Surprise standouts help Oran to dominate in a 17-7 win over Woodland

WOODLAND, Mo. — The Class 1, fourth-ranked Oran softball team continued its winning ways with a victory at Woodland on Monday, May 1.

The Lady Eagles (17-6) showcased the team’s depth and talent in the 17-7 win over the Cardinals (7-6), as unexpected heroes stepped up to deliver key performances.

“We got some key hits from the bottom of the order,” said Oran coach Jim Eftink. “There were a couple of times our three and four batters were intentionally walked and Delaini Bryant and Caroline Brashears came through with some big hits.”

The opening moments of the game were marked by series setbacks for Oran, who found itself on its back foot after Woodland took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

“Woodland’s players are young but hungry,” Eftink said. “They were aggressive in the first inning and we came out flat and lethargic. That deficit woke us up.”

Those Cardinal runs came when Brooklyn Barks hit a home run to score Rhodie Long and Rylee Cureton, and Janelle Deziray Fox scored on an error.

The Lady Eagles narrowed the lead to 4-2 in the top of the second inning after Caroline Brashears doubled to score Ava Forehand and Brashears scored on ground out.

Brashears finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI, and one run.

“[Brahsears] hit a ball that was probably as hard of a hit as she’s ever had,” Eftink said. “She’s been red hot for about a week now.”

Woodland increased the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the inning after Baylee Whitener-Cowell scored on a single by Cureton.

However, Oran came right back and tied it 5-5 in the top of the third inning after Kendall Burger scored on an error, Molly Spane scored on ground out and Dalaini Bryant scored on a wild pitch.

The Lady Eagles gained their first lead in the top of the fourth inning after Lily Knotts doubled to score Bralynn Morgan and Bryant singled to score Allison Burke and Knotts, making it 8-5.

The Cardinals tried to chip away at the lead with one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, but Oran ended the game on a strong note, scoring four runs in the sixth inning and five runs in the seventh inning.

The Lady Eagles' sixth-inning runs came after Burger scored on a bases-loaded walk, Burke and Knotts scored on an error and Bryant scored on a passed ball.

The team’s seventh-inning runs came after Burger scored on a single by Knotts, Burke scored on a single by Bryant, Knotts scored on a passed ball, Bryant scored after a batter was hit by a pitch with bases loaded, and Forehand scored on a passed ball.

Bryant finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs, a stolen base and three runs; Burger went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and three runs; and Knotts finished 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and three runs.

“[Burger] is like a second leadoff batter for us,” Eftink said. “She knows the strike zone and doesn’t chase many bad pitches. She’s smart at the plate and has adjusted her batting stance and approach at the plate and it’s paying off.”

Molly Spane earned her 10th win of the season on the mound after pitching five innings and allowing one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.

Knotts threw the final two innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts and three walked batters.

Oran will conclude its regular season by hosting Ste. Genevieve (15-6) on Tuesday, May 2.

The Lady Eagles received the No. 2 seed in the MSHSAA Class 1, District 2 Tournament, and will take on seventh-seeded Leopold (2-9) on Friday, May 5 at Advance High School.

Woodland will host Valle Catholic (13-3) on Tuesday, May 2, and travel to Oak Ridge (8-5) on Thursday, May 4.

The Cardinals received the No. 8 seed in the Class 2, District 2 Tournament and will take on top-seeded West County (19-3) at Woodland High School on Saturday, May 6.

__ORAN 17, WOODLAND 7__

Oran 023 304 5 — 17

Woodland 410 110 0 — 7 6 5

W—Molly Spane. L—Rhodie Long. 2B—Oran: Caroline Brashears (2), Spane, Lily Knotts; Woodland: Janelle Deziray Fox. HR—Woodland: Brooklyn Barks.