Winning back-to-back games in as many days, the Chanute Blue Comets run-ruled the Parsons Vikings, 16-0, in SEK League softball action on Tuesday before turning around beating the Humboldt Cubs, 4-3, on Wednesday at home.
Against the Vikings on Tuesday, Chanute notched 14 hits while Avery Dean earned the win in the circle.
“The biggest takeaway was the girls’ resilience and ability to bounce back after some very tough losses to a talented McPherson team,” Chanute head coach Mary Reilly said.
Brynna Peter had four hits and scored three runs for the Blue Comets against Parsons.
“Brynna is a young, promising player who aims to contribute to all sides of the ball,” Reilly said. “She adjusts during her plate appearances and finds ways to get on base.”
Dean threw a pair of innings in the win while AnnaKate Noonan and Emily Cunningham each tossed a frame.
“Anytime you can rotate the defense while changing who’s in the circle, it shows versatility,” Reilly said. “The ladies know that we’ll be called to play several positions and they don’t take those responsibilities lightly.”
In Wednesday’s one-run victory against Humboldt, Chanute’s entire offense came in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Blue Comets had seven hits while Humboldt had six.
Dean tossed a complete game in the win.
“The major differences were the adjustments we made at the plate, our approaches at the plate and Dean in the circle,” Reilly said. “She was able to make the changes necessary to hit spots and give the defense groundouts and flyouts. Humboldt jumped on us so we had to make a decision to either lay down or fight back.”
Peter, Ava Teichgraeber and Aly Splecther had two hits apiece. Splechter’s two hits were a double and a triple out of the eight-hole.
“Aly is a young player who will find ways to contribute,” Reilly said. “We like the end of the lineup to be players who can propel us back to the top again and she is shining in that role. She continues to improve at the plate and she was more selective the deeper we got into the game.”
For Humboldt, Laney Hull had three hits in the loss while Jo Ellison ate the loss in the circle, pitching 2.2 innings of relief while allowing four hits and one run.
Chanute is now 4-2 on the season.
“We started the season with a good, tough jamboree and saw some good competition to work out our kinks,” Reilly said. “I’m hoping the wins propel us into some stout league competition. We know we’ll have to compete and scratch for every win — everything will be earned. We’re looking forward to continual improvement.”
Up next
Chanute travels to Paola on Friday.
