ShawneeDispatch.com

The SMNW Lady Cougar softball team notched four more wins last week as they knocked off Sunflower League foes Lawrence Free State and Leavenworth.

The wins moved the Cougars to 7-1 on the season.

Junior Kelly Martin took the mound for SMNW in the first game against Free State on Tuesday and pitched to a 4-2 win. Martin fanned six Lady Firebirds while giving up nine hits and two earned runs.

Lady Cougar head coach Mark Balderston was pleased with both his pitcher and his team's defense as the SMNW girls played seven errorless innings.

"Kelly gave us a good pitching performance," Balderston said. "She gave up a few more hits than what we would have liked, but our defense was there to back her up."

Martin helped herself out at the plate, too, as she swung for two for three hitting. The offensive production of sophomore second baseman Amber Freeman contributed to Martin's cause as well. Freeman was two for three in the contest with a double and an RBI.

Balderston wasn't surprised with Freeman's success at the plate.

"We have pretty high expectations for Amber," he said. "She's proven to be a pretty solid hitter."

In the nightcap against Free State, freshman Kim Jones took over pitching duties as she earned nine strikeouts while giving up only two hits in the 7-0 shutout win.

Several Lady Cougar bats came alive in the second game against the Firebirds. Junior shortstop Katie Mathis was three for four in her at bats while crossing the plate twice and nabbing two stolen bases.

According to Mathis, the offensive burst was a welcomed change from her first few plate appearances.

"I started out 0-20," Mathis admitted. "I finally felt like I was playing where I should be."

Junior third baseman Alyx Schmidt also went three for four in the contest, earning two runs and an RBI. Junior catcher Tiffany Carter went two for three at the plate with three RBIs. One of Carter's hits was another monster homerun, Carter's second of the season.

Martin started on the mound for the Lady Cougars again on Thursday when SMNW met up with Leavenworth. The 11-0 rout of the Lady Pioneers moved Martin to 4-0 on the season as she earned five more strikeouts while giving up just three hits.

Coach Balderston was happy to earn the win, but was quick to point out his respect for the Leav

enworth ball club.

"You have to admire the kids at Leavenworth," he said. "They're really trying to build their program back up. You really have to admire the kids that are out there trying their best to be a part of that."

Freshman phenom Kim Jones took back over the mound in the second game of the doubleheader. Jones pitched a perfect game going into the fifth inning before the Lady Cougars were charged with three errors. Jones struck out eight and was credited with her first no-hitter in the 10-0 win.

Balderston was impressed with his freshman in the no-hitter.

"It's going to be huge for Kim's confidence," he said. "She was very nervous during her first game. The more innings she's pitched, the more confident she's become. You can see that in her body language and the way she handles herself."

Jones agreed that her pitching has improved since she faced SMN in the Cougars' only loss of the season.

"I'm becoming a lot more confident in the games," Jones said. "At first, I was really nervous. Now, I'm just trying to go out and do my best every game."

While the nerves may be settled, Jones admitted to getting a few butterflies when she was closing in on the no-hitter.

"The thought (of a no-hitter) had crossed my mind," she said. "It really helped knowing that it was our defense back there backing me up. I don't think it would have happened with any other defense."

The Cougars will take the field again tomorrow when they play SMW at JCGAA. The first game begins at 4:15 p.m.