Tigers sweep Indy, move into 2nd place

Catcher Mackenzie Jackman drove in 5 runs in each game of a Southeast Kansas League doubleheader at Don Hewett Field Tuesday as Fort Scott High's softball team posted an 11-4, 13-5 sweep of previously-undefeated Independence.

The Tigers (5-1 SEK, 6-2 overall) moved into second place in the league ahead of the Bulldogs (4-2, 7-2). League-leading Labette County (8-0, 10-0) comes to Don Hewett Field Friday for a key SEK battle.

Jackman went 3 for 4 at the plate in the opener and 2 for 3 in the second game. Jackman, whose parents are originally from the area, moved to Fort Scott from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and has proven a good fit for the team as the starting catcher.

Jackman drove home Hannah Tourtillott in the third inning of the opener to get the Tigers on the scoreboard. Independence scored 2 in the top of the fourth but Fort Scott responded with 6 in the bottom half.

Sidney Maycumber led off the inning and reached on an error. Maddie Allen singled and both runners moved over on Erica Shoemaker's sacrifice bunt. Tourtillott reached on another error with 2 out, which plated Maycumber. Allen scored on an error as Tourtillott stole second base. Riley Brown singled to bring Tourtillott home, then went to second on the throw home. Jackman plated Brown with a single and Delane Gray doubled Jackman home to make it 7-1.

The Bulldogs scored 2 more in the top of the fifth. Fort Scott responded with Jackman's 3-RBI triple in the bottom of the frame that scored Harper, Tourtillott and Brown to make it 10-4.

The final run went on the board in the sixth when Shoemaker's 2-out double scored Gray, who had reached on an error.

The Tigers had 10 hits in the opener. Tourtillott scored 3 runs and stole 2 bases while Brown scored twice.

Gray (2-1) was the winning pitcher as she allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. She struck out 2 batters.

Independence scored once in the first inning of the second game. The Tigers took the lead in the bottom half. Brown singled with 1 out and Jackman drew a walk. Brown scored on Kenzie Heatherly's double and Jackman scored on Allen's 2-out bunt.

Fort Scott added 4 in the second to make it 6-1. Harper walked to lead off the inning and Tourtillott reached on a bunt. Brown singled to load the bases. Jackman's hit brought in Harper and Tourtillott. Heatherly reached on an error which allowed Brown to score. And Allen's 2-out single brought Jackman home.

Four more went up in the third. Harper singled to lead off and Tourtillott again reached on a bunt. Another Brown hit loaded the bases for Jackman, who got Harper and Tourtillott home with a hit. Heatherly's single scored Brown and Jackman scored on Gray's groundout.

Indy played 4 in the top of the fifth to get within 10-5. Heatherly got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning as she singled, moved to second on Gray's sacrifice bunt, then took third and home on wild pitches.

Shoemaker led off the sixth with a single and Harper walked. Tourtillott reached on a bunt and an error on Brown's fly ball to left brought in Shoemaker. Jackman lifted a sacrifice fly to Center to bring Harper home with the final tally.

Fort Scott had 15 hits in the second game with Tourtillott and Heatherly each going 3 for 5 and Brown going 3 for 4. Allen went 2 for 4.

Heatherly was credited with 3 runs batted in while Allen drove home 2. Brown, Jackman and Harper each scored 3 times.

Harper (4-1) allowed 2 earned runs on 6 hits. She walked 6 and struck out 6.

NOTES -- Independence was averaging 12 runs a game going into Tuesday's doubleheader and had been allowing about 5 runs....

Labette County has outscored its opponents 116-2 this season. Friday's rain-shortened second game at Chanute, a 5-0 win, was the first time the Grizzlies had not scored at least 10 runs in a game this season....

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Game One

Independence.. 000 220 0 -- 4 4 5

Fort Scott..... 001 631 x -- 11 10 2

WP -- Gray (2-1). LP -- Allison.

HR -- None.

Game Two

Independence.. 100 040 0 -- 5 6 5

Fort Scott..... 244 012 x -- 13 15 6

WP -- Harper (4-1). LP -- Corn.

HR -- None.