Lady Indians cage Tigers, Wilson smashes school record

Lady Indian Baylee Wilcut is tagged out at third Thursday at Indian Park. Wilcut stole second and aimed for third as the undefeated Lady Indians took out the Risco Lady Tigers 11-0.

Photo by Steve Hankins

KENNETT, Mo. - Not only did the undefeated Lady Indians (11-0) softball team blank the Risco Lady Tigers (5-4-1) at Indian Park 11-0, the Kennett team's DH for Thursday's game smashed a school record.

The Lady Indians' No. 8, senior Hadley Wilson, owns a new Kennett High School record.

Hadley Wilson at the plate Thursday at Indian Park.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“I thought I hit pretty well,” a humble Wilson said postgame.

“You did break that record,” Lady Indians head softball coach Logan Dollins told her. “You broke the all-time Kennett RBI record.”

The new number Wilson established Thursday is 164 RBIs, Dollins said.

“I was pleased with the win,” Dollins said. “I thought Emma Claire Bodkin came out and pitched a really, really good game.

Lady Indian DH Hadley Wilson is pointed home as she rounds third base Thursday at Indian Park. Wilson blasted a ball out of Indian Park and set a new Kennett High School record for Softball RBIs.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“I thought we played really good defense behind her,” he added. “I thought our lineup got going. We had some big swings.”

Indeed.

The Lady Indians' Lynnley Patterson, Emma Tinnin and Wilson all dug deep, waited for the right pitch and blasted home runs.

Kennett Lady Indians pitcher Emma Clair Bodkin hurls a nugget toward home plate Thursday at Indian Park.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“They all got into one and drove them out of the ballpark,” Dollins noted. “Up and down the lineup, everybody produced.

“Everybody had opportunities to make differences in the game,” the coach continued. “And, they did.”

Bodkin agreed, and offered props to her teammates.

Kennett High School Lady Indians hurler Emma Claire Bodkin warms up Thursday at Indian Park.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“I think it all matters on the defense behind,” Bodkin said, “I think I was hitting my spots pretty well.

“But overall, it was the defense behind that made the difference today,” the winning pitcher continued. “My hits weren't the best. I never made base.”

That might have been true for the winning pitcher.

Kennett Lady Indians pitcher Emma Claire Bodkin works the ball against a Risco Lady Tigers batter Thursday at Indian Park.

Photo by Steve Hankins

But not for Baylee Wilcut who went three-for-three on the day.

Wilcut added some excitement to the contest late in the game when she stole second base on a well-hit ball and took off toward third.

“I saw the catcher had the ball behind the plate,” Wilcut said. “I thought I had plenty of time and I just went.”

Lady Indians Hadley Wilson at bat against a Risco pitcher Thursday at Indian Park. Wilson set a new Kennett High School record for 164 RBIs.

Photo by Steve Hankins

And what was she thinking when she slid into third face-first??

“Oh,” she giggled, knowingly. “I'm out.”

The Lady Indians' catcher Emma Tinnin had a good day, including that over-the-fence home run.

Kennett Lady Indian Baylee Wilcut loses her helmet as she's tagged out at third Thursday at Indian Park. Wilcut added to the game's excitement by stealing second and was tagged out attempting to steal third.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“I really just stayed back on the ball and put it in play,” she said. “I swung the bat well my first at bat.”

Patterson, who went yard along with Tinnin and Wilson, started at right field and moved later to first base.

Patterson said she tried to stay back on the ball.

“Not a lot happening for me in the field,” Patterson said. “Not a lot of balls were hit my way.

Lady Indian first base/right fielder Lynnley Patterson is welcomed home after her home run blast Thursday at Indian Park.

Photo by Steve Hankins

“I had a couple of good hits,” she added. “I just got lucky with one and hit it out.”

Dollins said the Lady Tigers are tough competitors.

“They are a quality bunch,” Dollins said of the squad. “I knew coming in they're always a handful.

“So we just came out and performed at a high level,” he continued. “I thought we did what we were supposed to do today.”

The Lady Indians have a tough road schedule ahead and played Friday, April 5, against the undefeated Diamonds (14-0) and Mount Vernon (9-3). The Lady Indians play away at Valle Catholic (4-2) and West County (4-0) today, Saturday, April 6. The Lady Indians welcome Gosnell, Ark., at 4:30 p.m. April 9 at Indian Park.

The Risco Lady Tigers travel to Essex to play Richland (0-2) at 4:30 p.m. April 16.