Things just keep getting better for the Wright City softball team as it opens a season.

Over the last three seasons, the Wildcats have gone from an eighth-place finish to fourth last season to a loss in the event championship this year, finishing second.

After beating Clinton 5-2 to open the tournament, the Wildcats used some late-game magic to get past host Boonville in the semifinals.

Down 2-0 entering the seventh, Harper Martin and Ava Swearingen each contributed a two-run extra-base hit to provide the 4-2 margin of victory. Martin tripled in a pair while Swearingen doubled in a pair.

While Swearingen won the opener as she struck out seven, Lorelai Kellner took the victory in the circle in the second game. Kellner allowed five hits and struck out 12 in the complete-game victory.

In the championship game, Wright City (2-1) fell 9-6 to Eugene.

Once again, Martin and Swearingen provided a pair of RBI, while Swearingen suffered the loss.

Kellner led the team in hitting, batting at an average of .700, while Martin led the team with five RBI ahead of Swearingen’s four.

“I thought that we played especially well in the first two games,” Wildcats Coach Fred Ross said. “We executed in all phases of the game, pitching, defense and timely hitting.  In the finals, we were a little flat-footed and made some errors that really cost us.”

This week, Wright City will have a pair of home games, hosting Elsberry on Thursday and county rival Warrenton on Friday.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Shorthanded Warrenton competes at CoMo kickoff

The Warrenton boys and girls cross country teams opened their season where they hope to end it – at the state meet.

That’s because the CoMo kickoff was held on the same course where the state championship takes place.

As a team, the boys placed 12th during the three-kilometer course, instead of the customary 5K.

Sophomore Landon Neace led the Warriors through the course in a time of 10 minutes, 45 seconds.

“The boys started the season with a strong showing,” Warrenton Coach Jeremy Collins said. “Landon is a lot further along this year than where he was last year. He is a hard worker, so if we can keep him healthy, he can have a pretty big year.” 

After Neace, senior Ken Le ran the course in 11:34, placing 66th.

“With Ken being a senior, I think he is going to be motivated, and he can have a great year,” Collins said.

On the girls’ side, senior Sophie Bennett and Reese Keith were the Lady Warriors' top runners. 

Bennett was 43rd in 14:20 while Keith finished 47th in 14:26.

“Reese was ahead of Sophie for most of the race, but with about 800 meters to go, Sophie passed Reese,” Collins said. “Reese had a 1:51 improvement from her eighth-grade race on the Gans Creek Course.  That is a big improvement for her from last year and she is going to get a lot faster.

Collins said that the teams entered the race without their full complement of runners, which he hopes to have soon.

“Both teams had a few runners not able to compete, so when everyone is able to race, that will really help us see where they are with other teams in our conference,” Collins said. “I think that we can compete for a conference title, but it is going to be tough and take a lot of hard work.”

Both teams are scheduled to run again on Friday in the First Capital Invitational.