Ladycats Blow Past Cyclones, 8-1

BY NORM BETZ –

After several weather cancellations, the Mena Ladycats were ready to kick off the season as they traveled to Russellville to battle the 6A Lady Cyclones. The Ladycats returned home with an 8-1 victory.

“We played well, especially with all the cancellations,” said Mena Ladycats’ head coach Ray Hunter. “We definitely showed some rust at times, but we overcame it.”

There’s nothing like starting off the season with a legitimate test. Russellville senior pitcher, Andrea Kindrick, is touted as one of the best pitchers in the state. This past November, Kindrick signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of Alabama. Kindrick led the Lady Cyclones to a 6A State Championship in 2013, the same year she was named Gatorade Player of the Year and Class 6A State Tournament Most Valuable Player. Last season, Kindrick struck out 296 batters across 142 innings and threw seven no-hitters for a 0.30 ERA. At the plate, Kindrick hit .604 last season with seven home runs and 32 RBI’s.

Teams could easily be intimated by the numbers Kendrick has put up the past few seasons, but not the Ladycats. “We want to win championships,” said Hunter. “We will play a lot of bigger schools, because we want to see the best pitching the state has to offer.

Mena wasted no time putting runs on the board as they were able to put up two in the top of the first inning. Senior Bailey Bunch started things off with a walk and later scored when senior Lexi Hansard reached base on error. Junior Macy Brotherton doubled to left field, moving Hansard to third. The second run crossed the plate when sophomore Lexi Brooks reached on a ground-ball error by Kindrick.

Junior Ladycats pitcher Jordan Ward walked the first batter she faced, but that batter was thrown out on a fielders choice. The bottom half of the first ended on a double play ball hit to Ward, who caught the pop-up and then fired it to junior Madi Brotherton at first for the double-up. Mena led 2-0 after the opening inning.

After Ward struck out the side in the bottom of the third, Mena plated another run in the top of the fourth, which was led off by Macy Brotherton’s second double of the game. Courtesy runner, sophomore Riley Schnell crossed the dish on Kindrick’s second error of the game. Ward again shut them down and the Ladycats led 3-0 after the fourth and fifth innings. In fact, the first Lady Cyclone to reach third base was in the bottom of the fourth, and Ward set them down in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Mena added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Macy Brotherton led things off with a single to left field and her courtesy runner, Schnell was knocked home when Madi Brotherton hit a double to right field. Madi Brotherton crossed the plate on a single to centerfield by Ward. Ward sent the first two Lady Cyclones back to the dugout via strikeouts to start the bottom half of the sixth. Mena enjoyed a 5-0 lead at the end of the sixth.

The Ladycats were not done yet as they put three more runs on the board in the top of the seventh. Junior Kenzi Spurgin led off the inning with a single, was pushed to second on a single by junior Daryan Torix, and later scored when Macy Brotherton reached on an error by the left fielder. Not to be outdone by her sister, Madi Brotherton hit her second double of the game, sending home, Torix and courtesy runner Schnell. Ward gave up her only run of the game after walking a pair of batters, and giving up a single. The runner scored on the next play, a groundout to junior second baseman Kristen Kesterson. Mena went on to defeat 6A Russellville, 8-1.

Mena scored eight runs on eight hits and committed one error, while Russellville scored one run on four hits and had five errors. Ward threw 115 pitches, 72 for strikes (63%), through her complete game performance. Ward struck out eight and walked four. Kindrick also threw a complete game, throwing 89 strikes (66%) on 135 pitches. Kindrick struck out seven and walked three.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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