***Kendall Vincent is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The Annawan/Wethersfield Lady Titans had a powerful showing on Thursday, notching back-to-back wins over Monmouth United’s varsity Red Storm with dominant performances on both ends of the field.
Madison Smith was nearly untouchable in the circle and electric at the plate in Game 1, leading the Titans to a 14-0 shutout. Smith drove in five runs with a sacrifice fly in the first, a two-run double in the second, and a two-run home run in the fourth. She also struck out 10 and allowed just three hits and one walk over five scoreless innings.
The Titans wasted no time getting on the board, with Karsyn Rico and Smith helping build a 2-0 first-inning lead. Smith’s double and a Lauren Davis single added to the advantage in the second, while Kendall Vincent’s RBI triple made it 6-0 in the third.
Smith homered to center in the fourth, and Vincent followed with a two-RBI single to extend the lead further. Four more runs in the fifth sealed the victory.
Annawan/Wethersfield racked up 16 hits, led by Vincent’s perfect 4-for-4 outing from the ninth spot. Clara Bella VanOpdorp and Elynn Manuel added multi-hit games, while Davis walked three times. The Titans also stole four bases and played error-free defense.
In Game 2, the Titans shook off an early 4-1 deficit and exploded for 16 unanswered runs to complete the sweep with a 17-4 win.
Monmouth United jumped ahead in the second thanks to RBI singles from Mallory Giddings and Aubrey Bainter. But the Titans responded with a five-run second, sparked by a hit-by-pitch RBI and capitalized on control struggles from the Red Storm’s pitchers.
The third inning saw Madison Smith and Lauren Davis collect RBI singles, adding four more runs to the tally. In the fourth, Annawan/Wethersfield erupted for seven runs on just four hits. VanOpdorp drove in two with a single, Smith and Davis added RBIs, and singles from Elynn Manuel and Wavelynn Peart capped off the inning.
Davis earned the win, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out four over five innings. The Titans drew 10 walks and stole seven bases, with Rico and VanOpdorp each swiping multiple bags. Peart led the defense with seven chances as the Titans again played error-free softball.
Smith finished the second game with four RBIs, while Rico, Peart, and VanOpdorp collected two hits each. Giddings led Monmouth United with two RBIs and two hits.
