Hounds finish 2-2 at Mid-Buchanan Tournament

With only 10 available players due to conflicts with extra-curricular activities and a bout of sickness, the Lady Hound softball team split four games at the Mid-Buchanan Tournament Saturday at Heritage Park in St. Joseph.

Maryville lost to East Buchanan 6-2, beat King City 6-3, lost to Savannah 8-2 and defeated DeKalb in its final game 4-3.

The results pushed Maryville's record to 9-9 entering the final week of the regular season.

Emma Ackman started for the Hounds in center, replacing Ashton Reuter. Kelsey Darnold and Eliza McMichael split time in rightfield, and regular rightfielder Shyan Dredge moved to second to replace Jenna Cherkas.

All three fill-ins had no varsity experience entering the tournament, but made positive contributions in the team's two wins.

"It was just a great experience watching our team compete, the new girls succeed and our regulars prove their own game," said Maryville head head softball coach Tom Scarbrough.

Senior Mikaila Wallace started all four games for the Hounds and had at least six strikeouts in each game to finish the tournament with 39.

Wallace is working her way back from an injury that caused her to miss one start last week and leave another one early.

"The rest, rehab and fierce desire showed," said Scarbrough. "Overall, she looks to be back on her game. I think she can relax a little and just play, not worrying about her arm falling off."

Middle of the order hitters Baylee Scarbrough and Blair Twaddle led the Hounds offensively.

Scarbrough went 8-for-11 with a pair of extra-base hits and Twaddle launched a long home run, her second of the year.

The Hounds got very little going in their opening game of the tournament against East Buchanan.

Despite eight strikeouts from Wallace, the Bulldogs pushed across six runs and sent the Hounds to their fourth straight loss.

The Hounds rebounded to beat King City in their second game behind a 13 strikeout effort from Wallace.

Down 3-2 in the fourth, Maryville strung together a four-run rally that began with three straight singles from Ackman, McMichael and Wallace.

Maryville's offense produced just two runs again in the loss to Savannah. The Savages came up with timely hits and the Hounds struggled to defend their bunting game.

The Hounds had beaten Savannah earlier this year at home. The two teams play again Wednesday in Savannah.

In the final game with DeKalb, Wallace recorded double-digit strikeouts again with 12, and the Hounds committed just two errors.

Maryville scored the game-winning run in the fifth with an RBI double by Scarbrough. She drove home McKenzie Wallace who got on board with a triple.

DeKalb got a runner to second with one in the sixth, but Wallace struck out the next two batters to end the scoring threat.