The Polo Lady Panthers took an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning, and never gave back the advantage, riding a three-hit, 15 strikeout performance by junior right-hander Hanna Vaught to a 7-1 win at Princeton, improving Polo’s record to 24-0 on the season.
In action broadcast on KTTN, Kenley Moore led of the playoff contest at Gentry Field in Princeton with a single, with a booming double into the right-center field gap by Chloe Gilbert scoring Moore. Gilbert, having taken third base on a throw to the plate, scored on a ground ball to short by Vaught, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Princeton’s only run of the night came on the second pitch seen by sophomore third baseman Addy Henke, who rocketed a Vaught fastball over the right field fence in the bottom of the first, cutting the lead to 2-1. Tom Johnson had the call:
Princeton went into the second down just one run, but with Vaught finding her game from the circle, the Lady Panthers began to extend the lead. A solo home run by Emily Schmidt in the 2nd inning made the score 3-1, with a pair of doubles in the third inning, one by Vaught and the other by Kendyl Fitzwater, combined with a run scoring single by Haley Barnett, giving the Lady Panthers another pair of runs and a 5-1 edge.
A leadoff homer in the 5th inning by Gilbert and a solo homer by Moore in the 7th completed the scoring. Following Henke’s leadoff homer in the first, Princeton’s offense only managed a two-out walk in the 1st by Makenzie Dunkin, a two-out single in the 3rd from Faith Siemer, and a leadoff single in the 7th by Dunkin. The Lady Tigers, graduating a senior group that won four consecutive district championships, ends the 2022 season at 13-10. The win sends Polo to King City for an-all GRC state quarterfinal on Saturday afternoon.
King City, in dramatic fashion, scored a tying run in the 7th inning, and the game-winning run in the 9th, rallying for a 2-1 win at Platte Valley. King City improves to 18-9 while ending the season for PV at 16-10.
Other Class 1 sectional scores from Wednesday night were:
Marion C. Early 3, Neelyville 2
Vienna 12, Weaubleau 11 (9)
Canton 12, La Plata 0
Braymer 11, Atlanta 1
New Franklin 4, Jamestown 1
Salisbury 13, Silex 2
State quarterfinals were contested throughout the week in Classes 2 through 5. Scores were:
Class 2 (Thursday):
Eugene 5, Kelly 0
Marceline 6, Elsberry 3
Russellville 15, Valley Park 2
Sherwood 3, Mid-Buchanan 2
Class 3 (Thursday):
Westminster Christian 1, Doniphan 0
Fatima 9, Seneca 0
Bowling Green 3, Tolton Catholic 0
Chillicothe 5, Oak Grove 1
Class 4 (Wednesday):
Washington 7, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 2
Helias Catholic 4, Camdenton 2
Warrenton 2, Incarnate Word Academy 1
Kearney 6, McDonald County 4
Class 5 (Wednesday):
Marquette 1, Lindbergh 0
Blue Springs South 6, Ozark 3
Francis Howell 11, Francis Howell North 0
Liberty 11, Lee’s Summit West 9
