A lot has changed for the Capital City softball team in just a year.
Adding a pitcher and making strides in the field and at the plate has made for a leap in progress for the second-year program.
The Lady Cavaliers notched their seventh win of the season Thursday with a 12-2 victory in five innings against Cuba at Capital City High School, matching their win total from last season just eight games into the season.
"It was a lot of work in the offseason," Capital City coach Brett Skinner said. "Good freshman class that stepped in and was ready to play right away, so that helped a lot too. But those girls that were playing last year, they've stepped their game up to another level."
One of those returners, Kennedy Schanuth, tied the score of Thursday's game at 2 in the first inning with a deep fly ball that one-hopped to the fence in center field for an RBI double.
It was the first of two doubles for the cleanup batter as part of a 3-for-4 performance.
The Lady Cavaliers took the lead for good in the first after Jaiden Kausler grounded out, allowing Schanuth to score. Emma Stieferman also scored on the play after a high throw to the plate to make it 4-2.
That was the only time Kausler got out during the game, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
In the fourth, Kausler smacked a fly ball over the outstretched glove of the Cuba shortstop for a single that drove in Schanuth and Stieferman. That put Capital City ahead 10-2.
The game ended by run-rule when Schanuth reached on an error, allowing Kelsey O'Day to score from third base.
"We're used to seeing some more velocity, but it's a game of adjustments," Skinner said. "And a majority of the girls are able to make those adjustments and hit balls and put balls in play."
Lydia Coulson doubled twice and scored twice from the leadoff spot. MaKhia Otten added two singles and two runs scored from the No. 8 spot in the lineup.
Olivia Wood earned her second win of the season, striking out eight and walking two in five innings. Both of Cuba's runs came in the first inning on a double by Abigail Wilson and a single by Diamond Payne.
"Then she started attacking the zone more and staying down and had a lot more success," Skinner said.
Capital City will face the Jefferson City Lady Jays for the first time today at Vogel Field. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson City enters the game at 3-2, 0-1 in the Central Missouri Activities Conference.
"That's a big one," Skinner said. "That one's been circled on the calendar for a while, so we're ready for it. It'll be a good matchup. There will be two good pitchers going and we'll see who can play better defense and score some runs."