Moffett?s heroics help MP claim Ottumwa tourney

By Andy Krutsinger, Mt. Pleasant News

OTTUMWA ­? It was a great day in Ottumwa on Friday for the Mt. Pleasant softball team. The eighth-ranked Panthers dominated Bondurant-Farrar, 13-3, and taking down the hosting Bulldogs, 3-1(8), thanks to a two-run homer by Sarah Moffett in the eighth inning.

The Panthers wasted no time against Bondurant-Farrar, defeating the BlueJays in five innings. Cali Liechty had a nice outing on the mound, going five innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk, while striking out one batter.

Anni Liechty had the best game at the plate. She went 3-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Chi Glaha was 2-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Bailey Johnson went 2-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs.

The bottom of the lineup was hitting against the Bluejays as well. Trinity Krabill went 2-2 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored, and Abbie Liechty was 2-3 with two RBIs and a run.

It was a much bigger struggle against hosting Ottumwa in the second game, despite a fantastic outing by Johnson, who threw all eight innings and gave up just one earned run on six hits and two walks, while striking out five.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings, and it was the Bulldogs who broke the tie, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth to strike first.

A. Liechty led the top of the sixth inning off with a single and came around to score the tying run on a wild pitch.

Johnson kept the Bulldogs at bay in the bottom of the sixth and kept the game tied at 1-1 through the seventh, which bought enough time for the Panther offense to strike in the eighth.

After a leadoff double from Johnson, Moffett crushed a two-run shot to left field to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead. Johnson held Ottumwa in the eighth and the Panthers walked away on top.

Mt. Pleasant had three players with two hits in the win over Ottumwa. Chi Glaha went 2-5 with two doubles. Allison Buckert went 2-4 with a double, and Dani Broeker was 2-4 as well.

Moffett finished 1-3 with a homer, two RBIs and one run scored. Johnson was 1-3 with a double and a run, and A. Liechty finished 1-4 with a run.

The Panthers went to 19-5 overall. They currently sit at 7-3 in SEC play, and will look to keep Ft. Madison winless in conference tonight (Monday) when they hit the road to take on the Bloodhounds in a doubleheader, beginning at 5:30 p.m.