The Cordell Lady Blue Devils JH team traveled to Hennessey this past Friday to begin the 2025 spring slowpitch softball season and take part in the Hennessey Hitfest Tournament. The girls came out swinging and played stellar defense over the four games they were participating in.
In the first game of the tournament, the Lady Blue Devils met up with the Ringwood Lady Red Devils. Cordell got on the board in the top of the first inning 4-0 after Emma Holman walked, Kilie Rasmussen grounded out, Natalie Hewitt grounded out, and Hannah Jones doubled, each scoring one run. Cordell then added to their lead in the top of the second inning and made the score 8-2 after Chloe Smith tripled, which scored one run, Kilie Rasmussen doubled, scoring one run and Hewitt singled, scoring two runs. In the top of the third inning, they added 2 more runs after Rylee Larsen singled and Emma Holman grounded out, each scoring a run. Emma Holman was the starting pitcher for the Lady Blue Devils. She allowed three hits and only gave up two runs in the first inning. She also struck out three while walking four. Larsen, Rasmussen, Jones, Hewitt, and Smith each got two hits. Brynlie Gray led the team with three walks.
The second game of the day Cordell played the eventual tournament champs, the Oilton Panthers. Lady Blue lost to Oilton 10-9. Kilie Rasmussen collected three hits in three at bats in the loss. Rasmussen singled in the first inning, singled in the fifth inning, and singled in the third inning. Cordell jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Chloe Smith doubled, scoring one run, Rasmussen singled, scoring one run, Natalie Hewitt singled, scoring two runs, and Hannah Jones singled, scoring one run. Oilton tied the game in the bottom of the third. A single by Rylee Larsen gave Lady Blue the lead, 6-5, in the top of the fourth. Oilton captured the lead, 9-6, in the bottom of the fourth. Cordell then tied the game in the top of the fifth thanks to a single by Rasmussen, a double by Hewitt, and a single by Brynlie Gray. Emma Holman started in the circle for Cordell. She gave up 15 hits and 10 runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking two. Cordell accumulated 14 hits in the game. Hewitt went 2-for-3 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in. Smith and Gray each collected multiple hits.
Cordell defeated Chisholm 11-3 in the third game, thanks in part to six runs in the fourth inning. Emma Holman tripled, scoring three runs, Kilie Rasmussen doubled, scoring one run, Kaziah Wilson singled, scoring one run, and Cheynee Hunter singled, scoring one run. Chisholm opened the scoring in the top of the second thanks to three singles. Cordell flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead, 5-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run by Rylee Larsen that drove in two. Rylee Kelly pitched for the Lady Blue. She only gave up six hits and three runs while striking out none and walking one in her first start. Cordell piled up 12 hits in the game. Holman drove the middle of the lineup, leading Lady Blue with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 1-for-2 on the day. Rasmussen, Chloe Smith, and Wilson each collected two hits for Lady Blue. Hannah Jones and Brynlie Gray led the team with two bases on balls each.
The final game of the day for the Lady Blue Devils was another match up with Ringwood. Natalie Hewitt collected three hits in three at bats, as Cordell defeated the Lady Red Devils again, 8-0. Hewitt doubled in the first inning, singled in the second inning, and singled in the fourth inning. Cordell scored six runs in the first inning on the way to victory. Rylee Kelly singled, scoring one run, Kilie Rasmussen tripled, scoring two runs, Hewitt doubled, scoring one run, Kaziah Wilson singled, scoring one run, and Rylee Larsen singled, scoring one run. A single by Hannah Jones extended the Lady Blue lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Rylee Kelly got the start again and threw three innings of shutout ball for the Lady Blue Devils. She gave up only two hits, striking out none and walking none. Cordell accumulated 16 hits in the game. Rasmussen drove the middle of the lineup, leading Lady Blue with two runs batted in. The infielder went 1-for-2 on the day. Larsen and Hewitt each collected three hits for the Lady Blue Devils. Jones, Chloe Smith, and Wilson each collected multiple hits.