ShawneeDispatch.com

The Mill Valley Lady Jags softball team moved to 8-0 last week with a win over De Soto last Tuesday and two wins over Tonganoxie last Thursday.

"It feels awesome to be 8-0 right now," Lady Jags starter Kelly Griffin said.

Mill Valley faced off against De Soto on Tuesday. The Lady Jags took an early 1-0 lead only to see it disappear quickly, as the Wildcats jumped in front 2-1.

Mill Valley finally got things going offensively midway through the game. The Jags opened up a 7-2 lead, but De Soto cut it to 7-5 late in the game. The Lady Jags finally held on and won 7-5.

It was not a typical day for the Lady Jags, as they uncharacteristically committed error after error, something that Mill Valley coach Michelle Mages is not accustomed to.

The Lady Jags finished the day with six errors. Mill Valley did not make a single error in its previous five games.

"We were not mentally prepared to play against De Soto," Mages said. "We hit the ball well but kept knocking ourselves out with the errors. I have to give credit to De Soto because they did a good job of hitting the ball and putting the ball in play. Emily Baker pitched will for them, too."

Things were a little different for the Lady Jags on Thursday against Tonganoxie.

It was the opening of a new field for Mill Valley and the celebration of the 1998 state champion De Soto Wildcat softball team.

Whether it was all of the festivities or just a different attitude for the Lady Jags, something was different as they jumped all over Tonganoxie in the first game of a doubleheader, winning 6-0.

Mill Valley scored twice in the first inning off a passed ball and an RBI from Sara Luschen.

The Lady Jags‘ big inning came in the third, when they sent four runners across the plate for a 6-0 lead.

Heather Theater had a big single that knocked in two runs and Katrina Heinrich knocked in two more with a triple.

Erin Thomas started the game on the mound for the Lady Jags and completely shut down the Chieftains as she had 12 strikeouts. Kat White came in to close the game and picked up the save for Mill Valley to preserve a 6-0 win.

Erin Leslie went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Jenny Smith also went 2-for-4 in the first game.

In the second game, Tonganoxie jumped out to a quick 3-0 first inning lead.

Starter Cat White was pulled in the second inning and was replaced by Thomas, who came in and made sure that three runs were all the Chieftains would get.

The score stayed at 3-0 until the second inning, when the Lady Jags' bats came alive.

With runners at second and third and two outs, Kendra Corley doubled to left field to send in two to cut the Chieftain lead to 3-2. Erin Leslie then came up and singled in Corley to tie the score at 3 a piece.

The score remained tied at 3 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Heinrich reached on a dropped third strike. Heinrich advanced all the way to third base when Kelly Griffin stepped up to the plate.

"I was so nervous up there," Griffin said.

Griffin's nerves did not appear to be a factor, as she blooped a single to score Heinrich and give the Lady Jags the lead at 4-3.

Tonganoxie threatened in the top of the seventh but Thomas stopped the threat, slamming the door as she had done all game.

The senior finished the game with 11 strikeouts and she had 23 combined strikeouts during the two games.

The wins over Tonganoxie avenged a key loss that the Lady Jags endured last year against the Cheiftains. Last year's loss cost the Lady Jags the league title.

Thomas was a key contributor in both wins on Thursday, and defeating Tonganoxie was something she and her teammates had been looking forward to.

"I gave up a run last year to loose the game to Tongie 1-0," Thomas said. "I was really hungry to play them this year and aiming to get them back."

Mages felt good about her team after the close win against De Soto. She said that changes at practice contributed to the better play.

"The seniors stepped up at practice and expressed their concerns to the team without my presence," she said. "I think the girls are a confident bunch and that showed today. They did not get down when they were down 3-0. Last year we would have folded being down with that kind of deficit. We were glad to take care of Tongy, this game cost us the league title last year."

Mill Valley played Piper Tuesday night, however, results were not available at press time.

The Lady Jags will look to continue their roll Thursay, April 22 against Basehor-Linwood.

First pitch at Basehor's Field of Dreams complex is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.