McPHERSON, Kan. – The Daryl Hoelting era of McPherson High School softball started with a dominating sweep over Valley Center Tuesday, March 25 with a 6-0 shutout in game one thanks to an Addison Chapman no-hitter and a 10-2 victory in game two.
GAME ONE – W 6-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| VCHS: | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| MHS: | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 1 |
Chapman’s stellar pitching performance and a power-hitting Bullpup squad gave them a shutout victory to begin the season. Chapman, who was a first-team All-State honoree a season ago, threw all seven innings allowing five walks but striking out 12 batters.
Three of the seven hits for McPherson went for extra bases, including a triple and two home runs. Another All-State First Team honoree from 2024 Haely Hagemann led with two hits, hitting one of the two homers.
Batting: A. Chapman: 1-3, BB | P. Bauer: 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI | H. Hagemann: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI | R. Whitfield: 0-2, BB | A. Romero: 0-3 | Carmin Pavlovich: 0-3 | K. Huggard: 1-3, R | Cora Pavlovich: 1-3, HR, RBI | A. Herrera: 1-2, R
Pitching: A. Chapman (W, 1-0): 7.0 IP. 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 12 K
GAME TWO – W 10-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| VCHS: | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| MHS: | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | X | 10 | 10 | 1 |
McPherson kept the offensive firepower going into game two with a 10-hit, 10-run performance to get the sweep. Valley Center got on the board first in the top of the third with a triple and a sacrifice fly, but those were the only times the Hornets crossed the plate.
The Bullpups responded after two errors in the bottom half of the 3rd, scoring on a Hagemann RBI single, a Rylie Whitfield sac bunt, and a sacrifice fly from Ava Romero to give the Bullpups the lead. McPherson tacked on four more in the fourth with five hits and a Valley Center error. They scored three in the sixth to run away with the win for good 10-2. Addie Herrera threw a complete game, striking out five batters.
Batting: A. Chapman: 2-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R | P. Bauer: 1-3, RBI, BB, 3 R | H. Hagemann: 1-2, RBI, BB, R | R. Whitfield: 1-3, 3 RBI | A. Romero: 1-3, 2B / K. Huggard: 0-0, BB | Cora Pavlovich: 1-4 | P. Alvord: 1-4 | B. Doile: 0-3, R | A. Herrera: 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Pitching: A. Herrera (W, 1-0): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
The Bullpups are 2-0 to start the season and will look to use the momentum in their league opener Thursday, March 27 at home against Augusta. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m. at the Grant Sports Complex.
