With limited time to prepare due to spring break, the Humboldt Lady Cubs ran into a tough opening day opponent in returning state champion Frontenac Raiders Monday.
Proving they have not lost a step from hoisting the state trophy last summer, the Raiders forced a 13-0 mercy rule by the end of the fifth for their first victory.
“We didn’t help ourselves,” Humboldt coach Brad Piley said. “We walked probably seven or eight batters the first two innings. You cannot give them free bases. It would have still been a loss, but you could take away half of the runs off their score if you take away all of the walks.”
Although ultimately shut out, the Lady Cubs did break their goose-egg in the batter’s box with junior second baseman Skylar Hottenstein, senior third baseman Shelby Shaughnessy and sophomore first baseman third baseman Shelby Shaughnessy and sophomore first baseman Kinley Hart each registering hits.
“We just had spring break, and it’s tough to have to play the defending state champs,” Piley said.
“I would rather play them the second half of the season to get us ready for regionals, but it is what it is. We know what we have to work on.”
Defensively, the Lady Cubs also had a rough day registering five errors.
Of the trio of pitchers Humboldt fielded Monday, only sophomore Jo Ellison had a strikeout.
With the Lady Cubs not returning to the diamond until next Monday on the road at Neodesha, Coach Piley feels the time will be well spent in practice.
“We’re going to work on a lot of pitching. We’re going to do some more hitting,” Piley said.
“Our defense really wasn’t that bad. We had a double play there at the end. Our defense is always strong, but to face pitchers like that. We don’t see that all season long.”
Frontenac 13, Humboldt 0
Frontenac AB R H BI
Logiudici 3 1 0 0
A. Sullivan 4 2 3 1
Johnson 4 0 1 2
Call 2 1 1 0
T. Sullivan 3 2 1 1
McLaren 2 2 1 1
Kautz 2 2 0 1
Likely 2 0 0 2
Hutchinson 2 2 1 0
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO
Johnson 2.2 1 0 0 0 4
Niegsch 2 2 0 0 0 4
Humboldt AB R H BI
Hottenstein 1 0 1 0
Hull 3 0 0 0
Shaughnessy 3 0 1 0
Baylor 1 0 0 0
Wrestler 4 0 0 0
Wellert 2 0 0 0
Ellison 2 0 0 0
Galloway 3 0 2 0
Hart 2 0 1 0
Mead 1 0 0 0
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO
Baylor 0.1 1 5 5 4 0
Ellison 2.2 5 5 2 3 1
Shaugnessy 2 2 3 0 2 0
