Central debuts with a win

After scoring just one run on eight hits through five innings on Monday, Central's softball team found a way to improve its offensive production.

The Tigers made good use of four hits in the sixth, scoring six runs en route to a 7-4 victory over visiting Perryville in the season opener for both teams.

The Tigers outhit Perryville 12-6. Sirena Watkins, Christina Sexton and Jami Dement led the Tigers with two hits apiece.

"We definitely had some doubters that our varsity team could hit, but I think they're beginning to prove that wrong," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "I'm very pleased how we hit the ball in key situations, and different kids hit the ball."

Central and Perryville committed just one error apiece through five innings of a 1-1 game, but Perryville committed two fielding errors and made several mental mistakes in Central's six-run sixth inning. Sexton, Courtney Schuessler, Dement and Jamie Lester had RBIs in the inning.

"We had a couple of mental breakdowns and one error, but you can't blame things on one play," Perryville coach Dennis Glueck said.

Both teams squandered good scoring opportunities early in the game. Perryville had runners on second and third with one out in the first, but Central starter Kelsy Holloway struck out the next two batters to escape the jam.

The Pirates had the bases loaded with one out in the second and managed just one run on an RBI single by Alyssa Bauwens.

Central pulled even on an RBI single by Christina Sexton in the bottom of the second, but the Tigers failed to break the tie in the fourth despite having runners at second and third with one out.

Holloway picked up the win, allowing three runs and six hits in six-plus innings. She struck out seven, walked two and hit a batter.

"I thought she hung in there and stuck with it," Blattel said of her junior starter. "Definitely location was a little off, but she battled through it and in key situations got some key outs."

Central freshman Amanda Nichols made her varsity debut in the seventh in relief of Holloway. After Perryville had already scored a run on an RBI single by Krista Miesner, Nichols entered with two on and no outs. She allowed both inherited runners to score on wild pitches, but struck out two and did not allow a hit.

Blattel said with a five-run lead she thought it was a good situation to get the freshman her first taste of varsity action.

"It was pressure-filled, but if she would have gotten into trouble we could have pulled her," Blattel said.

Lindsey Schumer pitched all six innings for Perryville and took the loss. Offensively, Bauwens and Miesner each had two hits apiece for the Pirates.

"We usually start out slow, but I told the girls we can score some runs, and we have some good athletes," Glueck said.