Cowley softball goes 4-0 at Jayhawk Crossover

Breaking three school records over the weekend, the No. 5-ranked Cowley College softball team won all four of its games at the Jayhawk Crossover in Dodge City.

On Saturday, the Lady Tigers beat Pratt 3-1 and Dodge City 18-8. On Sunday, Cowley defeated Hutchinson 8-0 and Brown Mackie 21-0. The Lady Tigers needed just five innings to run rule each of their final three opponents at the Crossover.

The victories improve Cowley’s record to 39-8 overall and assure the Lady Tigers of the No. 1 seed at the Region VI Tournament played Friday through Sunday at Wichita’s Two Rivers Youth Complex.

“I thought we played really well,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said. ‘We knew what we needed to do and did it.”

Freshman sensation Kashilia Young broke two more school records on the weekend. Young drove in nine runs in the four games and now has a school-record 83 runs batted in. Suzanne Kerr set the previous record of 75 RBI’s in 1998. Young also scored eight runs on the weekend and has scored a school-record 69 runs on the year. Jamie Amerine set the previous record of 65 runs scored during the 2005 season.

Young hit two more home runs to increase her school-record total to 27, while the Lady Tigers hit 11 home runs in the four games. Whitney Foust (pictured), batting ninth in the order, belted three home runs as Cowley broke its school-record for home runs in a season with 62.

“This is probably as productive of an offense as we have ever had,” Hargrove said.
Jacey Juden allowed just one run in picking up wins over Pratt and Hutchinson. Juden struck out 19 and walked three in 12 innings pitched and is now 19-4 on the season.

“Jacey has really taken over that No. 1 spot,” Hargrove said. “You feel good every time she goes out there.”

Breayle Tackett was the pitcher of record in the wins over Dodge City and Brown Mackie as she improves to 6-3 on the year. Tackett also had a huge weekend at the plate as she went 11-for-18 with three home runs and 12 RBI’s. Tackett now has six home runs and 66 RBI’s on the season.

Foust went 5-for-10 with three home runs and eight RBI’s, while Young went 9-for-12 with two home runs and nine RBI’s. Danielle Saylor Perkins and Kim Noble also homered at the Jayhawk Crossover. Noble now has five home runs, while Saylor-Perkins has hit nine.

Cowley had 39 more hits (61-22) than its four opponents on the weekend. The Lady Tigers will head into the Region VI Tournament winners of 11 of its past 12 games. Brackets will be announced Tuesday.

“I am pleased with the way we are playing heading into regionals,” Hargrove said.