Centralia softball refuses to lose in 15-7 victory over Kirksville, wins first home tournament since 2016

Centralia softball sustained a big blow on Saturday when Kirksville’s Jada Jackson hit a home run.

Centralia Wins Centralia Invitational Photo Gallery

The three-RBI home run gave Kirksville a 7-2 lead against the Lady Panthers in the championship game of the Centralia Invitational Tournament, but Centralia then scored the next 13 for a 15-7 victory and its first home tournament title since the previous state championship team of 2016. Every spot in the Lady Panthers’ lineup had a runner reach base at least once, and four — Madi Johnson, Olivia Adams, Kassena Ridgel and Kaylie Ensor — had multiple RBI.

Head coach Liz Bostick said this year’s team has a “refuse to lose” mentality and each member contributes to victories in some way. 

“We have a great group of kids here,” Bostick said. “When I sub somebody out, that kid that got subbed out is still in the dugout cheering for somebody else. They keep coming back and are that “refuse to lose” team. When you have kids that don’t do that, good things happen.”

Many good things happened for Centralia (16-7) after trailing 7-2 after Jackson’s home run in the third inning, which was the Lady Tigers’ second long ball after Brianna Elsea’s two-run shot in the second inning. After only another half inning, Bostick said Kirksville’s momentum was gone and was clinging to a 7-6 lead until the nine-run sixth inning.

Tilly Fox, who ended up having the winning RBI single later, and Madi Johnson crossed the plate after Kirksville (13-11) tried to catch a runner too far off second base with a throw from center field. The center fielder Jackson made an errant throw that allowed Centralia to cut the deficit to three runs. After a Ridgel RBI single, Ellie Page — who was 3-for-4 — scored after the catcher’s overthrow back to the pitcher.

“These kids are looking for ways to advance,” Bostick said. “We’re trying to be aggressive, but at the same time, be smart. Sometimes, it takes them a little bit to adjust (at the plate), but we’re making adjustments, being aggressive when we need to be aggressive and looking for those opportunistic moments.”

Early in the sixth inning, Bostick switched her flex and designated players so first baseman Bailey Schuering took her first at-bat in the frame. She would also take her second at-bat later in the inning, which ended in her second walk. Schuering scored after the first baseman made an errant throw to third base when she tried to advance, tying the game at 7 and giving Centralia its fourth run off an error.

The Lady Panthers iced the game soon after that but were in that position only because of the defense of Schuering in the fifth inning. Kaelyn Walters, who Bostick estimated threw 175-200 pitches across three tournament wins, fought through fatigue to wriggle out of a bases-loaded situation. On the third out, Schuering dove to prevent the ball from touching the outfield grass and anymore Lady Tigers from touching the plate, by snagging the ball and touching the bag.

“I didn’t think she was going to get to it, and she is a long and lanky kid,” Bostick said. “That kept them from getting the momentum back. She’s constantly focused on what play she needs to make at first. She’s my flex a lot of times, but she came in and was my batter and walked twice. We don’t care how you get there, get on base. We’ll take what we can get. If you’re going to give it to me and not be sharp on the defensive end, we’ll run all over you if we can.”

It became clearer the game and trophy belonged to Centralia as each run scored, but the Lady Panthers finally countered with its own big blow when Johnson crushed a three-RBI home run to make it 11-8, forcing Kirksville to take Paislee Clark off the circle after she retired the first six batters she saw. Earlier in the day, Johnson went 2-for-2 with four runs and two walks in a 14-1 win against Marshall and she walked in a 2-1 pitcher’s duel with Macon.

Johnson accomplished all she did Saturday from the No. 2 hole in the order, and she has been impacting the lineup meaningfully from spot ever since being moved there from the No. 3 hole in the first game of University of Central Missouri tournament in Warrensburg. Over eight games since the change, Johnson has hit .625 with 10 RBI, culminating in her first home run since the start of the season.

“She’s taking better at-bats, looking for good pitches to hit and not trying to be a hero,” Bostick said. “Usually, I like to have my best batter in the 2 hole. You get the most at-bats and are able to be impactful, making something happen. That (home run) sealed it up for us.”

