Horton, Walker power Lions in rout of Bulldogs

Senath-Hornersville/Southland senior hitter Kaya Horton grimaces in pain after taking a pitch off of her hand against South Pemiscot on Tuesday at Indian Park in Kennett.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

KENNETT – It was not surprising to anyone just how productive Senath-Hornersville/Southland softball standout Kylie Walker was in her two games on Tuesday. However, what the Lions showed in their second of two games at Indian Park in Kennett was that they are far from a one-girl show.

Class 2 No. 10-ranked Senath-Hornersville/Southland dropped an 11-1 game against Class 2 No. 5-ranked Kennett but bounced back with an impressive 18-5 rout of South Pemiscot to close its day.

As expected, Walker was tremendous in both outings, however, so were a number of Lion players, including senior Kaya Horton.

“Kaya has had several good games (this spring),” Senath-Hornersville/Southland coach Melani Rooney said following the win. “I think she has a home run in about every game this year.”

Horton doesn’t quite have that achievement, but she’s close.

Both she and Walker each homered against the Bulldogs (3-7), which brought their season totals to five (Walker) and four (Horton), respectively.

“Yesterday in practice,” Rooney explained, “we hit 20 balls over the fence. We are capable of that. It’s just going to take us a little time to get in the routine and make adjustments.”

The Lions (2-2-1) and Bulldogs were tied at four runs entering the fourth inning before Senath-Hornersville/Southland exploded for five runs in the fourth inning and nine more in the fifth to finish the game.

Horton and Walker each had three hits in the win while Horton added three RBI and a pair of runs scored, and Walker tallied three RBI and three runs scored.

Rooney has several players, notably Walker, Horton, and senior Jada Burlison, who are athletic enough and versatile enough to play an array of positions.

In both games on Tuesday, Horton played both third base and shortstop, but at times this spring, she has played center field, pitched AND caught behind the plate.

“She is one who can play outfield,” Rooney said of Horton, “she can play the infield, and I’ve had her pitch a little bit.

“She’s a great catcher, too.”

Lion senior Emma Sample had a nice outing against South Pemiscot, as she had two hits, scored twice, and drove in a pair of runs while senior Annabelle Carlisle (three hits, two runs), sophomore Halle Jamerson (one run, one walk), Burlison (two hits, three runs, one RBI, one walk), junior Lyvana Reyes-Lopez (one hit, two runs, one RBI, two walks), junior Brennan Lane (three hits, two runs, three RBI), and senior Chloe Edmonston (one run, one RBI, one walk) were also productive.

Carlisle, Horton, Walker, and Reyes-Lopez each had doubles while Horton and Walker had seven total bases each.

Lane, senior Hayley Barksdale, Burlison, Horton, and Walker each stole a base, as well.

Burlison threw three innings in the start, as she allowed six hits, three earned runs, one walk, and struck out two batters.

Walker closed the game with two innings of work. She didn’t allow a hit while giving up one earned run, walking five, and notching a strike out.

South Pemiscot got a couple of hits from juniors Mataiya Phillips and Ta’Kylah Wooden while Phillips added three runs and an RBI, and Wooden had two RBI and a walk.

Bulldog junior Ayleighonna Farmer had a hit, one walk, and scored twice while senior Abigail Edwards (one hit, one RBI, one walk), junior Mia Gonzalez (one walk), junior Gracyn Trammel (one walk), and sophomore Jayleigh Leathers (one walk) also contributed.

Phillips had a couple of doubles while Edwards also had one.

Phillips also stole a pair of bases while Farmer and Trammel each had one theft.

Edwards worked 3 1/3 innings in the start and gave up eight hits, six earned runs, did not walk anyone, and struck out three.

Sophomore Mollie Moore closed the game by throwing the final inning.

Against Kennett, Walker had three hits, including a home run while Horton had a couple of hits.

Farmer, junior Khyla Edwards-Hunt, and freshman Maleaha Duckworth each tallied hits for the Bulldogs in a loss to Kennett.

South Pemiscot will visit Gideon (1-1) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and third-year coach Lance Crawford said he expects to have super sophomore Phoenix Simmons back in the lineup after she suffered an injury on Monday in a loss to Gosnell (Ark.).

The Lions will host Cooter (0-2) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.