With a 5-0 stretch last week against some good teams, the Lady Wildcats softball team won the Central State 8 Conference championship again this year, going undefeated in the conference for the second straight year.

“We had a few tough tests that we had to fight and battle through, but I’m very proud of this group, and how much we have grown over the season,” said Coach Ryan Rost. “We are playing great defense, with great outings from our pitchers, and we are hitting the ball well when we need to. We are playing great softball right now and just need to keep that mentality and momentum going forward into October.”

On Monday, the Lady Cats knocked off Pacific, 8-1.

Of seven hits, four were doubles, as Ava Warren went 3-4 with a double, Emma Starke posted two hits with a double and two RBI, and Elli Dudenhoeffer (double, 2 RBI), Anna Peters (RBI), Kenzy Hackmann (double, RBI), Sophie Voss, and Paige Senevey claimed a hit apiece. Heslie Higginbotham also drove in a run.

Linn scored a run in the first, two in the third, three in the fifth, and two in the sixth.

Warren notched the win after striking out eight and walking two while allowing no runs on six hits.

On Friday, the Lady Cats won both games in their home tournament.

In the second game, Linn defeated St. Francis Borgia 9-6, using a strong sixth to put it away.

Trailing 6-3 at the start of the frame, Higgs (1-4, double) delivered a single to center field, and Hackmann and Voss (2-3) drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Dudenhoeffer (3-5, 2 RBI) singled to drive in the first run. After a Starke (2-5, double, RBI) walk reloaded the bases, Warren (2-4, double, 4 RBI) stepped into the box and drove in Dudenhoeffer with a single to left; Voss scored on the throw. Senevey hit a sac fly to plate Starke, and a Peters (2-4, RBI) single accounted for the final run.

Linn trailed 1-0 after the second, but scored three to take the lead. Borgia plated three in the third to reclaim the lead and added two more in the fourth to set the stage.

On the rubber, Warren started and over four innings, allowed six earned runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. In three innings of relief, Voss struck out four and allowed two hits.

In the early game, the Lady Cats held off a late surge to defeat Southern Boone, 4-3.

Linn struck early and often, scoring a run in the first and two in the second to lead 3-0.

SoBo knotted the game at 3-3 after a strong sixth, but the Lady Cats scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning. Senevey (2-2) drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a passed ball. She later moved to third on a groundout and scored when Elizabeth Sprenger sent a fly ball to center field.

Voss (2 RBI), Dudenhoeffer, and Higginbotham each added a hit.

From the circle, Voss went the distance with eight strikeouts, three walks, and three earned runs on five hits.

On Thursday, the Lady Cats beat Eugene, 3-2, with a walk-off hit in the seventh.

Higginbotham (1-3) opened the frame with a double, and Hackmann (1-4, RBI) drove her in with a single to center field.

Linn led 1-0 after two. Eugene tied the game in the third, but the Lady Cats scored a run in the fifth to reclaim the lead. After the Lady Eagles tied the game again, Linn walked off the win.

Sprenger (RBI), Voss, Peters, and Dudenhoeffer added a hit apiece.

Voss allowed two earned runs on five hits, with six strikeouts and a walk over seven innings.

Last Tuesday, Linn honored its seniors in an 8-1 win over Iberia.

“Our seniors have done so much to lead this team, and we appreciate their efforts,” said Coach Rost.

Hackmann went 1-3, but that hit was a solo HR to lead off the first inning. Linn added four runs in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Cats added a run in the third and two in the fourth.

Voss (double), Peters (2 RBI), and Dudenhoeffer (RBI) counted two hits apiece, as Sprenger (2 RBI), Starke (RBI), Warren (double), and Senevey each had one.

Warren earned the win after a seven-inning performance that included five strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run on five hits.