By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
In between a season-opening doubleheader sweep over two-time defending Class 6A state champion Topeka High and Tuesday's Centennial League twinbill against Emporia, Washburn Rural's softball team had a full 10 days off.
But there was not a hint of rustiness displayed by the Junior Blues, who rolled to a 14-0, 15-0 sweep over the Spartans on Rural's home field.
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope had two home runs, eight RBI and combined for a no-hitter in Tuesday's 14-0, 15-0 Centennial League sweep over Emporia. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Senior Kaci Bath rounds the bases for an inside-the-park home run in Washburn Rural's 15-0 second-game win over Emporia. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Piper Titsworth pitched a no-hitter in a 15-0 second-game win over Emporia and also had a pair of doubles and two RBI. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Rural coach Liz Stover said she didn't necessarily welcome the long layoff, but was happy with how the Junior Blues handled it.
"It would be nice to kind of get started with the season and just get on a roll, but I think the girls did a good job working hard at practice and staying ready,'' Stover said. "We just tried to keep (practice) light, keep it fun but also tried to focus on little things
"I think we were focused and ready to go. We came out and did our job and I was real happy with it.''
Washburn Rural, 4-0 overall and in the league, set the tone for the day in the bottom of the first in the opener, when Rural's second hitter, senior Emmerson Cope, hit a two-run homer, part of a six-run inning for the Junior Blues.
Rural also got run-scoring singles from senior Piper Titsworth and freshman Henley Rapp and a RBI sacrifice fly from senior Alyssa Mastin.
Cope added her second home run of the first game to lead off the second and Rural boosted its lead to 9-0 on a two-run home run by freshman Reagan Chapman.
Washburn Rural scored their final five runs in the fourth, with the Junior Blues getting a two-run single from Rapp while also benefitting from four hit batsmen and an Emporia error.
Cope and Chapman combined for a five-inning no-hitter in the first-game win.
Cope worked the first three innings, striking out seven Spartans, including the first five Emporia batters, while Chapman struck out the side in the fourth and added a fourth strikeout in the fifth as Rural closed out the run-rule win after four and a half innings.
Washburn Rural took control of the second game with three runs in the bottom of the first, including a run-scoring double from Titsworth, and the Junior Blues sent 14 batters to the plate in a 10-run second inning.
Senior Kaci Bath had a two-run inside-the-park home run while Cope had a three-run double and a run-scoring double in the inning, Titsworth had a RBI double and Chapman and Rapp run-scoring singles.
Washburn Rural ended the game by virtue of a 15-run spread with two runs in the third inning, getting RBI singles from Mastin and junior Gabby Martinez, with Martinez's hit ending the game.
Titsworth picked up the pitching win with a three-inning one-hitter while fanning six Emporia hitters.
FIRST GAME
WASHBURN RURAL 14, EMPORIA 0
Emporia 000 00 -- 0 0 4
Washburn Rural 612 5x -- 14 9 1
Anno, Ginter (4) and C. Wialliams. Cope, Chapman (4) and Rapp. W -- Cope. L -- Anno. HR -- Washburn Rural: Cope 2, Chapman.
SECOND GAME
WASHBURN RURAL 15, EMPORIA 0
Emporia (1-3, 1-3) 000 -- 0 1 1
Washburn Rural (4-0, 4-0) 3(10)2 -- 15 15 0
Anno, Ginter (2) and C. Williams. Titsworth and Rapp. W -- Titsworth. L -- Anno. 2B -- Washburn Rural: Cope 2, Titsworth 2. HR -- Washburn Rural: Bath.
