In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top softball teams in northern Missouri, North Platte (14-1) snuck past North Andrew (10-2-1) in extra innings thanks to late heroics by Olivia Rogers and Jaylin Burgess on September 20.
North Platte senior Olivia Rogers had one of the go ahead runs in the Lady Panthers 8-7 victory over North Andrew.
Before the opening pitch of an unforgettable game, the Cardinals and Panthers were both fresh off their first losses of the season, both of which were by a one-run margin on the day prior. North Platte lost 2-1 to Savannah (6-3) and North Andrew fell 7-6 against Jefferson with South Nodaway (10-4), so both teams were hungry for a win.
It was a competitive contest all throughout the night, with no scores through the first two innings before both teams scored in the third inning as North Andrew held a 3-1 margin. North Platte regained the lead, 4-3, after pouring out three runs thanks to a pair of triples from Linsey Ramsey and Burgess in the top of the fifth inning.
North Platte entered the seventh inning with a one-run margin and Scarlett Slugantz connected with a line drive RBI-double to extend the lead to two runs. The Cardinals responded with two clutch runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game, tied 5-5.
With one out, North Andrew had two consecutive singles – followed by a North Platte error – to put another Cardinal run on the scoreboard. After an RBI single to tie the game, Camryn Kersten fielded a ground ball to help the Panthers survive regulation and the game went into extra innings.
North Platte had a rough start to the eighth inning, with its first two batters getting out, but Rogers singled to left field to reignite the offense. Burgess stepped up to the plate and also connected on a double to left field and the Panthers retook the lead.
On the ensuing at-bat, Carly Hinton reached on an error, Kersten had an RBI single and Morgan Ball – who was a courtesy runner for Hinton – scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 8-5. The Cardinals didn’t go away without a fight, having their first four batters single and close the gap, 8-7.
North Platte responded with a double play when Kenedie Summers caught a pop fly in right field and put out a North Andrew runner at third base. With a runner on first and second bases following a walk by Courtney Dehn, the pitcher fielded a North Andrew ground ball and threw out the batter to seal the 8-7 victory.
Rogers was a successful slugger, finishing with a team-best 4-for-5 at the plate and Burgess led the squad with three RBIs. Kersten had two hits and two RBIs, while Ramsey and Slugantz ended with one hit and one RBI apiece.
North Platte went on to win its third KCI Conference game of the fall when Mid-Buchanan (12-6) came to town and lost 7-3 on September 22 and then The Lady Panthers defeated Notre Dame de Sion (4-5) by a score of 9-1 on September 26. North Platte will head to East Buchanan (4-9) – who they comfortably defeated 15-0 earlier this season – to take on the Lady Bulldogs on September 29.