By Charles Chaney
EL DORADO—Against Circle in the first game they were ahead but couldn’t close the deal. Against Clearwater in the first game, El Dorado led 3-0 until the fourth inning but dropped a tough one.
None of that happened on Thursday night at East Park.
El Dorado swept Wellington 7-5 and 11-4 to improve to 3-3, showing the Lady Cats how much they’ve improved already in this short season.
“They’re a tough team to beat and their short stop is amazing,” El Dorado head coach Dommi Locke said. “We had to battle back and we did that and it’s a great thing to see.
“I told the girls I like to see us battle back over a run rule. It’s more fun and they show they can compete against anyone.”
That’s what they did on Thursday. They had to battle back, scoring two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to stun Wellington and then in the second game, they put up six runs in the final two innings to break open a close game.
“I’m proud of the way we responded tonight,” Locke said. “We see the work our girls are putting into practice and we’re seeing it pay off on the field. It’s a lot of fun to coach this team.”
El Dorado is not so much a new look team but they have new faces in the circle with freshmen Eleanor Lane and Mahina Nesmith. No more does Isla Nesmith have to carry the burden of all 14 innings on her shoulders.
“You can see the difference,” Locke said of Isla. “When she’s in the field and when she’s about to pitch, she’s locked in and ready to go. She doesn’t have to have all 14 innings be her responsibility.
“It’s nice to have two freshman, one is her sister, who are doing an amazing job and we’re blessed to have them.”
El Dorado is set to play Buhler on Monday at East Park. The Lady Crusaders are improving like El Dorado. No longer are the two vying for the final playoff spot. They’re both pushing for playoff positioning.
“They’re a tough squad,” Locke said. “We know they split with Circle and swept Winfield. We’ll have to be prepared next week.”
Game 1: El Dorado 7, Wellington 5
El Dorado scored two runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth innings to beat Wellington in the first game on Thursday night.
El Dorado was able to get the scoring started by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. They were able to get the first two batters on base when Lillian Hamlin-Mefford reached on an error and Jenna Hadley walked. That’s where Isla Nesmith singled up the middle to push Hamlin-Mefford across the plate. Kam Parker and Avery Kroeger then sacrificed to score runs, putting El Dorado ahead 3-0.
Wellington put two on in the top of the third from two errors and the Lady Crusaders were cutting into the El Dorado lead.
In the top of the fourth, Wellington would re-take the lead. With Addi Thomson reaching by error and another reaching on a deep fly ball single to put two on, it was Sawyer Parkey who would single by third to score a run and then Kyndal Rusk would double to score two more and give Wellington the 5-3 lead.
That’s when the Lady Cats responded.
In the top of the fifth, Lillian Hamlin-Mefford reached on a double to start the inning. Hadley once again singled, pushing Hamlin-Mefford across the plate to make it 5-4. After Nesmith singled, putting runners at the corners, it was Kroeger once again picking up the RBI, scoring Hadley from third and tying the game at 5-all.
After loading the bases, Welllington had a wild pitch, scoring Kardyn Nielsen. Quinn Sundgren would score after a bad throw gave her home plate and the Lady Cats had taken the 7-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh.
Nesmith shut them down. She was able to get #17 to ground into a double play to end the game, securing the win.
Nesmith with 3-for-4 in the win with an RBI and run scored. Kroeger had two RBIs. Hamlin-Mefford finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.
Nesmith went three innings, allowed only one hit and no runs to secure the win.
El Dorado 7, Wellington 5
WELL 002 300 0—5 7 2
ELDO 300 022 X—7 7 3
W – I. Nesmith. L – Gulick. 2B – Rusk (W), Hamlin-Mefford (E).
Game 2: El Dorado 11, Wellington 4
El Dorado had to battle once again in the second game. This time, they put an stamp on the end of the game to nearly win in a run-rule.
It didn’t start that way.
Wellington took a 1-0 lead after a lead off double that moved to third on an error. Caroline Mott was punched on on a sac fly from Parkey.
El Dorado would ride the see-saw in the bottom half of the first when Hadley would score Hamlin-Mefford who was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Two batters later, Kam Parker sac flied to center, scoring Hadley and giving El Dorado the 2-1 lead.
Every time Wellington would score it was the Lady Cats who had a response. After Wellington punched two home in the top half of the second, El Dorado would use a triple from Hamlin-Mefford and score Sundgren to tie it at 3-all.
El Dorado went up for good over the next two innings as the Nesmith sisters would pitch gems. They’d limit baserunners and held Wellington to four hits over the next four innings and only one run.
All the while the pitching was dominating the bats came alive. They’d score a run in every inning, including an explosive fifth inning, where they’d score four to put the game out of reach for Wellington.
Kroeger had another triple in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Nesmith and Parker as El Dorado led 7-4 with no outs. Rylie Wight then tripled to score Kroeger. Wight would score on a wild pitch with one out, making it 9-4 Lady Cats.
They added two more in the bottom fo the sixth when Hadley doubled and Nesmith singled to score her. Then, Parker singled and Nesmith scored from second to make it 11-4.
Parker went 3-for-3 in the second game with two RBIs and two runs scored. All nine batters reached base. Nesmith was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Kroeger finished with two RBIs and a run scored while going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Eleanor Lane picked up the win for El Dorado. She went four innings, allowed four hits and two earned runs.
El Dorado 11, Wellington 4
WELL 120 010 0—4 9 5
ELDO 211 141 X—11 11 3
W – Lane. L – Mott. 2B – Sundgren (E), Kroeger (E), Parker (E), Hadley (E), Rusk (W), Mott (W). 3B – Hamlin-Mefford (E)
