Veterans softball defeat Mary Persons to improve to 5-0

KATHLEEN — The Veterans Lady Warhawks remain undefeated after a home win against the Mary Persons Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday. 

Veterans dominated, winning 12-0 in a four-inning run rule.

Sophomore Maddy Kinkade spent all four innings on the mound for the Lady Warhawks.

Kinkade got off to a mixed start in the first inning. Two batters reached base after being hit by pitch. However, two timely strikeouts held the Lady Bulldogs from scoring.

Veterans’ bats were active in the bottom of the first, but only Kharisma Whitemanaged to reach base with a fence-clattering single to center field.

At the top of the second, Kinkade still struggled to hone in her pitching, eventually walking two. A strikeout from Kinkade and excellent middle infield play from short-stop White and second baseman Kalleigh Stokes kept those runners from scoring.

In the bottom of the second, the Lady Warhawks took advantage of a walk, an error, and a hit to load the bases. Back-to-back drawn walks from Rayven Hodridge andBraylin Horton put Veterans up 2-0. However, a solid stand from the Mary Persons defense retired the Lady Warhawks with the bases loaded.

Veterans’ defense held firm again in the top of the third, and their offense exploded with a five-run bottom of the third. The scoring was initiated by a two-RBI double to the right-field corner from freshman Bella Finley. Veterans scored three more in this ten-batter inning, making the score 7-0. 

After another sound inning from the Veterans defense, the Lady Warhawks rallied again and scored five more in the bottom of the fourth. Being up twelve runs after four innings initiated the run-rule and they were granted the 12-0 victory.

Contributions from young players defined this game. Kinkade ended with four strikeouts in her two-hit shutout. Additionally, Finley played excellent behind the plate in addition to her two hits and two RBIs. Given this Veterans roster only has two seniors, strong performances from young players will be crucial for long-term success. Kinkade and Finley proved they can provide those performances.

Veterans coach Jeff Sans commented on their undefeated start: “I’m feeling good, but we try not to get arrogant, we still have some holes and we had some mistakes tonight, but hey, the start is pretty good.”

With region play quickly approaching, Sans assured that the Lady Warhawks are still using these non-region games to give people experience and work out kinks in their lineup. 

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In this light, he noted to expect a group pitching effort in Vereran’s matchup at Perry on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.