McClaughry dashes Lady Outlaws playoff hopes

Sisters High School's varsity softball team won't forget Molly McClaughry anytime soon after the Junction City shortstop proved to be a one-player wrecking crew, ending the Lady Outlaws' dream of playing in the State 4A Tournament.

McClaughry, a three-time All-Sky-Em League honoree, scored four times and drove in five runs - four with a grand slam home run - as the Tigers captured the league's No. 3 State 4A playoff berth with a 12-2 win.

The game ended the season for the Lady Outlaws, who finished the regular league schedule in third with a 7-5 record. Overall, SHS was 13-13.

In the May 18 three-team Sky-Em League playoff at Sisters High School, the Outlaws played Junction City, the winner of the No. 4 versus No. 5 team. McClaughry was five-for-five with five runs scored and five RBI as JC defeated Pleasant Hill prior to thumping SHS.

"She (Molly) proved why she is so highly touted. Big day for her - nine runs, 10 RBI. The grand slam against us changed the game completely," said Coach Tom Mauldin. "We were in the game, 3-2, one swing later it's 7-2 and you could see the momentum die."

During the regular season, the Outlaws defeated Junction City twice - 7-1 and 5-4 (in 10 innings). And in each of those games, McClaughry singled just once.

Mauldin said it is difficult to keep a player of "Molly's ability controlled for three games." He added, "We had a couple of untimely miscues and base on balls to set the stage for Molly, and she delivered every time. If she misses the bus, we're still playing."

The Outlaws managed four hits against Junction City with Jenny Kaiser, McKenzie Cooper and Zoe Wavrin singling and Paige Bruguire hitting a run-scoring double. Wavrin took the pitching loss, but Mauldin said "it was the best Zoe has looked since coming back from her concussion" that sidelined her for six games and limited her to only 23 regular-season league innings.