Ottawa sweeps Gardner
By The Herald Staff
GARDNER - The Ottawa High School softball team is making the right plays at the right time.
The Cyclones came up with clutch hits to drive home runs, made big pitches and key defensive plays to keep Gardner scoreless in Thursday's sweep in Gardner.
Ottawa won 5-0 and 8-0.
In the opener, Ottawa jumped on top 3-0. Julianne George led off with a single, she advanced to second on Ashlee Moore's sacrifice bunt.
After a walk to Megan Ramsey, George scored on Morgan Watts' RBI single. Ramsey and Watts scored on hits from Taylor Moore and Katie Hawkins.
Ottawa added two in the seventh inning. Ramsey smashed a double and then senior catcher Ali Brimblecom drilled her first home run on the season.
Some defensive mistakes gave Gardner a chance to score in the first and second, Ottawa coach Renee Malburg said.
"In both cases, Megan came through with a big strikeout, or we made a good play defensively."
Ramsey retired the side in order in the third through fifth innings. She finished with 11 strikeouts.
In the second game, Ottawa jumped to a 8-0 lead. The Cyclones scored four in the second and four in the third.
Freshman Taylor Moore started the second-inning rally with a double. Jori Graf walked in front of George's 2-RBI single.
George and Ashlee Moore also scored in the inning as Ramsey and Watts both reached base.
Taylor Moore, who was on base seven times in the doubleheader, jump-started the offense in the third inning.
Taylor Moore, Graf, Lauren Lysaught and Ashlee Moore all scored in the inning.
Ashlee Moore threw a gem, setting the first 11 batters. She did not give up a hit until the seventh inning. The junior had five strikeouts.
"We played well defensively behind Ashlee," Malburg said.
The Ottawa junior varsity lost both games to fall to 2-9.
Ottawa (9-2, 5-1) plays Tuesday at home against Eudora.
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