Staff writer
Trojans handle Swathers early
High-scoring innings early sealed victories for the Hillsboro High School softball team Friday against Hesston.
Down 2-1, the Swathers hit a solo home run on Allison Weber’s second pitch of the second inning. Weber retired the next three batters though, striking out two.
Kennedy Lucero started the bottom of the inning with a double down the left field line. After Weber singled, Danae Bina doubled, scoring both base runners.
Hillsboro scored four more runs in the inning, on RBIs from Madison Klein, Shannon Heiser, and Emily Jost — for an 8-2 lead.
Neither team scored again until Hillsboro in the sixth inning, eventually winning 9-2.
The second game mirrored the flow of the first, for the most part.
Pitcher Julie Sinclair allowed no runs in the first two innings, while the Hillsboro offense was active, scoring seven. Weber led off with a triple, then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Klein. Sinclair later scored Bradli Nowak with a double on an infield error.
Leading 2-0 in the second inning with two outs, Weber, Bina, and Klein singled, before Nowak hit a three-run home run. The Trojans led 7-0 at the end of the inning.
The Swathers scored one run in the third, which Hillsboro matched with six more, for a 13-1 lead going into the fourth. Sinclair struck out three more in the next two innings as the Trojans won 13-1 on a fifth inning run rule.
Hillsboro plays next against Kingman at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Hillsboro.