During a preseason interview, Republic softball coach Lee Dishman called Katie Anderson “one of the bright spots of the summer” for his team. It didn’t take long for Anderson to show she can carry that hot summer over into the fall. Anderson went three-for-four with two RBIs to lift Republic to a win in its softball season opener at Monett, 4-3. Pitcher Avery Romans scattered five hits and allowed just one earned run to pick up the win.
Monett started strong with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After the first two batters were retired, an error, a hit batter, and another error helped the Cubs take a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Anderson led off with a hit and came around to score on a single by Emma White, cutting the lead to 2-1. Another Monett run in the bottom of the inning made the score 3-1.
A three-run rally in the top of the third inning made the difference for Republic. It started with a leadoff single by Jaci West and another single by Kaitlyn Ragsdale. Megan Weis walked to load the bases. After Monett forced out a runner at home, Anderson rapped a bases-loaded single to left field, scoring Ragsdale and Weis. Emma White singled home the eventual winning run later in the inning, scoring Fenske to give Republic a 4-3 lead.
Romans would only allow three base runners the rest of the way: one on a bunt single, one on a bloop single, and one on an error. She finished the complete game with two strikeouts and one walk, allowing three runs – one earned – on five hits.
Republic improves to 1-0.