ELDON — Playing anybody, anywhere can take its toll on a team. However if handled right, it can give a team a big edge. It paid off for the Cardinal Comets as they opened softball district action with a 12-1 win over Moulton-Udell Thursday night in Eldon.

“We have played the number one, five, and seven-rated teams in Class 4A and other ranked teams in class 2A and 3A. It definitely helps us to be ready to play at a level necessary at tournament time.” said Cardinal coach Steph Christner.

Ready the Comets were. After spotting the Eagles a run in the top of the first on an RBI single by pitcher Mackenzie Clark, Cardinal came out aggressive at the plate and answered with five runs in the bottom of the game’s opening inning. The Comet bats put pressure on the M-U defense and the Eagles committed three errors to go along with two Cardinal hits. The big blow was a two-RBI double by Michelle Fuhs.

Sarah Yeager led off the second with a home run to make the score 6-1 Cardinal. Katelyn Campbell followed with a triple and Cory Campbell was hit by a pitch before the rains came and forced the Thursday night completion.

When play resumed, M-U committed its fourth error in just over an inning of play. As in the first, the big hit was off the bat of Fuhs. Her two RBI singles made the score 10-1 Cardinal. Fuhs would add her third hit in the fourth.

“I really like hitting down in the order. I get to see our hitters against the pitcher,” said Fuhs, the Comets eighth place hitter.

Even though M-U would have two baserunners in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings, the Comets would balance that with six strikeouts from starting pitcher Laci Moore and a really good running, diving catch by Yeager in centerfield to end the fourth.

Yeager compared the catch to the second-inning homer..

“That was only my second home run of the summer,” said Yeager. “I actually liked making the catch better.”

The game ended with one out in the Cardinal fifth. After a walk to Katelyn Campbell, Cory Campbell worked the count to two and two by fouling off three pitches before homering to left.

M-U coach Jason Ogden talked about the eight unearned runs his team gave the Comets early.

“It changed every part of the game for us,” he said. “We couldn’t play small ball like we like to.”

M-U closes the season with a record of 12-17, while Cardinal will take their 11-21 record into Monday’s second-round game against Holy Trinity, in Eldon.

“I really like how we hit the ball early in the game and Laci did a good job of regaining control after the little trouble she got into. Those are the things our schedule has done for us.” said Christner.

Cardinal 12, Moulton-Udell 1 5 innings