Johnson impacts the game defensively as well without her glove, Bostick said, as she cheers on and encourages pitchers while she is positioned right behind them at shortstop. Other Lady Panthers contribute in various ways little by little and then all of those players’ contributions compile into a team that has won 16 overall games through 25 contests and has remained a perfect 6-0 in Clarence Cannon Conference play. Centralia looks to secure sole possession of a conference title at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Palmyra (6-9, 3-3 CCC) since Class 2 No. 1 Highland (22-2, 4-1) is still in the race even after losing 14-13 earlier in the year to Centralia.

“I don’t know who to pick,” Bostick said, when asked which players were key to Centralia’s tournament title. “Who didn’t do something well (Saturday)? I can’t say enough about these kids and what they want to accomplish. They’re accomplishing it together, and it’s a team unit going forward.” 

Lady Panthers string together hits in 14-7 win vs North Callaway

The hits were numerous for both North Callaway and Centralia on Monday, but Centralia still won by a wide margin.

The Lady Panthers defeated North Callaway 14-7, collecting 16 singles compared to the Ladybirds’ 14 hits. North Callaway (14-13) had four extra-base hits, including Abigail Schmidt’s first home run of the year. Centralia (17-7) had five finish with multiple RBI including three each from Tilly Fox and Cora King and two each from Madi Johnson, Ellie Page and Kaaelyn Walters.

North Callaway put four runs on the scoreboard in the first inning after just hitting the ball on the ground via groundouts and an error. Centralia responded with runs in all of the first four innings and especially with eight runs in the third inning. 

The Lady Panthers strung five singles together early in the third inning and then came back with four consecutive singles later in the inning for an 11-5 lead.

For Centralia, Johnson, Walters and Olivia Adams each finished 3-for-4, and King, Page and Kassena Ridgel each went 2-for-4. Walters allowed four earned runs and four walks to go with four strikeouts in seven innings.

For North Callaway, Kymorie Myers went 2-for-3 and recorded her 41st RBI in her 27th game, and Liv Knoepflein went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Centralia played at Class 3 No. 2 Hallsville (18-3) on Tuesday before attempting to clinch an outright Clarence Cannon Conference title on Thursday at Palmyra.

Centralia, Price shut out Clark County in 2nd half, win 39-14

Centralia football liked how its kids stayed on task on Friday.

The Class 3 No 4 Panthers stayed undefeated with a 39-14 victory at home against Clarence Cannon Conference foe Clark County and also were victorious for its Homecoming. Centralia (6-0, 4-0 CCC) trailed 14-13 in the second quarter but gained some distance after shutting out the Indians in the second half.

Head coach Tyler Forsee said he is thankful he has players that were able to give such an effort after a busy week of activities but is especially thankful to have players such as Ashton Price. Clark County finished with 201 total yards as Price led Centralia’s defense with nine tackles and three tackles for loss, followed by seven tackles and two tackles for loss by Emery Mast, five tackles and two tackles for loss by Jesse Caballero.

“Ashton Price, he’s a machine,” Forsee said. “He’s about as unblockable as a kid as I’ve had. We had a kid, Trevor Bodine, a few years ago who was conference player of the year. Ashton Price is on that level. In my 17 years of coaching, Trevor Bodine is one of the best I’ve ever coached.”

Forsee said the sophomore linebacker Price has shown to be relentless, quick off the ball and puts his hands to good use. He said it stands to reason that Price is asked to apply pressure on a lot of plays.

Clark County has many concerning pieces that make Forsee regard them as possibly the best team Centralia has seen so far this season. They have massive tackles – one being at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds – and tough center and quick quarterback that broke a 65-yard touchdown run.

“They moved the ball in chunks of 4-8 yards a pop it seemed like,” Forsee said. “We had to make a little adjustment defensively to put a little more pressure on the inside.”

Centralia’s offense was led by 95 yards and a rushing touchdown by Caballero on 11 carries, Braedyn Decker added a ground touchdown, and Cullen Bennet had touchdown passes to Caballero, Beau Hatton and Anthony Ford.

Forsee said it truly feels like a week-to-week basis with the teams Centralia has to face like at 7 p.m. Friday at Highland (3-3, 1-3 CCC) and the next week on the road against Class 2 No. 7 South Shelby (6-0, 4-0 CCC) so the Panthers need to stay focused.

Lady Panthers golf finish second, three earn all-conference nods

Centralia girls golf have several girls among the Clarence Cannon Conference’s best.

