Seniors keep Scott City softball above .500

Led by their four seniors, the Scott City softball team has strung together a three-game winning streak to return to over .500 with a record of 6-4.

The Rams grounded the Blue Jays of Oak Ridge 13-1 on Wednesday and battered the Bravettes of Scott County Central 23-0 on Monday after mustering up a win at Malden on March 28.

The Lady Rams have won at least 60 percent of their games every year since 2014. They’re a young team with only four seniors, but that group is pivotal to their goals of maintaining that trend and winning their first district title since 2021.

“That four-senior group has really been big for us,” said Scott City head coach Morgahn Petersen.

It all starts with the ace Mackenzie Lawless, who allowed only one run on two hits with four strikeouts over five innings against Oak Ridge. Prior to Wednesday, Lawless surfed the Green Wave at Malden on March 28, allowing three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts in a full seven innings during a 6-3 win. She also started the season in a shortened 11-1 win at home over Greenville on March 15, in which she struck out eight batters over five one-hit innings.

“I love catching Mackenzie,” fellow Scott City senior Gracie Karrenbrock said. “She's very good at hitting the spots that Coach Petersen makes me call. She's good at fielding even if the ball is hit back right at her.”

Lawless has also been a force at the plate this season. Serving as the cleanup hitter for most of the season, she is batting .586 (17-for-29) with 12 RBIs.

“She's been a big asset,” Peterson said. “She’s got a couple different roles when she's not on the mound. She pops in a couple of different places and she is a really good leader to have on the team. She makes things happen at the plate and she's a tough out.”

Alyssa Dirden helped lead the domination on the mound and at the plate on Monday. She pitched three perfect innings with eight strikeouts and also hit a triple during a 3-for-3 night with four RBIs.

After a two-hit and two-RBI night against Oak Ridge, Dirden is batting .382 (13-for-34) with 11 RBI.

Peterson said earlier in the season that the plan is to build her arm up to a place where she can join Lawless as a 1-2 pitching punch.

“We're kind of getting her back into the swing of things of starting with being out with a knee injury for a year,” Peterson said.

Karrenbrock has been a reliable catcher and a solid leadoff hitter for the Rams. Through the first 10 games of the season, Karrenbrock is batting .428 (12-for-28) with three RBIs.

“Gracie Karrenbrock always does a really good job for us behind the plate,” Peterson said. “She shows up on defense and offense. She’s fast on the base paths. She’s a tough out too. She’s a good leader to have back there.”

Harley Glueck is also a solid outfielder who has a .400 batting average (12-for-30) with 10 RBIs.

“Harley Glueck has been really big at the plate for us,” Peterson said.

Scott City will travel to Bernie on April 8.