and hit batter with 12 strikeouts.
Beeman and Morris each blasted over-the-fence home runs. Beeman also singled.
Turner had a double, triple and RBI. Kline had two singles and a stolen base. Hudlin drove in a run. Ross singled.
