McFarland, Kelley have MVP performances in title run for Explosion

By Gene Morris, gmorris@miconews.com

Playing for the 18-and-under Paola Girls’ Softball Association league roster tournament championship Paola Explosion are (in front, from left) Courtney Johnson, Mallorie Nelson, Mariah Keller, Melanie Golubski, (middle row) Kelli Cullor, Paige McFarland, Ann Pomatto, (back row) Karly Schulte, Katelyn Wolken, Allison Wood and Paige Rockers. (Photo by Gene Morris)

Paige McFarland came off the bench with a pinch-hit bases-loaded double as the Paola Explosion defeated the Kansas Chaos 16-0 to claim the Paola Girls’ Softball Association 18-and-under roster league tournament.

McFarland was presented with a plaque for the Most Valuable Player of the game following the July 9 action.

After her double in the second inning, McFarland walked and scored in the third inning.

Mariah Keller singled and doubled, driving home two runs in an 8-0 victory against the Paola Heat in the first round of the tournament, taking home Most Valuable Player honors for her performance.

The Paola Explosion went 14-0 to win the seven-week roster league regular season title. They went 2-0 to add the league tournament crown.

“Congratulations on a very successful roster season,” Paola Explosion manager Kent Schulte said to the girls after the tournament.

McFarland walked and doubled. She drove home three runs and scored twice in the championship game against the Chaos.

Courtney Johnson and Ann Pomatto each scored three runs. Johnson walked, reached on an error and doubled. Pomatto walked, singled and doubled.

Mallorie Nelson reached on an error, singled and scored two runs. Kelli Cullor and Katelyn Wolken each doubled and scored.

Paola scored four runs in the first inning and broke the game open with nine runs in the second frame. A three-run third inning made the final 16-0.

Allison Wood started the title game, working one inning. Wood walked the leadoff batter. The runner was thrown out trying to steal second. Wood retired the next two batters.

Karly Schulte pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out two.

Wood and Schulte combined for a two-hit shutout, yielding singles in the second and third innings.

In the first round of the tournament, the Explosion scored in four of five innings against the Paola Heat, including each of the first three innings, to post an 8-0 victory in the first round of the tournament.

Schulte walked and stole second to open the game. Johnson followed with a single.

A sacrifice by Pomatto and an error allowed the Explosion to plate two runs in the frame, taking a 2-0 lead.

Three errors, a fielder’s choice and a single by Keller led to two runs in the second inning.

Wood singled to start the third inning. Pomatto made it back-to-back hits with a double, driving home Wood.

Keller doubled as the Explosion scored three runs in the inning, pushing their lead to 7-0.

After a quiet fourth inning, Pomatto reached on an error in the fifth inning and scored.

Keller was 2-for-2 in the game with a single and a double.

Pomatto had a sacrifice, reached on an error and doubled. She scored two runs.

Nelson started the game, striking out six in two innings of work and notching the win. Nelson had just two runners on base, yielding a single and a base on balls.

Wood pitched the final two hitless innings in relief. She struck out two.