Tigers explode for 9-3 win in season opener

The Central High School softball team finished last season with a bang, winning the program's first district championship since 2004 and coming within an out of a sectional playoff victory.

With most of the key players from that squad returning, expectations are high for the Tigers this year.

Central did nothing to indicate its lofty goals aren't realistic during Wednesday's season opener.

The Tigers banged out 15 hits and displayed solid defense during a 9-3 home win over Perryville, which was also playing its first game of 2013.

"High expectations. ... We're working hard every day," senior ace pitcher Kadie Orenstein said.

Added junior catcher Sarah Kitchen: "We're expecting to have a good team."

Central coach Amy Blattel emphasized that the Tigers always set big goals.

"We have high expectations every year. We expect ourselves to be peaking at the right time," Blattel said. "I'm confident in our girls because they're working hard. It paid off today."

Central, which led just 4-3 through four innings before pulling away, cruised despite Orenstein admittedly not being on top of her game.

ABOVE LEFT: Kadie Orenstein allowed three runs on six hits, walked three and struck out five as Central won its season opener 9-3 over Perryville. ABOVE RIGHT: Junior center fielder Maddie Daum had two hits for the Tigers, who amassed 15 hits in the contest. (Adam Vogler)

"I definitely had my up and down innings," said Orenstein, the 2012 Southeast Missourian softball player of the year. "I knew my defense was behind me and our hitting would pull through."

Orenstein struggled early, allowing all three runs and all six hits Perryville amassed through the first four innings. She finished strong, retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.

"When Kadie needed to, she hit her spots," Kitchen said.

Orenstein struck out five, walked three and hit two batters.

"Offensively we picked Kadie up and the defense played well behind her," Blattel said.

Eight Central players produced hits, with six collecting at least two hits.

The Tigers also displayed impressive speed up and down the lineup, several times taking an extra base in addition to two stolen bases.

"We made some adjustments offensively during the game, which was key. I was proud of that," Blattel said. "I was very proud of the girls for being aggressive on the bases. That's instinct."

Kitchen led Central by going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Orenstein added two hits, including a triple. She had two RBIs and scored twice.

Also collecting two hits apiece were junior center fielder Maddie Daum, junior second baseman Amanda Webb, sophomore first baseman Brooke Anderson and freshman DP Sydney Tollison.

Webb delivered two RBIs and Tollison scored two runs.

"Overall I'm proud of our team, the way we played," Orenstein said. "We stuck with it one through seven [innings]."

Perryville coach Jeff Steffens also came away encouraged by his squad's performance as the Pirates try to bounce back from last year's 7-15 record that followed three consecutive winning seasons.

Cape Central pitcher Kadie Orenstein throws a strike to Perryville's Kailyn Fahnestock during the Tigers' 9-3 win over the Pirates Wednesday, Aug. 28, at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

The Pirates, who Steffens said started five freshmen a year ago, were missing six players Wednesday -- including several starters -- due to injury.

Perryville mostly put the ball in play against a pitcher that one-hit the Pirates last year during a 13-0 Central romp.

"A lot of jitters. ... We moved a lot of kids around," Steffens said. "I thought at the plate we did a good job. We put the ball in play. Last year she [Orenstein] shut us down. [Today] we had a lot of baserunners.

"We're still kind of young but we're learning and playing. We're hoping to get more than seven wins."

Perryville, which stranded seven runners through the first four innings, were led by Emma Nelson's two hits.

Kelcie Fahnestock was the losing pitcher. She allowed 14 hits and nine runs, seven earned, in five-plus innings. She struck out two and walked two.

"She didn't throw bad. She battled well, kept us in the game," said Steffens, whose squad was hurt by five errors compared to just one error by the Tigers.

The Pirates grabbed their only lead at 2-1 in the top of the third inning and forged a 3-3 tie on Nelson's RBI single in the fourth inning.

Central went ahead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Anderson led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on sophomore Megan Smith's bunt single and came home on Webb's RBI single that made it 4-3.

The Tigers broke things open with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

"A good opening game," Blattel said. "It was good to get our first win of the season and get the nerves out."

Both clubs are right back in action today, Central hosting Portageville and Perryville visiting Jackson.

Perryville 011 100 0 -- 3 6 5

Central 102 132 x -- 9 15 1

WP -- Kadie Orenstein. LP -- Kelcie Fahnestock. 3B -- Orenstein (C). Leading hitters -- Perryville: Emma Nelson 2-4. Central: Sarah Kitchen 3-4, Brooke Anderson 2-2, Amanda Webb 2-3, 2B, Maddie Daum 2-3, Orenstein 2-4, Sydney Tollison 2-4. Records -- Perryville 0-1, Central 1-0.