By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural put away the visiting Seaman softball team with two five-inning games shortened by 10-run leads Friday.
The Junior Blues blasted four home runs and rode dominant pitching from seniors Emmerson Cope and Piper Titsworth for the 14-4, 10-0 sweep.
Senior Emmerson Cope picked up the first-game pitching victory and had a big day at the plate in Washburn Rural's 14-4, 10-0 sweep over Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
Cope pitched the first game, striking out six and allowing five hits over five innings. Seaman scratched out four runs against the University of Nebraska commit, but she responded with a double and a homer of her own.
“I’ve done better on the mound, but I think I did get the job done. And I definitely had really good hitting behind me,” Cope said. “So even though I wasn’t 100 percent on my game, I had batters to back me up, which is really huge. Not pitching the best, I really want my hitting to be there for my team.”
“She makes her own adjustments at the plate, knows what she needs to do, and she puts the ball in play even though teams are trying to pitch around her,” said Washburn Rural coach Elizabeth Stover. “The production from other batters is the big thing. One way we can keep getting her at-bats is to keep adding to the lineup.”
The Junior Blues lashed out 13 hits in the opener. Sophomore Nadia Wech ended the first contest in the fifth inning with a blast over the center field fence that gave the Junior Blues a ten-run advantage. Freshman Reagan Chapman homered earlier in the game.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had freshmen and sophomores jump into the lineup and starting,” Stover said. “They bring in a little bit of energy because a lot of these girls have played together for a long time.''
Titsworth was the star of the second game, pitching a shutout and drilling two doubles. The senior gave up just three hits over five innings.
“The goal of our team is just to pick each other up after each at-bat whether it was good or bad,” Titsworth said. “To be able to help in any way I can, whether it’s pitching or hitting, feels good.”
Seaman fell to 6-6. Leading the effort for the Vikings was Jersey Jellison, who doubled and homered in the first game, and Aspen Burgardt, who doubled twice in the second game.
The Junior Blues, who finished second in the Class 6A state tournament a year ago, improved to 12-2 with the doubleheader sweep. Though the team is a blend of returners and first-year varsity players. Stowe said she sees potential in this group.
“We’re a young team and there are still learning moments every game,” Stowe said. “But for the most part I feel pretty confident with the team we have on the field. It’s a well-rounded group and they’re keeping each other pumped up.”
Cope and Titsworth are two of five seniors providing leadership on and off the field.
“We have really good chemistry for a team that hasn’t really done a lot together,” Cope said. “Having that upperclassman leadership encouraging the underclassmen and leading this team really helps us.”
“We learn from each other,” Titsworth said. “The freshmen have had a big impact on our team. They’ve brought a new life that we needed. They keep it light-hearted in the dugout. And they look at us as the mature leaders so it balances out to make us a well-rounded team.”
GAME ONE
WASHBURN RURAL 14, SEAMAN 4
Seaman 202 00 — 4 5 2
Washburn Rural 433 31 — 14 13 1
Burgardt, O’Rourke (3) and McConnell. Cope and Rapp. W — Cope. L — Burgardt. 2B — Seaman: Jellison. Washburn Rural: Cope, Collins. HR — Seaman: Jellison. Washburn Rural: Chapman, Cope, Wech.
GAME TWO
WASHBURN RURAL 10, SEAMAN 0
Seaman (6-6) 000 00 — 0 3 0
Washburn Rural (12-2) 341 02 — 10 10 1
O’Rourke, Burgardt (3) and McConnell. Titsworth and Rapp. W — Titsworth. L — O’Rourke. 2B — Seaman: Burgardt 2. Washburn Rural: Titsworth 2. HR — Washburn Rural: Collins.
