The strong play from Bourbon High School’s softball team continued after a close victory over Plato and blowout wins over Steelville and Kingston. The Lady Warhawks are now 6-2 on the season and have won six straight after dropping their first two games of the season.

Bourbon hosted a double header on April 13 against Dixon and Stoutland which will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Lady Warhawks will then host Central (Park Hills) on April 17 and play in Steelville on April 20. Two days later on April 22, Bourbon will host Grandview (Hillsboro) for a double header, making up their scheduled April 1 matchup that was postponed due to the inclement weather.

April 6 vs. Plato

After having its April 1 matchup against Grandview (Hillsboro) get cancelled due to the inclement weather, the Lady Warhawks returned to action at home against the Plato Lady Eagles. The Lady Eagles came into play with an 11-2 record and were tied for ninth place in the Class 1 Missouri State Rankings, according to Ozark Sports Zone.

Bourbon showed that they can compete with one of the state’s best. The matchup was a fast paced, well pitched ball game. Plato took an early lead after scoring one in the top of the first and adding one in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 advantage. Bourbon responded in the bottom half of the third by using nifty baserunning and an RBI single from senior pitcher Annalise Gobin to tie the game up at two.

Gobin seemed to get stronger on the mound as the game went on and didn’t give up a run after the third inning. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bourbon sophomore Ella Biles laced a single that scored Gobin, which proved to be the difference in the game.

The Lady Warhawks played stout defense behind Gobin in the seventh inning and held on to win 3-2 for their fourth win of the season. It was Bourbon’s first win in a close game after picking up dominating wins over their past three opponents with run-rule victories in shortened games.

Gobin scattered just four hits in seven innings, striking out 12 Lady Eagles while giving up just one earned run to earn the victory.

Biles led Bourbon at the plate with two hits and picked up the game-winning run batted in. Sophomore Lauryn Hercules singled and scored, freshman Savanna Vance and sophomore Kinzey Waldron each singled and freshman Brynn Miller scored a run to round out Bourbon’s productivity at the plate.

Plato senior Taylor Utley pitched all six innings, striking out six Lady Warhawks and sophomore leadoff hitter Maci Shalbot singled, walked and scored both runs to lead the Lady Eagles.

April 9 vs. Steelville

After competing in a low scoring pitchers duel three days prior, the Lady Warhawks’ bats erupted against the Steelville Lady Cardinals on senior day. Bourbon’s lone senior, pitcher Annalise Gobin, was honored before the game alongside her parents, Jason and Lindsay Gobin. Gobin’s teammates made sure to provide plenty of run support for her on her special day.

The Lady Warhawks poured on 17 first-inning runs en route to a 25-0 demolition of their Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) opponent in just three innings of action due to the run rule. Bourbon head coach Randy Payne instructed his players to stop taking extra bases once the score reached nine, as an ode to good sportsmanship.

Gobin hurled three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven Lady Cardinals to earn the win. At the plate, all of Bourbon’s starters reached base at least one and scored at least two runs.

Biles, Gobin and freshman Brianna Bouse each had three base hits and scored three times. Hercules had two hits including an inside the park grand slam on a screaming line drive down the right field line. Hercules also scored three times, stole a base and drove in a game-high seven runs. Sophomore Kinzey Waldron crushed a double off the center field wall, drove in two runs and scored three times.

Steelville freshman Kaylee Pitts had Steelville’s lone base hit and Gracie Mae Boone Grace Werley each walked.

April 10 vs. Kingston

Bourbon’s sweet swinging of the bats continued against the Kingston Lady Cougars. After scoring two in the first innings, Bourbon’s bats erupted for 13 runs in the second, propelling the Lady Warhawks to a 16-0 dominant victory in three innings due to the run rule.

Waldron had her best game of the season, blasting her first career home run and tripling to drive in four runs. Freshman Savanna Vance doubled, drove in three runs and pitched for the first time this season, hurling a scoreless third inning while striking out one batter.  Gobin started on the mound and pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five Lady Cougars and at the plate, scored twice and stole two bases.

Hercules doubled, reached base all three times, stole two bases, scored three times and drove in three runs. Junior Maddie Blanton, freshman Brynn Miller, sophomore Arianna Barnhouse each scored a pair of runs and Bouse drove in two runs and scored twice in Bourbon’s blowout victory.