Lady Jays hit four HRs in win vs. Pleasant Hope

Jefferson City's Olivia Wallace hits an RBI single in the fourth inning of Monday night's game against Pleasant Hope at 63 Diamonds.
Jefferson City's Olivia Wallace hits an RBI single in the fourth inning of Monday night's game against Pleasant Hope at 63 Diamonds.

A little more than a week ago, the Jefferson City Lady Jays were a .500 ball club. Now they're seven games above .500 thanks to eight wins in eight days.

On Monday, Jefferson City had a couple errors and a passed ball in the first inning and trailed 1-0. The Lady Jays didn't trail long. Kara Daly hit two of Jefferson City's four home runs to lead the Lady Jays to a 12-1 win in five innings against Pleasant Hope at 63 Diamonds. The win makes their regular season record 17-10 heading into the district tournament.

"You want to be peaking at the right time," Jefferson City coach Zac Miller said. "I think offensively this is about the best we've been clicking all year round throughout the lineup. It's what you want right before districts."

Daly led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to center field.

Reece Desimone followed with a single and later scored on Mychael Jett's two-run home run to left field.

"We've got kids up and down I think that can about any time hit one out," Miller said.

Jefferson City's other homers came in the third inning. Megan Green led off the inning with a solo shot to left and Daly blasted a two-run home run, her second of the game, three batters later.

"Wind blowing out today helps for sure, but I think at least three of those balls are still out even if the wind is not blowing out," Miller said.

Daly was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and three runs scored. Desimone, who doubled in Daly in the second inning, was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Brooke Bates, who scored on Daly's second home run, went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the four-run fourth inning and two runs scored from the No. 9 spot in the lineup.

Jefferson City is averaging nearly 10 runs a game in the last nine games.

"Over the weekend we really got the bats going," Miller said. "We've been hitting well and its been fun to watch. They seem to be more aggressive in the zone and having fun doing it."

Jett got the win in the pitcher's circle, striking out eight with zero walks in five innings. Pleasant Hope got four hits and an unearned run off her. Jett struck out the side in the second and fourth innings.

Jefferson City is seeded third in the Class 4 District 9 Tournament, which starts Wednesday at Rock Bridge.

Jefferson City (17-10) will take on sixth-seeded Sedalia Smith-Cotton (6-15) at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the winner playing second seeded Hickman (19-8) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Grain Valley (14-15) and Rock Bridge (12-15) will play in the 4-5 matchup at 5 p.m. Wednesday with the winner facing top-seeded Blue Springs South (19-9) at 5 p.m Thursday.

The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday.

"It's anybody's district," Miller said. "They are out there competing just like the other five teams that are in it. There's not any reason why anybody couldn't get it. I'm hoping they are focused and ready to go."

Pleasant Hope won Monday's JV game 9-2.

Brooke Tanner had a hit and scored a run for the Lady Jays. Megan Green took the loss in the pitcher's circle.