Putting themselves in position for the program’s first postseason berth in years, the Parsons Vikings have two of their last four softball games.
Parsons defeated Coffeyville, 18-0, and Independence, 8-7, in late April before dropping back-to-back contests against Pittsburg, 15-0, on May 1 and Baxter Springs, 12-0, on Monday.
In the win over Coffeyville, Parsons pitcher Adalyn Morris struck out five while limiting Coffeyville to three hits over four innings of work.
Kera Haviland had three hits and as many RBIs for the Vikings.
“I felt like we had great plate approaches,” Parsons head coach Shelby Liska said. “We stayed focused and had a gameplan and executed really well. We made plays behind our pitcher. The swagger the girls play with against Coffeyville, we need to have that against other schools.”
In a thriller over Independence, Morris again earned the win with one strikeout over seven frames. Just three of the seven runs she was charged were earned.
Chassis Baker and Braelyn Hinman-Mitchell tallied three hits apiece for Parsons.
“We’re setting the standard,” Liska said. “We have high expectations for these girls and a lot of times, they resent me for it. But I’ll never let up. It’s starting to pay off. We had nothing to lose against Indy. I don’t want us to fear any name on the front of a jersey.”
Pittsburg, the runaway favorites to secure the SEK League title, leapt on Parsons early as Breck Slaughter tossed a complete-game in the circle for the Purple Dragons.
Alex Stoneberger notched the lone hit for the Vikings in the loss.
On Monday, Baxter Springs scored eight runs in the top of the fifth to put the game away against the Vikings.
“If we make some more solid hits and get baserunners on earlier in the game, it’s a different game,” Liska said. “We got later in the game and Baxter got to be relaxed. They made plays and their pitcher threw well. Once their bats got going, it got away from us.”
Morris ate the loss, allowing 10 hits and 12 earned runs. Baker and Stoneberger accounted for the only two hits for Parsons.
Parsons is now 4-11 on the season, putting the Vikings at the No. 15 spot in the regional standings.
Up next
Parsons faced Labette County on Thursday then travels to Fort Scott on Friday.
“These last few weeks are strenuous. And any season is about how you finish,” Liska said. “We need to see fight and keep playing hard.”
