Young Central softball team bows out of districts in opening round

~ Central fell into an early hole and lost to Sikeston 9-3

A combination of poor defense and a slow-to-adjust offense doomed the Central softball team in the opening round of the Class 4 District 1 tournament Wednesday.

The fourth-seeded Tigers committed seven errors and could not overcome an early deficit in a 9-3 loss to No. 5 Sikeston.

"We've come out and had games in which we've had no errors and then we'll come out in a game and we'll struggle defensively," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "That's something that we have to get better at next year. You know, teams that win championships are teams that play solid defense and that's something we've got to focus on."

The Sikeston duo of Sarah Hopson and Sydney Davied did most of the Bulldogs' offensive damage, providing four of the team's five hits.

Central's Chelsea Willett is tagged out at home plate by Sikeston catcher Sarah Dixon during the fourth inning of their Class 4 District 1 softball tournament game Wednesday afternoon in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Hopson reached base on an error to start the game and was driven in by Davied two batters later to put the Tigers in an early hole.

Hopson then hit a home run in each of her next two at-bats and scored four runs in the game while Davied, who also got the victory in the circle, finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs.

"I knew they had some good hitters," Central starter Kadie Orenstein said. "They came out and they were ready to hit today."

The Tigers fell behind 5-0 before scoring a run in the bottom of fourth inning on Samantha McLemore's double.

"Early in the game we weren't ready to swing the bats, and you have to go up to the plate aggressive and ready to swing the bats," Blattel said. "We were taking way too many strikes. When we finally started to get aggressive and attack her first strike, we started being successful."

Central added two more runs in the sixth inning before its rally was cut short by a base running mistake.

"We didn't hit the ball, and when you don't come out and hit the ball real well, that puts you in a rough position, but I thought they fought back at the end very well," Blattel said.

The loss ended Central's season at 8-13, but the Tigers will lose only two seniors from their roster.

"I think the expectations for our team are going to increase next year," Blattel said. "I think we're going to have ... maybe nine seniors coming in next year, so with a senior-heavy team the expectations increase greatly."

Orenstein and Bailey Kratochvil, a sophomore who replaced Orenstein in the circle Wednesday, will be back.

"Kadie's a freshman," Blattel said. "I thought she's done a good job all year long and she will continue to grow and continue to get better and continue to increase the number of pitches she's throwing and stuff."

Orenstein said she was nervous when she found out she would get the start but that she hoped the experience would help in the future.

"Hopefully today's game will make us want to work harder in the offseason and come out next season ready to play," Orenstein said.

Sikeston 220 113 0 -- 9 5 1

Central 000 102 0 -- 3 6 7

WP -- Sydney Davied. LP -- Kadie Orenstein. HR -- Sarah Hopson 2 (S), Sydney Davied (S). 2B -- Davied (S), Orenstein (C), Destiny Whitney (C), Samantha McLemore (C). Multiple hits -- Sikeston: Hopson 2-2, Davied 2-3. Records -- Central 8-13.