Softball: North Callaway 12, Elsberry 5

AUXVASSE, Mo. - The North Callaway Ladybirds took down the Elsberry Lady Indians in an Eastern Missouri Conference game during their senior night on Monday.

Elsberry (6-10, 3-5 EMO) scored a run in the first inning and four in the top of the third to jump out to a 5-0 lead. North Callaway (11-7, 7-1) came up up with a run in the bottom of the third, four in the fifth and seven in the sixth to take a 12-5 lead.

Senior starter Taylor Wilson went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run batted in and two runs scored as the Ladybirds totaled 12 hits. Junior catcher Erica Garett was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored, while sophomore center fielder Lani Wilson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and junior right fielder Kallie Jo Lehenbauer was 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.

Sophomore reliever Kenzie Ausfahl (6-2) threw four innings of relief for Taylor Wilson to pick up the win. She did not allow a run or hit, struck out six and walked three.

On Saturday, the Ladybirds won the consolation-bracket championship of the Centralia Tournament after beating the Hallsville Lady Indians 13-3 in six innings.

Hallsville (8-8) scored three runs in the top of the second and North Callaway tied the game after coming up with three runs in the third. The Ladybirds tallied six runs in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Taylor Wilson - who played first base - went 4-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored as North Callaway totaled 19 hits. Junior left fielder Carley VanBoening was 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored and Ausfahl was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Ausfahl did not allow a hit or run through four innings of relief to pick up the win. She struck out five and walked one.

North Callaway was able to play Hallsville after beating the Palmyra Lady Panthers 9-7 in the consolation-bracket semifinals.

The Ladybirds scored first by coming up with three runs in the bottom of the first and four in the second. Palmyra came up with five runs in the top of the fourth to cut North Callaway's lead to 7-5. The Ladybirds came up with a run in the bottom of the fourth and a run in the sixth. The Lady Panthers tallied two runs in the seventh.

Garrett went 2-for-4 with two RBI as North Callaway collected 10 hits. Ausfahl was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Taylor Wilson - who was the starter - went 2-for-3 with an RBI and junior first baseman Hanna Knipp was 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored.

Ausfahl earned the win by throwing 3 1/3 innings of relief. She allowed two unearned runs on two hits, struck out two and walked one.

North Callaway lost its opening-round game to the Mexico Lady Bulldogs 5-2 on Saturday morning.

The Ladybirds scored two runs in the bottom of the first, but Mexico took the lead after coming up with three in the second and two in the third.

Lani Wilson was 2-for-3 with an RBI as North Callaway tallied six hits. Freshman second baseman Ellie Eckert went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Wilson (4-4) started and took the loss for the Ladybirds. She allowed five runs - three earned - on eight hits, struck out one and walked one through three innings.

North Callaway plays an EMO game at Mark Twain at 5 p.m. today.