Lady Indians blank Lady Green Wave in C2D1 semi, face East Prairie Eagles for title

MALDEN, Mo. - The Lady Indians are on their way to a championship title.

The Kennett softball team (22-8) traveled to Malden Monday to compete in the Missouri State High School Athletics Association (MSHSAA) Class 2 District 1 Tournament semifinal matchups.

The Lady Indians made quick work of the Lady Green Wave (14-16) 16-0 to advance to Tuesday's final game against a surprising East Prairie Eagles squad (14-13-1) that took out a successful Portageville Lady Bulldogs team (19-9) 7-6 at Monday's contests.

Malden Lady Green Wave pitcher Alyssa Broom winds up Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

The Kennett team is on a three-game winning streak and have totaled 48 points to the opponent's one. The Lady Indians blanked Dexter 15-0 Saturday, Malden 16-0 Monday and defeated Greenville 17-1 on April 30.

The squad's depth and talent were demonstrated absolutely by two over-the-fence blasts during the four-inning spectacle, solid defense and an amazing pitching effort.

The team faced Malden's veteran sophomore hurler, starter Alyssa Broom in the circle. Broom won All-District and All Conference honors her freshman year at Malden. Her record is one of the best in the conference, and the Lady Indians spared nothing in attempts to ruin that.

Kennett Lady Indians' uber-talented Hadley Wilson eyes her bat Monday at the C2D1 Tournament semifinal game against Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

Both Kynsly McCaig and catcher Emma Tinnin launched out-of-the-park balls, McCaig's in the bottom of the first inning that scored three runs and Tinnin's in the bottom of the fourth that scored two. McCaig's screamer followed Hadley Wilson's single in the first that scored one.

“I was just ready to come out and play today,” McCaig said postgame. “I love the game of softball.

“It's always been something my dad has taught me to love,” she added. “I just come out and play my hardest. When I make mistakes, I just have to get by those and continue to play, even if I'm struggling or having a bad day. We just move on to the next stuff.”

Hadley Wilson lets one go by Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

Her home-run knock was out of the ordinary for McCaig, she said.

“That was my first home run this year,” McCaig said. “I think I got an RBI off that.

“I saw that pitch coming and knew it was one I could drill down on,” she continued. “I knew it was one I could connect on and help my team out. It was something that came easy. Probably if I had thought about it, not so easy. Today though, it came easy. I felt the power off my bat and knew it was gone instantly.”

Kennett Lady Indians pitcher Handley McAtee eyes third after her teammate Hadley Wilson knocked a screamer into left Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

The Lady Indians scored two runs in the second off the barrels of Tinnin and Emma Claire Bodkin and tallied eight runs on seven hits in the fourth.

Those runs came from a Kaydee Taylor single that scored two, a Lauren Barton single that scored one, a Wilson single that scored one, Tinnin's homer that scored two and Handley McAtee's single that scored two.

“I've hit six or seven home runs this season,” Tinnin said. “Tomorrow in the final game I'm just gonna help my pitcher and help my team make plays behind her.

Kennett Lady Indian Handley McAtee heads for third while Malden outfielders jump on Hadley Wilson's hit as it comes off the left field fence Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

“Handley (McAtee) is a good pitcher,” she added. “I play travel ball with her.

“So that helps a lot coming into high-school season,” she added. “I know where she pitches and how she does it. She's just a really good pitcher and we're great friends.”

McAtee's pitching was fire and her backup in the field was undeniable. She surrendered just one hit during the contest, no runs, struck out five batters and walked two in her quest for Monday's W and offensively went four-for-four at the plate.

Handley McAtee scores Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

All that pleased Lady Indians softball head coach Logan Dollins.

“I'm super proud of their efforts,” the head coach said. “Handley (McAtee) came out and threw a really good game.

“She commanded the strike zone,” he added. “Offensively, I thought we struggled a little bit against Dexter. We hit the ball hard, but just didn't have great at-bats. Up and down the lineup today I thought we had good intentions to hit the ball hard. I thought we swung extremely well today.”

Kennett Lady Indian Emma Claire Bodkin avoids a little chin music Monday at the C2D1 Tournament at Malden. Photo by Steve Hankins

Defensively?

“I thought we played a really good defensive game today,” Dollins said. “We fielded routine plays well and consistently. I'm just super proud of their efforts.”

And two blazing home runs?

The Kennett Lady Indians welcome home Kynsly McCaig after her three-run scorcher over the left field fence Monday at the C2D1 Tournament at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

“You know, we have a really powerful club,” Dollins noted. “The biggest thing that we really focus in on is just trying to hit the ball hard.

“If it goes out of the ballpark, it goes out of the ballpark,” he continued. “If not, our goal is to get on base and move to the next batter and have faith. All 13 of our girls are capable at any given time to come up, square the ball up and score runs.”

There's no self-service to be found on the Lady Indians team, coach explained.

Kennett Lady Indians party at the plate with teammate Kynsly McCaig as she crosses home after her three-run shot over the left field fence Monday at Malden.Photo by Steve Hankins

“I'll say this, and I've said it all year,” noted. “We have a really selfless group here.

“They're willing to give up an at bat to move someone over,” he added. “Because we do have such depth in our lineup, we can get a hit, regardless of who's up.”

Tuesday's matchup, the Lady Indians against the Eagles, isn't the first time Dollins and crew exited the tourney as winners.

The Kennett Lady Indians face the East Prairie Eagles for the C2D1 championship title Tuesday at Malden. The Eagles are jubilant here after the 7-6 win over favored Portageville.Photo by Steve Hankins

“We've won this tournament a couple of times,” Dollins said. “But Tuesday is a big day for us.

“The thing about playoff softball is you can't come out and have a bad day,” Dollins added. “So, we gotta come out and keep the same energy we had today. Hopefully, we'll come out and keep rolling.”