With four players batting .545 or better, the Wright City softball team has shown offensive prowess to open the season. 

That has led the Wildcat to winning two of their first three games to start the  year, including a 10-1 beating of Lutheran on Friday and an 18-2 pummeling of St. Clair in their opener Aug. 29. Their lone setback came in a 7-5 loss to Elsberry on Aug. 31.

In Friday’s contest against Lutheran, Wright City erupted for five runs in the first to grab an early lead and added two more in the second to go ahead 7-1. Paige Reese went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and one RBI, while Emma Staats and Sophia Wegrzyn each had two hits. Staats scored twice while Wegrzyn recorded two RBIs.

Against Elsberry, the offense was led by Lydia Clubb who went 2 for 4 with two runs and Stats who was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and one run. Hailey Swor, Rees and Wegrzyn also contributed two hits in the loss.

In the season opener, Wright City exploded for seven runs in the first, tacked on three more in the second and scored eight more in the third. Rees and Clubb each had three hits and three RBIs. Tristyn Moore also collected two hits.

Through the season’s first three games, Rees leads the Wildcats with eight hits in 12 at-bats, a .667 average. Three other teammates — Lydia Clubb, Staats and Wegrzyn — also have five or more hits.

The strong offense has backed the pitching of Wegrzyn, who has hurled all 16 innings on the mound and given up only three earned runs. She has struck out 16.

Wright City plays at Montgomery County on Thursday at 5 p.m. and host county rival Warrenton this Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Warriors compete at FHC Tournament

The Warrenton softball team is looking to rebound following a winless appearance at the Francis Howell Central Tournament.

The Warriors lost all three games and were outscored 23-5 in the process.

The Warriors are now on a four-game losing skid heading into this week’s busy slate of games. They faced Winfield Tuesday and Borgia on Wednesday. They play at St. Charles West on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. and at Wright City on Friday at 4:30 p.m. 

Their next home game is Sept. 12 at 4:15 p.m. versus St. Charles.

Defensive miscues plagued Warrenton (2-5-1) throughout the tournament as it committed 11 errors in the three contests.

In the tourney opener Friday, the Warriors trailed 1-0 before allowing Highland to plate seven runs in the sixth inning in a 9-0 defeat. Only one run of the six scored against pitcher Kylie Witthaus was earned as she struck out 13 and walked one in 5 2/3 innings. Briana Menne pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits. 

Warrenton was quiet at the plate with only four hits and 13 strikeouts.

The following day, the Warriors fell 7-3 to the host Spartans. They scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half, but Howell Central responded with three runs in the fifth to regain control.

Kylie Witthaus and Audrey Lanzone had the only hits for Warrenton with two apiece, while Makayla Witthaus scored twice. Morgan Marschel scored the other run. Kylie Witthaus pitched all seven innings, giving up four earned runs. She struck out six and walked three.

In the final tournament game, the Warriors lost 7-2 to Westminster. Kiera Daniel went 3 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Warriors’ offense. Kylie Witthaus added two hits

On the mound, Kylie Witthaus pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking four. Only one of the seven runs were earned. Menne recorded the final out for the Warriors.