YATES CENTER — Yates Center softball coach Abby Collins knew that the key to her team’s success on the softball diamond this year would be the player that will stand in the center of it for a majority of the year.
Junior Emily Proper entered this season without much experience on the varsity level throwing pitches, but in the lead up to the season, it became clear to Collins that if the team were going to realize its potential this year, it would be with Proper in the pitcher’s circle.
“She is staying positive and keeping her head up through mistakes,” Collins said. “She is really doing a good job.”
Proper has had some ups and downs early in the season, but in a pair of wins on Monday over Neodesha, the righty gained some much-needed confidence.
“She has already been such a phenomenal aspect of our team,” senior Jess Rossillon said. “She has done great things and without her we would definitely be struggling.
“She has has taken the step that we needed to take as a leader of this team.”
Yates Center topped Neodesha 10-0 in game one and followed that up with a 14-4 win in the second matchup. Both games were shortened to just five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Game one was all Proper as she struck out 10 batters and threw a no-hitter over her five innings.
“For her to gain confidence, it is going to take us further,” Collins said. “Once she gets down, we all get down.”
The offense was also driven early by Proper. Rossillon and freshman Jordan Weseloh both reached base in front of Proper who was hitting third.
A double by the pitcher made the score 2-0. Proper came around to score later in the inning and the first frame ended with a 3-0 Wildcat lead.
In the second inning, Proper hit a triple where she added two RBIs and gave her team a 5-0 lead.
Yates Center added two more runs in the third and another Proper double helped contribute to a three-run fourth inning to give them the margin to secure the early win.
Game two was not as easy for the Wildcats but the result was much the same in their cruise to a 10-run, 5-inning victory.
Proper gave up a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and going into the bottom of the second, they trailed 4-1.
The Wildcats scored two runs in the second and one in the third to tie the game.
