by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College opened its new softball complex in appropriate fashion Friday, pounding out 22 hits in sunny 73-degree weather in a doubleheader sweep of Southeast (Neb.) Community College.
The sweep was highlighted by the first home run at the all-weather complex, a two-run shot by Salina freshman Mikaela Hoffart in a 9-5 nightcap win that came on the heels of an opening 9-4 win.
The Blue Devils are right back in action next week, as hosts of North Central Tuesday, Maple Woods Thursday (both 1 p.m.) and Iowa Central Friday (2 p.m.)
“We hit the ball well; I’ll take nine runs every game I can,” KCKCC coach Kacy Tillery said. “And we ran the bases well – five stolen bases in the first game. But we have to tighten up our defense. We can’t give up four or five runs every game.”
A pair of freshmen got the pitching wins. Megan Sumonja of Lawrence allowed six hits, three earned runs, struck out eight and walked five in six innings in the opener before Megan Mason retired the final three Southeast hitters in the seventh. Shannon Greene of McLouth gave up five earned runs in the first three innings of the 9-5 nightcap, then blanked the visitors on three singles the final three innings.
“Megan pitched well especially after missing practice yesterday because of the death of her grandmother while Shannon Greene struck out seven and walked only one,” Tillery said.
LaTisha Thomas, Allison Kasick, Candice Jennings and Natalie Cowan each had a pair of singles in the opener with Kasick driving in three runs, The Blue Devils scored single runs in the first and second and then added four in the fourth on singles by Hoffart, Sam Sudcac and Cowan and pair of walks while Sumonja allowed just one hit in KCKCC’s 6-0 start.
Hoffart added a double and single to her 2-run homer in the nightcap, finishing with three RBI while Jennings had a pair of doubles, Amy-Grace a double and single and two RBI and Thomas a pair of singles. KCKCC trailed three times (2-0, 3-2 and 5-4) before Hoffart followed a leadoff double by Allison Kasick with her home run to left for a 6-5 lead. The Blue Devils then put the game out of reach with a 3-run fifth inning highlighted by a double by Jennings and singles by Hoffart, Wilson and Thomas.