Centralia volleyball wins fourth straight with four-set win vs Bowling Green

Centralia volleyball is rolling at the moment with expectations to be better.

The Lady Panthers won their fourth straight match on Tuesday at home, defeating Bowling Green (3-11-1) in four sets 25-20, 21-25, 25-18 and 25-19. 

Centralia (6-3) missed 15 serves altogether, head coach Julie Crum said, and hopes to be even better than that as the Lady Panthers were during the district championship game against Hallsville last season.

“I always refer to our district championship game against Hallsville during the 2022 season because our serving percentage that night was 100 percent,” Crum said. “We didn't miss a single serve. If we can do that in a game with that much pressure, we can do it all the time.”

Raegan Anderson was a perfect 16-for-16 when serving, Katie Carrico committed no errors on 26 serve receive attempts while posting a team-high 15 digs, Lexi Cook led with 28 assists, and Morgan Ross finished with 12 kills and six blocks.

Centralia hosted Linn (4-4) on Thursday, defeating the Lady Wildcats in three sets (26-24, 25-22 and 25-12) before playing in the Hallsville Invitational today.

Lady Panthers lose pitcher’s duel at state-ranked No. 1 Fatima

Fatima is looking to defend its Class 3 state title from a year ago and made that clear against Centralia on Tuesday night.

Despite Kaelyn Walters’ and Jaylynn Brown’s best efforts in the circle, they were outpitched by all-state hurler Taylor Baumhoer as she struck out 15 and allowed two hits and one walk in seven innings. Walters allowed five hits in four innings and Brown allowed two unearned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out four in two innings.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when Fatima (16-2) scored a pair of two-out runs that crossed via a wild pitch. Prior to that, the Lady Comets drew a walk and beat out an infield single hit back to the pitcher Brown. 

Tilly Fox was responsible for two of Centralia’s three baserunners as she hit a single and a double, which happened in the seventh inning. Madi Johnson walked right after the double, but Baumhoer closed the game without any damage.

Centralia (11-5) began the Jennies High School Softball Tournament on Friday as part of Pool C with Pleasant Hill and Belton, which determined where it falls today in bracket play.

Centralia girls golf finishes third in Salisbury

The Centralia girls golfers were good enough for the top three in a loaded field on Wednesday.

In the Salisbury Invitational, the Lady Panthers finished third out of eight teams after shooting a 426. Hallsville was first with a 383, and Harrisburg was second with a 403.

Centralia had one golfer finish below 100, making her one of 10 all day to do so. Cami Moser shot a 98, Kyla Spickert followed with a 103, Jace Brown had a 106 and Madi Shelton had a 119.

The individual winner was Monroe City’s Reagan Cheek after she shot a 95.