The Community R-6 defense gave up Thursday's game to Hermann.
In their home opener, the Lady Trojans committed eight errors and allowed seven unearned runs to lose 11-6 in eight innings. Community R-6 (2-4) tied the game at 5 in the sixth inning on an Ana McLeod RBI double, knotted the game at 6 in the seventh inning after Maci Poindexter scored on three passed balls, but allowed five runs in the eighth thanks to two errors.
"We have to make the little plays," head coach Jeff Angel said. "If we do the little things, we win that ballgame. That right there is stuff we can work on in practice and stuff we can get better at."
Angel said he didn't like how Community also had 11 strikeouts and six or seven failed bunt attempts. But after Community fought back from 5-1 down after four runs scored in the fifth inning on miscues, Hermann (2-3) used three straight sacrifice bunts to add to its cushion in the eighth inning.
The freshman McLeod finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Her game-tying RBI double the opposite way down the left-field line happened after she sent a pitch just to the left of third base and teammate Chloe Johnson.
"It was an outside pitch, which is what I struggle with," McLeod said. "But when I hit them, they go really far."
Jocelyn Curtis and Peyton Schafer each had one RBI Community. Curtis had a good bounce-back outing in the circle after some rough outings early this season. The senior allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks, had five strikeouts in eight innings and didn't walk a batter until the sixth inning.
"She does a good job of getting ahead in the count," Angel said. "We preach a lot to get ahead in the count, and that makes it a lot better on the defense."
Community plays a triangular at Clopton in Clarksville this Saturday. The Lady Trojans play at 10 a.m. and at noon against Class 1 District 4 foe Clopton (3-0) and Marceline (4-1).
Look for a Community R-6 softball story in the September 10, 2025, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
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