Orenstein, Central softball team get better of Jackson

The third time was the charm for the Central High School softball team.

Central avenged two earlier losses to rival Jackson by beating the host Indians 7-3 on Wednesday night.

"It was nice," Central sophomore Kadie Orenstein said. "After losing those two, we were really fired up for this."

Orenstein's strong pitching and a four-run sixth inning in which both Central hits never left the infield turned the trick.

Orenstein, the losing hurler in the previous meetings with Jackson, allowed seven hits while going the distance. She struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.

"I worked on mixing it up," Orenstein said. "My changeup was working for me."

Orenstein encountered her biggest trouble in the fifth inning when Jackson scored three times to wipe out Central's 3-0 lead.

Orenstein issued her only walk and hit her only batter in that frame, which led to Jackson's two-out rally that featured a two-run double by junior Mollie Crader and an RBI single by junior Brooke Whitledge.

"Kadie did a really good job," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "She got into a little trouble in the fifth inning but came back, kept her composure and finished strong.

"The first two times we played them she struggled hitting her spots. Today she was able to hit her spots. And we played really good defense behind her."

That wasn't lost on Orenstein. The Tigers (10-11) committed just one error, on a mishandled throw that allowed a runner to move up a base but did not cause any damage.

"We played great defense behind me," Orenstein said.

Central responded immediately after Jackson (10-12) wiped out the Tigers' advantage.

The big sixth inning featured four walks, a hit batter and two infield singles. All four runs scored with two outs.

Freshman Winnie Smee drew a leadoff walk, freshman Amanda Webb sacrificed, senior Brooke Baugher walked and freshman Madison Daum got an infield single to load the bases.

Orenstein's two-out infield single -- she beat out a slow ground ball to third base -- brought home the go-ahead run.

A wild throw on Orenstein's hit made it 5-3. Daum came in on a passed ball. Two more walks reloaded the bases, and senior Chelsea Willett was hit by a pitch to force home the inning's final run.

"We were patient that inning," Blattel said.

Central's first three runs came in a third inning that featured four hits. Orenstein delivered an RBI double, freshman Sarah Kitchen had an RBI single and senior Lexi Smith added a sacrifice fly.

"It feels good," Smith said about beating Jackson. "I think we played a really good game. We came out and hit the ball, we played solid defense and she [Orenstein] did a great job."

Orenstein, Kitchen and junior Bailey Kratochvil all had two of Central's nine hits. Orenstein scored twice to go with her two RBIs. Daum also scored a pair of runs.

"I thought the kids came out and executed well. I was proud of them," said Blattel, whose young squad started four freshmen Wednesday.

Whitledge went 3 for 4 to lead Jackson's seven-hit attack. Crader added two hits.

Sophomore Mallory Jones took the loss, allowing eight hits and all seven runs over 5 2/3 innings. She struck out four, walked six and hit a batter.

Sophomore Julia Lincicum finished with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

"They were ready to play," Jackson coach Amanda Forester said about Central. "They put the bat on the ball, and we made some mistakes."

Central 003 004 0 -- 7 9 1

Jackson 000 030 0 -- 3 7 3

WP -- Kadie Orenstein. LP -- Mallory Jones. 2B -- Orenstein (C), Brooke Whitledge (J), Mollie Crader (J), Shanda Reed (J). Multiple hits -- Central: Orenstein 2-4, Bailey Kratochvil 2-3, Sarah Kitchen 2-3. Jackson: Whitledge 3-4, Crader 2-4. Records -- Central 10-11, Jackson 10-12.