The post-game conversation was easy Thursday for Calvary Lutheran softball coach Denice Burks.
"We didn't have anything to tell them tonight that we needed to work on," Burks said following a 9-1 win against New Bloomfield. "Clean D pretty much, hit the ball well pretty much up and down the lineup."
The Lady Lions only had one error, piled up nine hits among five different players and pitcher Presley Welch kept the Lady Wildcats off the board except for Sarah Abbott's solo home run in the fourth inning.
"We looked really good tonight, both offensively and defensively," Burks said. "Bats really came alive tonight, which they have been off and on. We had some really good defensive plays, hard hit plays, especially at third base and shortstop. Abbi (Klatt) had several hit at her and made some really good plays."
After Abbott's home run to lead off the fourth, New Bloomfield got back-to-back singles from Mackenzie Garrett and Parker Pitzen.
A fielder's choice at third recorded the first out and Lily McCarty caught a liner at shortstop for out No. 2. A walk loaded the bases but Welch struck out the batter looking to keep Calvary up 7-1.
Welch retired the side in order in the fifth and seventh innings with the only remaining trouble coming in the sixth. Welch struck out four, walked one and allowed eight hits in seven innings.
"She can move it around and she's got pretty good control, so we hope she keeps doing that," Burks said.
Right fielder Carlie Rieber helped keep New Bloomfield at a single run by firing a throw to third base after a single to get the lead runner out in the sixth. Welch ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Lady Lions did most of their damage in the second with five runs on four hits and an error.
Samantha Matthews sent a fly ball to left-center field to lead things off and later scored when Rieber singled and the ball got past the left fielder.
McCarty made it 4-0 with a single to left field, Clare Hart scored on a Claire Duenckel groundout and Klatt singled in a run for a 6-0 advantage.
With runners at the corners, Klatt stole second and McCarty made it home before the ball got back to the plate for a 7-0 lead.
Klatt led the offensive attack with three hits and three RBI, Welch finished with a pair of hits and two RBI and Matthews added two hits.
"They're seeing the ball much better," Burks said. "I think we went through a little phase there where we just weren't seeing it. We've worked on some drills, cranked up the machine a little bit to make them look at it a little bit."
Calvary (15-4) has a pair of games left before district play begins. The Lady Lions will play today at Sturgeon before hosting Moberly on Monday.
The Lady Lions start play Wednesday in the Class 2 District 9 Tournament in Westphalia. They are the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 Linn at 5 p.m.
Blair Oaks, Fatima and Eugene are the top three seeds with Belle being the No. 6 seed.
"We want to go into districts hitting the ball," Burks said. "Obviously making the plays when we can make the plays. We've been preaching that and preaching that the past week."