LEBO — Marmaton Valley High started quickly, racing to a 2-0 lead before most in the audience could find their seat, but was done in Monday by Lebo/Waverly’s five-run second inning.
The Wolves’ subsequent 10-3 win ends the Wildcats’ season in the opening round of the Class 2-1A Substate Tournament.
Marmaton Valley ends with an 8-11 record.
“It’s not how we wanted it to end, but the girls have done a good job this season,” Wildcat head coach Brenda Mills said. “We just couldn’t get the big hit.”
Marmaton Valley threatened to do just that in the top of the first. Aly Ard singled and Payton Scharff and Taven Sutton each walked. Madi Lawson followed with a run-scoring single.
But Lebo found its stride in the second inning, taking advantage of three hits and three walks to break open a 5-2 lead.
And while the Wildcats had baserunners aplenty for the duration, they were able to score only once more in the fifth when Kendall Scharff walked, Sutton singled and Lawson doubled.
But MV twice left runners in scoring position over the final three innings.
The Wolves responded with three in the fifth to break the game open.
Ard, along with Kendall Scharff, saw her high school career end.
Ard singled twice, while Brooklyn Adams added a single. Kendall Scharff did not get a hit, but walked twice and scored a run. Sutton had two singles, while Lawson had a single and double. Mary Brown also had a single.
While the Wildcats have only two seniors, the team likely will lose other players, because their families are moving, or one — Louiza Lounici — is ending her stay in the U.S. as a foreign exchange student.
“We’re going to miss those girls,” Mills said. “They’re leaving big shoes to fill.”
