Swept at home, the Labette Cardinals fell to the Kansas City Kansas Blue Devils, 3-1, 9-7, in KJCCC softball action on Tuesday.
Labette struggled to mount offense against Kansas City pitcher Alyssa Droge, who combined over the two games to throw 10 innings with just four hits, three runs and two earned runs allowed. Droge was credited with both winning decisions.
“She just threw it on the outer half,” Labette head coach Ryan Phillips said. “That’s it. She threw strikes and we didn’t make the adjustment to hit the ball the other way. We had to create with the short game and we didn’t execute enough.”
Hailey Presley threw a solid outing in Game 1 for the Cardinals, allowing just five hits and two earned runs over seven innings of work.
Taylor Palmer struggled in the circle in Game 2, allowing seven hits and five earned runs over two frames.
“She’s had a good season but just had a bad outing,” Phillips said. “Maybe it was the heat and hitting all game in Game 1. But she’s a competitor. She didn’t throw the ball well, but she’s been our most consistent pitcher throughout the season. She’ll be fine as long as she keeps her head up.”
Jaden Jordan, who leads the nation in OPS (1.789), didn’t record an at-bat over seven plate appearances. With six walks and a sacrifice hit, the Blue Devils effectively took the bat out of Jordan’s hands — Kansas City didn’t let Superman beat them.
“Jaden can take it as a compliment, but the girls behind her can take it as disrespect,” Phillips said. “We have to have a different mindset and make them make the mistake of figuring out who to throw to. We don’t have that person. We have to give ourselves a chance and be a tough out.”
Phillips said he’s considering a philosophy change to his lineup by putting a quality speedster behind Jordan to protect his power bat.
“That’s something I thought about in the middle of Game 2 — putting speed behind her,” Phillips said. “But then that runner is locked behind Jaden. Still, that’s an option at this point. We need somebody to be a weapon behind her.”
Labette was limited to a pair of hits in Game 1 — one apiece from Mattison Hamilton and Kinley Powell. The Cardinals posted eight in Game 2 with Hamilton tallying a pair.
The two losses brought Labette’s record to 9-7 in KJCCC play and 15-21 overall. The Cardinals currently sit in fifth place in the conference, a game behind fourthplace Highland and two games ahead of sixth-place Allen.
Up next
Labette hosts the Independence Pirates on Saturday. The Pirates, coached by Labette alum Samantha Campbell, have struggled with an 0-14 mark in KJCCC action.
“We just have to respond to a little adversity,” Phillips said. “I’ve told teams for decades that Neosho County, Independence and Fort Scott will play their best games against Labette because of who their coaches are. They know the rivalry, so we can’t overlook their record. Sam will have her team prepared. She’s one of the best coaches in the conference. So they’ll be ready for us on Saturday.”
