Trojans go winless in tournament

Coach Sara Kenney knew it would be tough going for St. Mary’s, which was playing the sport for the first time in the fall.
The  Trojans went 0-5 in the Great Kansas City Suburban Softball Invitational after losing to Park Hill 16-1 in the seventh-place game of the third-place bracket Thursday.
“I think we’re improving,” Kenney said. “We played some very experienced teams. I knew going in it would be a tough tournament for us. We continued to improve in some games. That’s all I can ask.”
A 10-run first inning lifted Park Hill. Katie Smith was the losing pitcher.
St. Mary’s had four hits with Smith’s two singles leading the way.
OAK GROVE 11, TRUMAN 1: A four-run first inning propelled Oak Grove in the seventh-place game of the Second Place Bracket.
Abby Rector allowed only three hits in pitching the easy win. Jenny Bowen suffered the loss.
“We have a lot of things to work on,” Truman coach Steve Broughton said. “We need to get better.”
Oak Grove (2-3) collected 12 hits led by Rebecca McPherson’s two doubles and single and two runs scored. Chelsey Kavadas singled and doubled and scored three runs, and Shelby Shockley singled twice. Emily Lappert singled and tripled and drove in the only run for Truman (1-4).
HARRISONVILLE 4, WILLIAM CHRISMAN 1: A two-run sixth inning clinched the Harrisonville win in the fifth-place game in the third-place bracket.
Linley Tate allowed only four hits in suffering a tough loss. Winner Kirsten Bennett gave up only three hits.
The Bears (1-4) trailed only 2-1 until Harrisonville put the game out of reach in the sixth inning.
Beth Dressback singled twice and drove in the only Chrisman run in the fourth.
“I thought we played pretty well,” Chrisman coach Mark Amos said. “We found ways to get people on base but couldn’t get them in.
“Tate pitched the whole game and is starting to look like  the Tate of old. She had no walks. I think our pitching will resolve itself. We’ll start getting timely hitting.”