Whirlwind game day ends with two Holcomb softball wins

The Holcomb softball team picked up two more wins to add to their now 6-3 record – the first being a 23-1 rout of Clarkton on the road and the second a stressful back-and-forth 8-7 comeback over Twin Rivers at home.

“It was a long day of softball,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said with a laugh. “A lot of these girls are used to going long days, but it's tough being out of school and out of routine. Coming out and playing two games, traveling then coming back to your place, you just have to fight through whatever.”

__HORNETS VS REINDEER__

Holcomb wasted no time in setting the tone for their first short, three-inning stint on the road Monday. Kicking off a 13-run first inning, Ella Lemings singled on a fly ball and brought Ava Gurley and Kaetlyn Danley home.

Maleigh and Ella Lemings, Jules Gurley and Chloe Hendrix all crossed home plate before back-to-back home runs by the Lemings sisters brought four more runs. Libbey Callis scored on an error before the end of the first inning, giving the Hornets a substantial lead.

“We really came out hot with the bats in the Clarkton game,” Casper said. “We were patient at the plate and scored 13 runs in the first inning, so we gave our defense and pitching a good cushion. It was a good day at the plate for us, but we know we have to take pitches that are given to us and not try to do too much.”

Junior Jaden Bowen and freshman Ayla Lawrence shared time on the mound in the first game of the afternoon. Bowen started and pitched the first 1.2 innings. She threw 38 pitches, 21 strikes and three strikeouts while allowing one hit and one run.

Lawrence finished the game, pitching the final inning for 14 throws and six strikes, allowing two hits and no runs.

“We're trying to spread it around,” Casper explained of the Hornet pitching staff, “because we don't know who's going to be there at the end. They've all got to get experience in the circle and get some reps so that by the end of the season we've got it all figured out.”

Holcomb added three more runs in the second and seven more in the third to win 23-1 in three innings. Lexie Elizondo scored Clarkton's sole run in the second inning.

__HORNETS VS ROYALS__

And so Holcomb headed home with a predilection for facing increasingly intense competition. Their play slowed as defense went to work to contend with a more-than-capable Twin Rivers offense.

Still, Holcomb led the entire way, until the seventh inning.

Ava Gurley led Holcomb on the mound for the entirety of their second game. She threw 123 pitches and 57 strikes for two strikes. She allowed 12 walks, eight hits and seven runs with six errors – all a part of the plan.

Holcomb's Ava Gurley throws a pitch in the first inning of Monday's game against Twin Rivers.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“We have young pitching and they're learning at the same time we're trying to win games,” Casper said. “I wanted her to go deep and battle through adversity. I was content with her giving up a run or two just to see what we're made of.

“And man, we really responded with the bats, patience at the plate and got huge at bats when needed.”

Kaetlyn Danley got Holcomb's offense started in the first inning when she doubled on a line drive to bring Ava Gurley home. Soon after, Ella Lemings hit a ground ball that brought Danley in.

In the second, Twin Rivers' Layla Tompkins bunted and capitalized on an error which helped Mika Kirkman reach home plate. It would be the Royals' only run until the sixth inning.

The Hornets added one run in the third as Danley scored on an errant pitch – and they secured their fourth run in the fifth as Katelynn Sweaney made it in as Maleigh Lemings' fly ball was caught in the outfield.

Nothing was given Monday night, as Twin Rivers freshman pitcher Alexis Parson threw 12 strikeouts and walked none on 119 pitches.

“I think offensively, we're getting there,” Casper said. “Seeing pitching like that is going to do nothing but help us. We're hoping that our offense will continue to get better as I feel it has been. Defensively, we just know we have to be on point. Hopefully we'll just keep getting stronger defensively and carry over the offense as the year progresses.”

Holcomb still led 4-3 entering the seventh inning, but that would soon change with a massive Twin Rivers rally.

Lady Royal Abigail Suiter hit a single to start. Mika Kirkman and Layla Tompkins walked. Then with bases loaded, Reese Crimson was walked as well, bringing in Suiter.

And just like that, Charly Johnson hammered a fly ball to center field bringing in Kirkman, Tompkins and Crimson – claiming a 7-4 lead in the top of the seventh.

With more than a hint of resilience, Katelynn Sweaney and Ava Gurley both singled on their chances at bat. Maleigh Lemings hit a fly ball bringing Sweaney home to cut the deficit to two points.

With two outs, Gurley stole home on a wild pitch. Then Libbey Callis stepped up to the plate and tripled on a drive to right field and brought Lemings home to tie the game 7-7.

Holcomb's Jules Gurley steps up to bat against Twin Rivers Monday, April 3, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

As the Hornet dugout grew louder with encouragement, Jules Gurley stepped up, hit a walk off fly ball to right field and Callis scored to seal the deal.

“I can't say enough about them for not giving up,” Casper said. “That's an easy one to be deflated in after you give up the lead, then come back in the seventh inning and score as many runs as you did the whole game.”

Next, Holcomb travels to Advance Tuesday, Caruthersville Wednesday and hosts Naylor Thursday.