The Lady Panthers finished second on Monday at their conference meet at Norwoods Golf Course in Hannibal. Bailey Pace had the second-best individual score in the field to be first team all-conference, and Tess Stephens and Kyla Spickert were second team all-conference.

Centralia finished with a score of 426, which was behind winner Highland’s 405. Pace shot a 96 to finish behind the winning score of 95 by Highland’s Morgan Christ.

Stephens and Spickert each shot a 108 to make the all-conference cut, and Jace Brown had a 114.

Centralia strong up front, on serve in sweep of Mexico

Mexico went long stretches without serving the ball on Monday against Centralia.

Centralia at Mexico Photo Gallery

The Lady Bulldogs ultimately lost in three sets at home to district foe Centralia 25-11, 25-11 and 25-14. The Lady Panthers made a statement in the first set by going on a 17-1 run to close it out and used their girls at the net to compliment some hot serving.

After dropping the first set, Mexico (3-16-1) tried to regroup in the second set, only to lose pace with Centralia (12-4) again after a 12-0 run. Addison Mabrey blocked on the first point of the run while Ryenn Gordon kept serving. Mexico head coach RaShonda Willis said Centralia’s tall girls up front threw off Mexico all night and showed the rebuilding Lady Bulldogs are still a work in progress.

“The main thing on my mind (when facing Centralia) is not hitting to the blockers,” Willis said. “They have to go around the blockers. They know we’re going to swing so then we have to play smart and not harder. We have to learn how to place the ball. We’ve been practicing, we’re rebuilding and we’re getting it one practice at a time.”

Willis said Centralia had two blockers going at Mexico’s attackers often, and the Lady Bulldogs have been struggling with that at other times this season. Mabrey had four solo blocks and an assisted block she shared with Raegan Anderson, and Morgan added two solo blocks and a block assist.

Centralia head coach Julie Crum said the taller front court has definitely been an asset this season to the team. The upperclassmen Mabrey and Ross had solid nights, and sophomore Madilynn Hunter once again led the way on the attack with 11 kills. Lexi Cook was at the center of most of the action with 28 assists.

“Blocking is definitely really coming on for a lot of us,” Crum said. “Addison’s timing is one of those things as she’s really good with her hands, and if we got a tie ball, she’s really good at tipping and placing the ball in a nice and tricky place for us. That’s your first line of defense against an attack. It’s good to have tall girls that are fast on their feet and big with their hands.”

Crum said the Lady Panthers did have many missed serves, which is an area she wants them to excel at, but Gordon had the hot hand on Monday. The freshman Gordon has actually had a hot serving hand since Centralia took second place in the Hallsville Invitational about a week prior to playing Mexico. 

Gordon, who usually operates in the front row, was serving for a majority of that 17-1 first set run and had the ball during the 12-0 second set run. She picked up five service aces along the way, followed by three straight recorded by Katie Carrico in the third set. Crum said girls sometimes go through hot and cold stretches when serving.

“Gordon served for what seemed like a million times,” Crum said. “She moved from eighth-grade volleyball to varsity level volleyball. She’s a great passer, but it’s getting those experiences in the back row. I had switched to Carley Hombs and let her serve because she’s a strong server and then Carley had a bad run there for a little bit so Ryenn started serving. She’s got a lot of power in that swing.”

Willis said Mexico did break those Centralia runs when she had the optimum group of players on the court. She admitted it was a challenge with several varsity players unavailable due to various reasons like injury and sickness, like recent William Woods commit Mary Test, so some junior varsity players have had to step up. Setter Claire Isgrig and outside hitter/defensive specialist Ava Herron were two junior varsity players that jumped out to Willis due to their hustle.

“It was the rotation that I had in and I adjusted it later on,” Willis said. “Once I did, we really did well on breaking a serve. They actually passed the ball and were smart about those things of pushing the ball and putting the ball down.”

JaClynn Cline led Mexico once again with five kills and two aces, followed by two aces from Lizzie Joiner.

Crum said she would like to see Centralia take control of sets even earlier than it did against Mexico because of the tough district opponents coming soon like Fulton (11-4-1) and Hallsville (7-10-3).

“I told the girls we keep having rough starts to our sets like we score a point and then they score a point and we score two points and they score two points,” Crum said. “You need to get the ball and control the game.”