FC softball beats Bulldogs, twice

BLUE SPRINGS — It’s state tourney time ... or will be next Thursday ... for the Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan Panthers of prep softball.
Coach Steve Adkisson’s crew got wins number 19 and 20, both at the expense of the Friend Bulldogs in district action Friday at Blue Springs.
The first win for the Panthers, 4-1, knocked Friend into the losers bracket. The Bulldogs battled back to earn another shot at Fillmore Central, but that one went to the Panthers as well, 2-1.
In the first game, FC scored three in the third and one in the fifth behind Lindsay Eichelberger, who improved to 12-5 with the victory. Eichelberger struck out six in seven full innings. Krista Menke took the loss for Friend.
Adkisson said his Panthers advanced to the championship game “behind the four-hit pitching” of Eichelberger “and some aggressive base running. Maddy Emshoff went 1-3 and drove in a run,” said the coach, who added that Jennii Kleinschmidt went 1-3 and plated one run.
“This was a good win for us,” said Adkisson, whose team “battled against a strong pitcher” on Friend’s side of the diamond. “Lindsay was solid and I thought the team stayed focused in some tough situations.”
The Panthers improved their mark to 20-8 and, of much greater importance, punched a ticket to state in the championship game against Friend, which fought back through the bottom of the bracket to the title game.
FC’s runs came in the first and third. Friend answered with one in the fifth.
Maddy Emshoff ran her record on the hill to 8-5 with the win. Menke was again saddled with the Bulldog loss.
Emshoff gave up two hits and retired six by strikeout. She was 2-3 with the bat and had one RBI. Kleinschmidt, also 2-3, had a double. Eichelberger was 1-3.
“Maddy Emshoff pitched the complete game victory and drove in Jenni Kleinschmidt with what proved to be the game winning RBI with a single in the third,” said Adkisson. The score followed on the heels of Kleinschmidt’s double.
“Maddy was very tough on the mound and at the plate” said the coach, “and that is what you like to see from your seniors. Jenni had some good at-bats against a quality pitcher. I am very proud of the team and most proud of our seniors who have shown great leadership and gave of themselves for the team.”
The state softball tournament begins Thursday at the softball complex in Hastings.