YATES CENTER — Humboldt High’s softball program has reached some pretty lofty heights in recent years. THE LADY Cubs opened game 2 with a bang — several, in fact.
Never before have the Lady Cubs done what transpired Thursday.
Humboldt pounded out nine home runs in 17-1 and 5-1 wins over host Yates Center in a key Tri-Valley League clash.
The victories keep the Lady Cubs perfect at 8-0, while Yates Center suffered its first two losses of the season (10-2).
“We put on a clinic,” Humboldt head coach Brad Piley said. “Since I have been coaching, we have never had nine home runs in one night.”
Breanna Kline was the main catalyst, pounding out three home runs in the second game and three doubles in the opener. She added two singles, two stolen bases and five RBIs in the sweep.
Her eight combined hits were in eight at bats, Piley said.
Meanwhile, Humboldt’s Courtney Richey was her typical dominant self on the mound and at the plate.
Richey pitched all 11 innings — seven in the first game and four in the run-rule shortened game 2 — while allowing a combined five hits and two runs. She struck out 13.
Richey aided her own cause with two home runs in the opener, as well as a single, two stolen bases and three RBIs.
Yates Center took the upper hand, courtesy of Aubrey Smith.
Smith wiggled out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the first to keep Humboldt scoreless before smacking a solo home run in the bottom of the frame to put the Wildcats on top, 1-0.
Kline doubled to lead off the third and scored the equalizer on Mallory Roush’s single. A Yates Center error later in the inning plated Roush for a 2-1 Humboldt lead.
Richey then blasted a solo home run in the top of the fifth and a two-run line drive that cleared the left field fence in the top of the sixth. That home run drove in Kline, who led off the sixth with a single.
Roush had two singles and an RBI. Kayle Riebel added two singles. Morris, Delaney Umholtz and Jaci Ross had one single apiece.
Smith took the loss for Yates Center, giving up 13 hits. She struck out 11.
Hallie Taylor had Yates Center’s other hit, a sixth-inning single.
Breanna Kline opened the contest with a solo shot to left, before smacking a two-run homer when she came around to bat again. Roush had a two-run homer, and Morris a three-run shot.
The Lady Cubs led 8-0 before Yates Center came to bat.
Yates Center’s Chessa Chrisman smacked a double to score Smith for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first to make it 8-1.
Humboldt responded with two in the second, four in the third and three in the fourth.
Riebel’s two-run homer in the second made it 10-1.
Brook Turner got into the act in the third with an RBI double. She scored on Roush’s single. A pair of fielding errors accounted for two more runs and a 14-1 advantage.
Kline’s third homer of the game came with two outs in the fourth. Turner singled before Roush smashed her second home run of the game, a towering shot to left, to end the scoring.
Roush matched Kline’s 4-for-4 performance with a single, double and two home runs with five RBIs.
Turner had three hits, including a double, with an RBI. Richey had two stolen bases. Riebel had a single and home run with two RBIs. Morris had a home run and two singles and four RBIs. Ross singled.
Chrisman had a double, while Courtney Arell and Shayna Karmann singled for Yates Center.
Smith took the loss, giving up 13 hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Lady Cubs win TVL showdown
