Polo’s unbeaten run continues in sectionals, with 7-1 win at Princeton

The Polo Lady Panthers took an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning, and never gave back the advantage, riding a three-hit, 15 strikeout performance by junior right-hander Hanna Vaught to a 7-1 win at Princeton, improving Polo’s record to 24-0 on the season.

In action broadcast on KTTN, Kenley Moore led of the playoff contest at Gentry Field in Princeton with a single, with a booming double into the right-center field gap by Chloe Gilbert scoring Moore.  Gilbert, having taken third base on a throw to the plate, scored on a ground ball to short by Vaught, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Princeton’s only run of the night came on the second pitch seen by sophomore third baseman Addy Henke, who rocketed a Vaught fastball over the right field fence in the bottom of the first, cutting the lead to 2-1.  Tom Johnson had the call: 

Princeton went into the second down just one run, but with Vaught finding her game from the circle, the Lady Panthers began to extend the lead.  A solo home run by Emily Schmidt in the 2nd inning made the score 3-1, with a pair of doubles in the third inning, one by Vaught and the other by Kendyl Fitzwater, combined with a run scoring single by Haley Barnett, giving the Lady Panthers another pair of runs and a 5-1 edge.

A leadoff homer in the 5th inning by Gilbert and a solo homer by Moore in the 7th completed the scoring.  Following Henke’s leadoff homer in the first, Princeton’s offense only managed a two-out walk in the 1st by Makenzie Dunkin, a two-out single in the 3rd from Faith Siemer, and a leadoff single in the 7th by Dunkin.  The Lady Tigers, graduating a senior group that won four consecutive district championships, ends the 2022 season at 13-10.  The win sends Polo to King City for an-all GRC state quarterfinal on Saturday afternoon.

King City, in dramatic fashion, scored a tying run in the 7th inning, and the game-winning run in the 9th, rallying for a 2-1 win at Platte Valley.  King City improves to 18-9 while ending the season for PV at 16-10.

Other Class 1 sectional scores from Wednesday night were: 

Marion C. Early 3, Neelyville 2

Vienna 12, Weaubleau 11 (9) 

Canton 12, La Plata 0 

Braymer 11, Atlanta 1

New Franklin 4, Jamestown 1

Salisbury 13, Silex 2

State quarterfinals were contested throughout the week in Classes 2 through 5.  Scores were:

Class 2 (Thursday): 

Eugene 5, Kelly 0 

Marceline 6, Elsberry 3

Russellville 15, Valley Park 2

Sherwood 3, Mid-Buchanan 2

Class 3 (Thursday): 

Westminster Christian 1, Doniphan 0 

Fatima 9, Seneca 0

Bowling Green 3, Tolton Catholic 0 

Chillicothe 5, Oak Grove 1

Class 4 (Wednesday): 

Washington 7, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 2

Helias Catholic 4, Camdenton 2

Warrenton 2, Incarnate Word Academy 1

Kearney 6, McDonald County 4

Class 5 (Wednesday): 

Marquette 1, Lindbergh 0 

Blue Springs South 6, Ozark 3

Francis Howell 11, Francis Howell North 0

Liberty 11, Lee’s Summit West 9