Trojans still seeking first victory

Hillsboro shortstop Shannon Heiser chases down a late throw from catcher Samantha Moss on a steal attempt by Kingman’s Shyann Jackson in the first inning of Game 1. The Eagles swept both games April 15.

The Hillsboro softball team reached the halfway point of the regular season still looking for its first win after dropping both ends of their Friday doubleheader at King­man, 11-3 and 12-0.

The Trojans got off to a good start in the opener, scoring in the first inning on a single by lead-off hitter Sarah Jost, who scored on a one out ground out by Samantha Moss.

Hillsboro bumped the lead to 3-0 in the third inning on singles by Shannon Heiser and Moss and a two-out, two-run single by pitcher Taylor Helmer.

The Eagles touched Helmer for a run in the bottom of the inning, but the bottom fell out in the fourth when the Eagles scored eight runs on two singles and nine walks.

Heiser relieved Helmer after six walks, but when Heiser walked the first three batters she faced, Helmer returned to finish the inning. Hillsboro trailed, 9-3.

The Trojans were never in contention after the first half inning of Game 2. The Eagles scored five runs in the first turn at the plate and never looked back.

Helmer threw three shutout innings after that, but Kingman ended any remaining suspense with a seven-run fourth inning that ended the game by run-rule.

Hillsboro managed only two hits in the shutout loss.

Pratt—The Trojans dropped a pair of run-rule games to the Greenbacks April 12 at Pratt for an 0-8 start to the season.

Game 1 ended with a seven-run burst by Pratt in the fourth inning that pushed the score to 15-0, ending the game with a 15-run margin after three innings.

Game 2 ended in the bottom of the fifth, when the Greenbacks pushed their lead to 12-2 for a 10-run margin after five innings.

In Game 1, Pratt’s heavy hitters got to Trojan starter Taylor Helmer with three runs in the first inning. After a shut-out second inning, the home team scored five more in the third. Jenna Fincham, Paige Huber, Kelsey Smith-Potter and Brianna Cruz each hit home runs off the Trojan southpaw through the first three innings.

Shannon Heiser pitched the fourth inning, but three walks, one hit batter, three hits and a Trojan error led to the final seven runs of game.

Meanwhile, Pratt’s Huber limited Hillsboro to two hits.

The Trojans enjoyed their only lead of the night when Heiser singled, then scored on a single by Mesa Merrell in the first inning of Game 2.

But the Greenbacks retaliated, scoring eight runs in the bottom half of the inning off Heiser. Helmer returned to the mound and finally got the final two outs, but not before Pratt led 9-1. The Trojans committed five errors in the inning.

Helmer then limited Pratt to four hits and three additional runs through the final three innings.

Merrell provided some much-needed offense for Hillsboro in Game 2, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in. But the rest of the team managed only two base hits.

Coming—Hillsboro will continue its quest for a victory this week. The Trojans are scheduled to host Larned April 19 and then travel to Sterling April 22. Each doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m.

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