The Henryetta Lady Knight varsity slowpitch softball team came away with a 16-6 home win Monday evening over their arch rivals, the Morris Lady Eagles.
The Lady Knights began Monday with a thrilling 13-12 victory over the Tahlequah Lady Tigers, while the Lady Eagles dropped a 23-11 decision to Tahlequah in Monday’s second game in the 3-team battle.
(Editor’s Note: The Tahlequah slowpitch softball team is coached by Chris Ray, who has also served as head softball coach at Henryetta and Morris during his lengthy coaching career.)
In Monday’s county battle in Henryetta, the visiting Lady Eagles took an early 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the first.
The Lady Knights got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the first to make it a 4-1 contest after one inning of action.
Morris plated a pair of runs in its half of the second for a 6-1 advantage, while Henryetta took over the lead, 7-6, with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
After a scoreless third and top of fourth, the host Lady Knights brought the game to a close on the run rule, tallying nine runs in the last of the fourth to walk away with the 16-6 decision.
Winter Beaver led the offensive attack for Henryetta, finishing 3 for 4 with three singles and 3 RBIs.
Other Lady Knight batters with multiple hits in the county battle were McKayla Greenhaw (2 for 4, 2 singles, 3 RBIs), Ailanee Hicks (2 for 2, single, home run, 4 RBIs), Kassidy Lee (2 for 3, 2 singles, RBI), and Chloe Swearingen (2 for 3, 2 singles, RBI) with two hits apiece. Hicks’ home run came on a 3-run blast in the 6-run second.
The remaining base hits for Henryetta in the county contest came on a single by Haley Lewis, RBI double by Graci Lollis, and 2-run double by Shelby Kilhoffer.
The Lady Eagles’ top hitter in the county showdown was Jessica Wilson, who went 3 for 3 with two singles and a double.
Marti Yaerger (2 for 2, single, home run, 2 RBIs) and Briley Cagle (2 for 2, 2 singles, RBI) also recorded multi-hit games for Morris with two hits apiece. Yaerger’s roundtripper came on a 2-run blast in the second.
The other Lady Eagle base hits in the county battle came on singles by Maddie Moore, Kaydence Ausbrooks, and Alli Guynes and a double by Emma Duclos.
— Henryetta 16, Morris 6
Morris: 4-2-0-0 6-11-0 Henryetta: 1 – 6 – 0 – 9 16 – 14 – 1 WP: Ailanee Hicks LP: Briley Cagle HR: Morris: Marti Yaerger; Henryetta: Ailanee Hicks
