Oran turns Senior Night in slugfest, routs Charleston

ORAN, Mo. — The hits, the runs, the cheers – it all came together for Oran on Wednesday, April 17.

It was a night of celebration and a hint of bittersweetness as the Lady Eagles (7-2) celebrated Senior Night with a 16-1 win over the Charleston Blue Jays (1-9) at Oran High School.

“Every once in a while, you get a class that are leaders for all four years,” said Oran coach Jim Eftink. “A lot of it was talent. They have a lot of talent. But they’re just four solid players and people.”

Oran�s Molly Spane (2) takes a swing during a 16-1 win over Charleston at Oran High School on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Charleston struck first, with Kari Murphy scoring on an error in the top of the first inning. But Oran roared back in the bottom of the inning. Molly Spane ignited the rally, singling to score Bralynn Morgan. The hits kept coming – a hit by pitch, a wild pitch, a single by Kolie Morgan, a single by Mari Fuemmeler, and a double by Spane – as Oran piled on eight runs.

The Eagles kept the momentum rolling. In the second inning, a Charleston error, Caroline Brashear’s single, another error, and Spane’s double pushed the lead to 14-1.

“We hadn’t played in over a week and our girls were ready to play,” Eftink said. “They were tired of practicing and we’re ready to compete.”

Oran's Kolie Morgan (11) throws a pitch during a 16-1 win over Charleston on Senior Night on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Oran closed out the run-rule victory in the third with Bella Sitz’s double bringing in two final runs.

Kolie Morgan earned her first varsity win on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings. Burger picked up the save in her first varsity pitching appearance allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out one in the final inning.

“We have two pitchers that had never thrown an inning in high school,” Eftink said. “I got exactly what I wanted out of them. They did an excellent job and our defense stepped up today. They threw strikes and let their defense work for them. Defensively, that was probably the best we have looked all year.”

Oran will compete in the Swing Pink Invitational against Senath-Hornersville (7-5-1), Twin Rivers (8-4) and Scott City (10-5) at Dexter High School on Saturday, April 20.

“We have some tough games coming up,” Eftink said. “We know we’re going to get tested and we’ll see what we are made of.”

__ORAN 16, CHARLESTON 1, F/3__

Charleston 100 xxx x — 1 1 3

Oran 862 xxx x — 16 12 1

W—Kolie Morgan. L—Bailey Eastman. 2B—Charleston: Soma Hooper; Oran: Bella Sitz, Molly Spane.