YATES CENTER — Yates Center High’s softball team picked up where it left off from last season.
The Wildcats blitzed visiting St. Paul, sweeping both games of their doubleheader, 15-0 and 24-1, to move to 2-0 on the young season.
“It was good to play our first games,” head coach Abbie Collins said. “The girls hit the ball well.”
A nine-run first inning paved the way for the opening victory, behind the pitching of Morgan Collins, who tossed a three-inning perfect game, striking out seven of the nine St. Paul batters.
The Wildcats had no such issues, rapping out 12 hits.
Addison Solander led the way with a double and triple, while driving in four. Molly Proper also was a monster, going 3-for-3, with a single, double, triple and two RBIs. Grace Westerman singled twice. Collins aided her own cause with a triple. Grace Westerman singled twice, while Allison Chrisman had a single.
The beat went on in the nightcap.
Yates Center sent 21 batters to the plate in a cataclysmic first inning.
By the time the dust settled after the first, Yates Center led 17-0.
That was more than enough for Proper, who allowed two hits over three innings, while striking out five.
Hannah Jones and Collins were dominant forces at the plate.
Each had a single, a double and a triple. Jones drove in five; Collins four. Each also scored three times.
Callyn Miller chipped in with a single and double. Westerman also had a double. Proper, Chrisman, Solander and Lauren McConaghie all had singles.
IN BASEBALL action, Yates Center defeated St. Paul, 15-4, before falling, 14-10, in the other.
Jayston Price, Preston Hurst and Sean Hurst all pitched for the Wildcats, in the opener, combining to allow eight hits with eight strikeouts.
Emmit George led the offense by going 3-for-3, with a double, triple and three RBIs. Emmitt Brittain singled twice. Cannon Cavender added a double. Sean Hurst, Jacob Meigs and Rice all had singles.
The Wildcats came up just short of a sweep, however, in a wild back-and-forth affair in the nightcap.
