Hoisington spoils Lady Trojans opener
Lady Cardinals sweep Hillsboro, 4-3,7-5
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Being a new addition to the MCAA League, the Hoisington Lady Cardinals are a mystery opponent to division foes.
There's the reason why Lady Trojan coach Carolyn Long wasn't sure what to expect in Friday's season opener at Hoisington.
Nevertheless, the Cardinals got Hillsboro's season off on the wrong foot, sweeping the Trojans, 4-3, and 7-5.
After falling behind in the opener 1-0 with Laura Lindsay giving up an RBI double, the Trojans knotted the game up in the top of the second.
Laura Skiles drove in Emily Ratzlaff with a run-scoring single.
Unfortunately for Hillsboro, the bats didn't work much the first game with the Trojans picking up a quartet of hits.
The biggest and best outburst of the game came in the third inning with Hillsboro jumping to a 4-1 lead on a two-out rally.
Ratzlaff drove in two with a double and Marissa Diener kept the rally going with an RBI-single for Hillsboro's pair of hits.
Hoisington wouldn't stay down, putting up their last six runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings with two in each off Lindsay.
The nightcap wasn't much better with the Cardinals holding Hillsboro hitless through the first three innings.
In the meantime, Diener returned the favor on the mound, too.
Finally in the top of the fourth, the Trojans picked up two hits, but were unable to bring anybody around.
Diener's no-hitter gave way in the bottom of the fourth with the Cardinals taking a 1-0 lead from a two-out solo home run.
Hillsboro had one last crack at a win when it was down to its final three outs.
Amy Duerksen was the Trojans' last hope with two on and two out.
With one swing of her bat, Duerksen broke the tie with a three-run blast to drive in Diener and Heather Stepanek, who each singled in the four-hit seventh.
All the Trojans had to do for a split was hang on.
Such as the case had been all day, anytime Hillsboro struck, so did Hoisington.
And a little more, too.
The Cardinals drove in three runs off a trio of hits to keep the Trojans searching for their first win of the year.
The Trojans traveled to Lyons Tuesday before opening their home portion of their schedule Friday against Hesston.
JV softball team is 3-1
Hillsboro High School junior varsity softball team won one of two April 1 against Hoisington. In the first game, the winning pitcher was Jenesa Klose who struck out five in the 13-8 win. Amber King had two hits; Jenesa Klose, two hits; and Steph Abbott, one hit. Lora Andrews walked four times.
The JV lost game two 11-10. The losing pitcher was Abbott who struck out five. King, Abott, Jandi Nikkel, and Natalie Wiens all had one hit and Jessy Janzen had two.
On April 2 the JV defeated Halstead 19-5. The winning pitcher Abbot threw a two-hitter and struck out seven. Suzy Lindsay and Jessica Klose each had two hits and Amber King and Meg Jost each had one hit.
The JV defeated Haven 7-3 with Jenesa Klose throwing a one-hitter and striking out nine. Abbott walked three times and had three stolen bases. Tiffany Knak and King each had one hit.
The junior varsity is now 3-1. They play at 5 p.m. today (Thursday) at Marion.
