Sophomore Hunter Rolf had three hits and drove in four runs during the Chiefs' 18-0 romp over Archie. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

ALMA -- Having met in the MSHSAA Class 1 quarterfinals two of the previous three years, it appeared the Santa Fe and Archie baseball teams were starting to form a long-distance rivalry.

While the programs' first two meetings were close, each winning once, Wednesday's clash at Alma showed a decided swing in the balance of power -- which now lies entirely with the Chiefs, who banged out 20 hits during an 18-0, five-inning drubbing.

Senior Kenzie Thorp, a three-time all-state catcher, got Santa Fe off to a strong start with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. However, more impressive was the Chiefs' 14-run barrage in the second set.

Santa Fe had 14 hits during the melee, including a pair of Thorp doubles which drove in three runs. Sophomore Hunter Rolf had the first big blow with a two-run two-bagger, senior Logan Wesley also doubled in a run early in the stanza. At one point, eight straight batters reached base with either hits or walks. Six more batted safely later, with Wesley cracking a two-run double and junior Logan Kirchhoff a single to plate two more runs.

Kirchhoff and Rolf each brought in runs with hits in the third inning.

The Whirlwinds (0-1) only had two hits off of Kirchhoff, who threw the first four innings, and Thorp -- both by senior Tony Ammerman.

During the first two games of the season, the prior one being an 18-2 rout of I-70 Conference nemesis Concordia, the Chiefs (2-0) have indicated that they have every intention of returning to the MSHSAA Championships -- in which they finished fourth last year in the program's first appearance.

Smithton 17, Sweet Springs 13

SWEET SPRINGS -- Sweet Springs showed it could score runs Wednesday during its season opener, but pitching may be a slight concern after losing a 17-13 home contest to Smithton despite yielding only three hits.

The Tigers led 11-1 after scoring seven times in the third inning, with only one hit -- sophomore Cody Walker's RBI single. However, five runners were forced in on four walks and a hit batter with the bases loaded.

The Greyhounds tried to catch up. Junior Jacob Navarro drove in the last two runs of the five-run fifth inning which began with sophomore Aaron Schlatweiler's triple. Navarro had a two-run double and scored in senior Austin Hedgpeth's single in the sixth to close the deficit to 12-11.

But the Tigers (2-0) got four runs with only one hit, a two-run Walker single, in the top of the seventh and held off Sweet Springs when four free passes and a boot plated two runs and loaded the bases with two outs during its last at-bat.

Schlatweiler drew four walks and scored four times for the 'Hounds (0-1), who play Friday at Crest Ridge.

Westran 19, Slater 4

SLATER -- Westran scored 11 runs in the top of the seventh inning to break open a competitive game Tuesday, spoiling the Slater baseball team's season opener with a 19-4 Lewis and Clark Conference road win.

Freshman Tyler Hunt held the Wildcats without a hit, striking out 13 batters, until being chased by junior Derek Ballowe's RBI triple in the fifth inning. Freshman Ethan Owens had a two-run double in the sixth to bring Slater to within 8-3.

However, the Hornets (1-1, 1-0 L&C) erupted during the final frame, aided by five walks and three errors which led to eight unearned runs. Freshman Tycie Linneman had a pair of RBI singles and freshman Matt George and junior Jared Hunt had two-run singles.

Sophomore Jermie Pittman knocked in a run with a single in the seventh for Slater (0-1, 0-1), which plays Friday at Bunceton.

Softball

Archie 20, Santa Fe 5

ALMA -- Archie's 14-run third inning put away the host Santa Fe softball team, 20-5, in four innings Wednesday.

The Lady Whirlwinds never trailed, scoring two of their three first-inning runs on senior Elizabeth Hartsell's double.

The Lady Chiefs got a first-inning homer from sophomore Lauren Aversman, but didn't score again until junior Becca Woodson smashed a two-run single in the bottom of the third.

By then it was too late. Archie (1-0) had only four hits -- including RBI singles from sophomore Danielle Crabtree, senior Jami Romi and sophomore Markie Lethcho -- during its explosion, but most of the runs were gifts. Santa Fe pitchers walked 11 batters during the frame, four with the bases loaded.

The Lady Chiefs (0-2) will take the field again today at Crest Ridge.

Smithton 16, Sweet Springs 0

SWEET SPRINGS -- Senior Alysha Case tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out six, as Smithton ruined Sweet Springs' debut, 16-0 in four innings Wednesday.

The Lady Tigers (1-0) exploded for 10 runs in the third inning, getting two-run hits from Case and senior Melissa Williams. Four more runs scored on walks while the sacks were jammed.

Sophomore Kristin Jones doubled to lead off the fourth for the Lady Greyhounds, but was stranded. Junior Stephanie Krause and sophomore Stacia Nelson also had hits for Sweet Springs (0-1), which is at Northwest today.