Oran blows past East Prairie 22-1 on Thursday

Oran's Amanda Williams connects for a home run on Thursday afternoon in East Prairie.
(Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)

sd_sports@yahoo.com

EAST PRAIRIE -- Amanda William's three-run home run in the top of the first was just the start of a big day offensively for the Oran Eagles Thursday afternoon when they visited the East Prairie Lady Eagles.

Already up by seven entering the fifth, Oran would rally for 14 more runs in the frame as they wrapped up the 22-1 win to move to 2-0 on the season.

"I thought they came out well," Oran coach Sara Heisserer said. "We got everybody an at-bat and I thought they all did good.

"We have a lot of upperclassman, but we have nine freshman also so we have a lot of youth on our team. To see them come out and do well I thought was a good thing for us."

Batting leadoff, Abbey Anderson started the game off for Oran with a single to right, followed by Addie Kielhofner walking to leave runners on first and second.

Next up to bat, Williams would send the above mentioned shot over the left field fence to give Oran an early 3-0 lead.

In cushioning its lead Oran would add another three in the second and two more in the fourth to widen their lead to 8-0.

Finally, after Oran starting pitcher Morgan Todt had pitched three perfect innings to start the game, East Prairie broke through with its one run in the bottom of the fourth.

Leading off the inning, Courtney Carden laid down a bunt forcing the catcher to make a quick throw to first.

On what would have been a close play anyway, Oran's catcher threw high, just out of the reach of the first baseman allowing the ball to sail toward the fence and leaving Carden at third.

Katie Byassee would step to the plate next, laying down a sacrifice bunt to score Carden and break up the shutout.

Unfortunately for East Prairie, Oran's 14-run fifth, in which they batted around the order twice, would easily put the game out of reach.

East Prairie loaded the bases but failed to score in the bottom of the fifth, ending the game on the ten-run mercy rule.

"That bad inning I think we gave them five extra outs," East Prairie coach Steve Stokes said. "That's what I was talking to my girls about. You can't give any anybody that, especially a team as good as they are.

"I was pleased with pretty well the first half of the game. After that I thought it got away from us a little bit."

For Oran, Todt picked up the win pitching a complete game. She gave up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Next up for Oran, the Lady Eagles take part in the Notre Dame Softballfest a week from today at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau.

With East Prairie's 5-2 loss to East Carter to open the season the Lady Eagles now stand at 0-2 on the season. They will visit Greenville next Thursday at 4 p.m.

Oran 330 2(14) - 22

East Prairie 000 1 0 - 1

WP -- Morgan Todt. LP -- Stephanie Morgan. Multiple hitters -- (O) Abbey Anderson 2-4, Amanda Williams 2-4, Halle Woodfin 2-2, Courtney Graviett 2-2. 2B -- (O) Anderson, Taylor Nenninger. HR -- (O) Williams.