[heading]Rock Bridge 16, Smithville 3[/heading]

The RBHS softball team traveled 149 miles west on Interstate 70 to take on class three opponent Smithville on Thursday, Sept. 26.  The team emerged victorious 16-3. Earlier in the week, the Bruins defeated Warrensburg and New Franklin at home and defeated crosstown rival Hickman 6-1 this past Friday.

“I think the game will be a great matchup of two talented teams,” Season Tingler, Smithville’s Varsity softball coach, said. “Our pitching will have to pitch well to keep their offense to a minimum. Our offense needs to continue executing and putting up runs to support our pitching efforts.”

The Bruins got off to a quick start and never looked back, tagging the Smithville warriors for five runs in the 1st inning. Senior Shelbie Atwell opened the scoring with a three-run home run. In the 2nd inning, the Bruins tacked on another run to extend their lead to 6-0 and added another run in the 4th inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. In the bottom half of the fifth, Smithville was finally able to push a run across, but the Bruins responded with two more runs to push the lead to 9-1 the next inning. Smithville would go on to score two more times to reduce the Bruin lead to six, but in the end it was too little too late as the Bruins were able to close out the road win.

“Our bats really back us up, and the great defense to backup [senior] Bre [Logan]on the field with their four slappers in a row,” senior catcher Lindsey Grant said. “These girls are my family and I wouldn’t want anyone else to have my back.”
By Graham Ratermann