HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kohlbie Craft belted two home runs and drove in eight runs as Hutchinson High School rolled to a doubleheader sweep of Wichita Heights on Thursday at Fun Valley Sports Complex.
The Salthawks opened the day with a 15-0, four-inning victory in Game 1, then followed with a 16-0 win in three innings in Game 2.
Hutchinson’s offense overwhelmed Heights from the start of the twin bill. The Salthawks scored 31 runs across seven innings, using aggressive baserunning, patient at-bats and extra-base power to keep constant pressure on the Falcons.
In the opener, Hutchinson (5-9) broke a scoreless game in the first inning. Baylee Pickering led off with a bunt single and later scored, while Alaina Borders and Brooke Hogan each added RBI singles to help the Salthawks build a 3-0 lead.
Hutchinson added two more runs in the second on sacrifice flies by Yazmin Pena and Craft before breaking the game open with an eight-run third inning.
Sadie Marciano highlighted the frame with a two-run double, Craft drew an RBI walk, Borders added a sacrifice fly, Jaden Durant lined a two-run single and Hogan followed with an RBI double as the Salthawks stretched the lead to 13-0.
Hutchinson ended Game 1 in the fourth. Mauree Garland singled to start the inning, and the Salthawks loaded the bases before Kierah Sterling and Durant each drew RBI walks to finish off the run-rule win.
Garland was dominant in the circle in the opener, allowing just one hit in four shutout innings. She struck out one and did not issue a walk.
Durant drove in three runs in Game 1, while Hogan went 2 for 2 with a double and two RBIs. Garland also had two hits, and Hutchinson stole 10 bases in the opener.
The second game was decided even faster.
Craft launched a three-run homer in the first inning as part of a 12-run outburst that put Heights in an immediate hole. Hutchinson also got a two-run double from Hogan and a two-run double from Darbie Wells in the inning.
The Salthawks tacked on four more runs in the second. Craft struck again with her second three-run homer of the game, giving Hutchinson a 16-0 lead.
Craft finished Game 2 with two home runs and six RBIs. Hogan and Wells each doubled and drove in two runs.
Kierah Sterling earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits over two scoreless innings while striking out three. Annalee Eckhoff worked a scoreless inning in relief.
Hutchinson again wreaked havoc on the bases in the nightcap, swiping 10 more steals. Aah’lice Jackson, Sterling and Thailyn Smith each had multiple steals.
For the doubleheader, Craft went deep two times and accounted for eight RBIs, leading a Hutchinson lineup that controlled both games from the opening inning.
The Salthawks will travel to Haysville on Tuesday to face Campus.