Lady Saints Dominate Colby

The Seward County Lady Saints picked up some momentum for the upcoming Region VI Tournament on Thursday by beating down the Colby Lady Trojans 7-3 and 13-4 in a doubleheader to improve to 43-11 overall on the year. 

The Lady Saints wasted no time getting their bats going in game one of the twinbill as their first three hitters of the 1^st inning picked up hits including a two RBI double from Becky Allen to quickly give them a 2-0 lead.  Later in the inning a Colby error gave Seward their third run of the frame and with two outs in the inning a single from Tiffanie Bolanos drove home another to make it 4-0 before Colby even had a chance to hit. 

The Lady Trojans didn't get down though and used a pair of walks followed by a three run home run to get right back in the game 4-3. 

Seward responded with another run in the 2^nd as Andrea Sitter singled to lead off the second straight inning and stole second before coming home on an RBI single from Pokey Ewell to make it 5-3 Lady Saints. 

The Lady Saints stretched their lead to 7-3 in the 3^rd as a pair of singles started the inning and a Colby error and a sacrifice fly pushed the two runs home to give Seward the four run advantage. 

Both teams had their scoring chances the next couple of innings as Colby left six on in their next three at bats and Seward left five on as the game remained 7-3 into the bottom of the 6^th. 

Colby made some more noise in the bottom of the 6^th, putting two on with one out, but a caught stealing killed their threat and the Lady Saints remained in front 7-3. 

Seward was unable to add an insurance run in the 7^th, but they wouldn't need it as Colby managed just a lone single in the bottom of the inning as Katelyn Craker slammed the door with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to seal the 7-3 win for the Lady Saints. 

Seward pounded out 13 hits in the victory and seven of nine starters had at least one hit in the win.  Ewell finished 3 for 4 with a run scored while Sitter was 2 for 4 with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored at the top of the lineup.  Craker earned her 20^th win of the season for the Lady Saints in the circle as she went the distance for Seward, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs while striking out 5. 

SEWARD COUNTY/COLBY GAME ONE BOX SCORE

It took a little while longer for the action to pick up in game two of the doubleheader as Seward and Colby both went without a hit through their first two at bats, but the Trojans were able to use a walk and a wild pitch to manufacture a run in the 2^nd to take a 1-0 lead. 

The Lady Saints responded by picking up their first two hits of the game in the 3^rd followed by a Colby error to tie the game at 1.  Following the defensive miscue, Seward took advantage by getting an RBI single from Marissa Chavez to score two more to make it 3-1 Lady Saints at the end of 3. 

Seward added to their lead in the 4^th as Joe Ann Rapoza singled and Vanessa Oakden launched a two run home run to make it 5-1.  Later in the frame another Colby error cost them a run to make it a 6-1 game. 

Lady Saints starter Jaclyn Wagner took a no hitter into the 4^th, but a walk followed by a two run home run ended that bid as Colby cut the Seward lead in half to 6-3. 

Seward loaded the bases in the 5^th but were unable to score as a groundout killed that threat, but a refocused Wagner struck out a pair and kept it a 6-3 game with a scoreless frame in the bottom of the inning. 

The Lady Saints 6^th inning started with back to back doubles from Felisha Vogelaar and Sitter to score a run and an error by Colby in the outfield made it an 8-3 game in favor of Seward.  Allen grounded out forcing home another Lady Saints run and with the bases clear, Chavez hit a solo shot to left to blow the game open to 10-3. 

While the Lady Trojans weren't hitting Wagner, her control was suspect, and after two more walks in the 6^th, Colby was again able to score without the benefit of a hit to cut the Lady Saints lead to 10-4. 

In the top of the 7^th Seward scored three more insurance runs on RBI knocks from Ewell, Allen, and Chavez to open things up to 13-4 and Wagner worked around a one out walk in the 7^th to post a scoreless frame to give the Lady Saints a 13-4 win. 

The Lady Saints finished with 14 hits in the contest while Colby managed just a single hit against Wagner.  Chavez had a big game, missing the cycle by just a triple as she was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's and Sitter was 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI's.  In the win Ewell was 2 for 5 and has now hit in 18 straight games for the Lady Saints.  Wagner went the distance in the circle for Seward to earn her 5^th victory of the season.  The freshman righthander allowed just 1 hit, the home run in the 4^th, and 2 earned runs while striking out 5. 

SEWARD COUNTY/COLBY GAME TWO BOX SCORE

The Lady Saints improve 43-11 on the year, marking their most wins since the 2010 season.  Seward is now 10-4 in Jayhawk West action.  Colby falls to 11-32 overall and 3-13 in Jayhawk West play. 

Colby will quickly turn from Seward enemies to the Lady Saints fan club on Friday as Seward wraps up their 2014 Jayhawk West slate against Barton.  If Seward beats Barton twice, Colby and Barton will tie for 4^th place in the Jayhawk West, if Barton nips the Lady Saints that will put Colby last in the conference standings.  The Lady Saints have already secured their 2^nd place finish in the Jayhawk West race.  They will play Garden City in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament next Saturday in Wichita.