Grizzly bats electrify in dominant road sweep over Pratt

Story by Wyatt Ebersole 

The Butler Softball team grabbed a pair of crushing wins on Saturday on the road against the Pratt Beavers, 24-4 in game one, and 24-0 in game two. The wins for the Grizzlies improve their record to 25-7 overall and 16-2 in conference play. The pair of wins for the Grizzlies and a loss by Hutchinson to Colby, means that the Grizzlies have moved into a first place tie with Hutchinson in the conference standings. 

Game 1

The Grizzlies hung runs on the board early and often in game one against Pratt, scoring at least two runs in each inning of game one. After each side plated two in the first, the Grizzly bats caught fire, bringing in a monstrous 20 runs over the next four innings to take a huge 22-2 lead over the Beavers heading into the fifth. In the fourth inning alone, the Grizzlies scored a shocking 12 runs on the Beavers. Each side again score two runs in the fifth inning, but the Grizzlies had done more than enough to secure a run-rule win, taking game one 24-4 in five innings. 

The Grizzly offense was highlighted by Kendyl Anderson and Reece Briggs who each went 3-3 at the plate and each recorded a home run in game one.

Ryanna Valdivia and Briona Woods also had three hits in the game, going 3-4 and 3-5 respectively. 

Valdivia led the Grizzlies in RBIs in game one with four and Briggs led the Grizzlies in runs scored with three.

Allyson Montgomery had another great outing on the year. She threw four innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits, while striking out ten Beaver batters. This was her sixth time this year striking out ten or more batters in a game. 

Game 2 

Game two was much of the same for the Grizzly offense, as they once put runs in every inning, highlighted by scoring seven runs in the fifth inning, and six runs in the second inning. 

Starting pitcher Emma Koeneke and reliever Cheyenne Handsaker threw a complete game shutout in game two. In the win, Koeneke had thrown a perfect first three innings, before a hit by pitch broke the perfect game bid.

Reece Briggs continued to see the ball well in game two, as she again went a perfect 3-3 at the plate, and she hit the only Grizzly home run of game two. Kendyl Anderson also had a great game two, going 3-4 with three RBIs, and she came across to score three times. Aly Hageman led the Grizzlies in hits in the game with four, going 4-5 with two RBIs, and two runs scored. Cady Dickey led the Grizzlies in RBIs in game two with five. Jakeyla McDaniel was a terror on the basepaths, stealing four bags in the game. 

The Grizzlies pick up a pair of needed conference wins ahead of a big week of Jayhawk Conference action. The Grizzlies host Dodge City on Monday afternoon for a double-header, before getting another pair of games with the rival Hutchinson Blue Dragons on Wednesday afternoon.