Roper, Advance/Bell City SB close out regular season in strong fashion

There can’t possibly be a more potent or intimidating softball squad entering the MSHSAA postseason than Advance/Bell City.

The Hornets improved to 17-2 on Tuesday by closing out the regular season with a 10-0 beating of a very solid New Madrid County Central squad at Advance, and over their final four games, the Hornets outscored the opposition an astounding 72-0.

Several Advance/Bell City players have been critical throughout this dominating spring, including senior first baseman Natalee Roper.

“Natalee is an excellent first baseman, defensively,” veteran Hornet coach James Hamlin said. “She can stretch and do some crazy things. She can catch the balls and get some outs that you are amazed when she does that.”

Roper is every bit as effective offensively as she is fielding, which was evident against the Eagles (12-9).

She connected for a double and drove in four runs in the win.

“She puts the ball in play,” Hamlin continued on Roper. “She is just an overall good player in all aspects.

“She does everything and works hard.”

Advance/Bell City jumped on New Madrid County Central quickly by scoring four runs in the first inning courtesy of hits by sophomore Brogan Wright-Hawkins, junior Addi Carlton, a double by senior Kaylee Cline, and freshman Maleaha Polley.

Hawkins finished with two hits, three runs, an RBI and a walk while Carlton (two hits, two runs), Cline (one hit, two runs, one RBI, one walk), senior Maggie Stubenrauch (two hits, two runs), Polley (one hit, one walk), freshman Rylee Roper (two RBI), and sophomore Ava Bowling (one hit, one run) also contributed.

Bowling, Roper, and Cline each had doubles in the win while Hawkins banged out a triple.

Cline and Stubenrauch added stolen bases, as well.

Carlton threw all five innings and gave up just one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck out nine.

Eagle sophomore Emma Howard had the lone hit in the loss while freshman Aubrey Aycock drew the only walk for New Madrid.

Eagle sophomore Joebeth Riley threw 3 1/3 innings, walked two, and struck out one while giving up seven hits.

Aycock closed the game and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning.

New Madrid County Central closes out its best regular season in seven years and will face East Prairie (10-13-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Tournament at Malden.

Advance/Bell City will host Meadow Heights (5-11) on Friday at 4 p.m. in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 Tournament.