The McDonald County Lady Mustangs softball team avenged two early-season losses on the way to the finals of the Carthage High School Softball Tournament before falling to Ozark in the championship game.
McDonald County opened the tournament with a 12-0 win over Belton on Sept. 29. Alexis Hopkins allowed just one-hit in the four-inning game while the Lady Mustangs pounded out 10 hits in just four innings.
McDonald County blew the game open by scoring six runs in the first inning, keyed by Maddie Colvin's grand slam. After being held scoreless in the second inning, and to just one run in the third, the Lady Mustangs ended the game with a five-run fourth.
Rita Santillan led the Lady Mustangs with two hits while Cloee Helm, Kylie Helm, Whitney Kinser, Maddie Colvin, Kenzie Stephens, Katie Kester, Chloe Colvin and Hopkins had one hit each.
In the quarterfinals, McDonald County beat Monett 8-2 to avenge a 5-1 loss earlier in the week for the Big 8 Conference championship.
Facing Webb City in the semifinals, Hopkins shut out the Lady Cardinals on five hits to lead McDonald County to a 7-0 win to avenge a 9-3 loss on Sept. 25.
The Lady Mustangs scored a run in the first, one in the third, then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth.
Santillan, Kylie Helm, Kinser and Kaylee Cornell each had two hits to lead the McDonald County offense, while Cloee Helm had the final McDonald County hit.
In the championship game, a rematch of last year's sectional game at MCHS, Ozark scored four runs in the first inning and made them hold up in a 4-1 win. Hopkins took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in one inning before Cornell shut out the Lady Tigers over the next five innings on just three hits.
McDonald County pounded out 10 hits, but managed to score just one run. Cloee Helm had three hits to and Cornell had two lead McDonald County. Kylie Helm, Kinser, Maddie Colvin, Stephens and Chloe Colvin added one hit each.
McDonald County finishes the regular season with a 20-10 record. The Lady Mustangs began district play on Oct. 3 against Carthage at Carthage High School. The tournament finals are slated for Oct. 6.
Webb City
The Lady Cardinals handed McDonald County a 9-3 loss on Sept. 25 at MCHS. Hopkins took the loss, allowing eight runs in five and a third innings before Cornell worked the final inning and two-thirds, giving up one run on two hits.
Chloe Colvin had two of the Lady Mustangs' six hits while Cloee Helm, Santillan, Kylie Helm and Maddie Colvin had one hit each.
Monett
Monett scored four runs in the top of the seventh to claim a 5-1 over McDonald County on Sept. 26 in a showdown for the Big 8 Conference championship.
Hopkins and Monett's Josie Allcock were locked in a pitcher's duel before the Lady Cubs scored four runs on five hits in the seventh.
Allcock held McDonald County to one run on five hits. Kylie Helm had two of the Lady Mustangs' hits while Cloee Helm, Kester and Chloe Colvin had the other three.
Republic
Republic handed McDonald County its third consecutive loss with a 7-0 win on Sept. 28 at Republic High School.
Hopkins gave up two runs in the first before Cornell allowed five runs over the final five innings.
McDonald County was shut out on just two hits, one by Santillan and one by Kylie Helm.
Sports on 10/05/2017