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LAFAYETTE — McCutcheon junior Kaidynn Peckinpaugh prides herself on being a team player.
"I was really just preparing before hand and I had a feeling that I could trust them and really just giving it my all," Peckinpaugh said. "Really just trusting my team, trusting my catcher and having fun."
She didn't leave many chores for her defense to handle.
The left arm of Peckinpaugh found the strike zone and had Lafayette Jeff's hitting lineup baffled.
Peckinpaugh tossed a five inning shutout and allowed just one hit and had five walks to beat Lafayette Jeff in its season opener 11-0 in five innings.
More: 2025 Lafayette area high school softball preseason power rankings: Rossville leads the pack
These were the four takeaways from the quick evening of softball in Lafayette.
McCutcheon (1-0) was bolstered by an 8-run second inning led both offensively and defensively by sophomore Kacie Nading.
Nading threw out Lafayette Jeff third baseman Rilee Clifton who advanced to third base on a wild pitch and was attempting to score after an errant throw by catcher Sydney Osborn.
Osborn's throw skirted into left field but Nading was there to back up the error and threw out Clifton. Clifton was 10 feet from home when Nading's arrowed throw hit Osborn in the pocket of her glove.
More: Baseball and softball players take their swing with six Athlete of the Week candidates.
"I think we were all focused on having Kaidynn's back and when she's doing well it keeps us motivated to do everything we can for her," Nading said.
Nading roped an RBI double and added a 2-run single in the fourth inning to encapsulate a quick evening for the Mavericks.
"I know personally I like some faster pitching and that I had to be in the good mindset of being disciplined at the plate and getting the job done," Nading said.
McCutcheon carries three seniors who will each play college softball led by third baseman Mallorie Beutel (Marian University), first baseman Molly Davis (University of Findlay), and Hayle Peterson (Polk State College).
Along with an experienced senior group comes Peckinapaugh and outfielder Aubrey Miller who carry college aspirations of their own while Nading displayed her pop and defensive abilities on Tuesday night.
More: 2025 Lafayette area high school softball preseason power rankings: Rossville leads the pack
McCutcheon has 11 sectional softball titles but its last came in 2011 and finished 14-11 last season.
The goals for the Mavericks are being set higher in 2025.
"It's really just a growth thing," Peckinpaugh said. "Putting in the work during the offseason and my teammates and coaches have helped me grow the most. I just think when it comes to experience, the goal every year is to get better."
Lafayette Jeff struggled to hit Peckinpaugh but senior Evy Pitt took solace in getting her team's only hit on her birthday.
Pitt bunted with one out in an effort to jolt her team's offense. She stole two bases but was left stranded after Peckinpaugh's 13th and final strikeout.
"Coach (Brian Knipp) told me surprise bunt," Pitt said. "I was just trying to get it past the pitcher and it worked."
More: Oracles-inspired IHSAA regionals repeat captivates youth softball community in Delphi
Pitcher Andi Mooney and catcher Abbigail Griffith started in a game that tested the two promising stars for Lafayette Jeff.
Mooney walked in one of two plate appearances and Griffith showed composure in what was the third high school games for both players.
"They had a little bit of nerves but I thought Andi settled in there a little bit," Knipp said. "Just got to keep working, keep your head up and if they can keep working they'll get themselves out of messes."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCutcheon beats Lafayette Jeff softball four takeaways
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"I was really just preparing before hand and I had a feeling that I could trust them and really just giving it my all," Peckinpaugh said. "Really just trusting my team, trusting my catcher and having fun."
She didn't leave many chores for her defense to handle.
The left arm of Peckinpaugh found the strike zone and had Lafayette Jeff's hitting lineup baffled.
Peckinpaugh tossed a five inning shutout and allowed just one hit and had five walks to beat Lafayette Jeff in its season opener 11-0 in five innings.
More: 2025 Lafayette area high school softball preseason power rankings: Rossville leads the pack
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These were the four takeaways from the quick evening of softball in Lafayette.
Nading's offense and defense set tone for Mavericks
McCutcheon (1-0) was bolstered by an 8-run second inning led both offensively and defensively by sophomore Kacie Nading.
Nading threw out Lafayette Jeff third baseman Rilee Clifton who advanced to third base on a wild pitch and was attempting to score after an errant throw by catcher Sydney Osborn.
Osborn's throw skirted into left field but Nading was there to back up the error and threw out Clifton. Clifton was 10 feet from home when Nading's arrowed throw hit Osborn in the pocket of her glove.
More: Baseball and softball players take their swing with six Athlete of the Week candidates.
"I think we were all focused on having Kaidynn's back and when she's doing well it keeps us motivated to do everything we can for her," Nading said.
Nading roped an RBI double and added a 2-run single in the fourth inning to encapsulate a quick evening for the Mavericks.
"I know personally I like some faster pitching and that I had to be in the good mindset of being disciplined at the plate and getting the job done," Nading said.
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McCutcheon on a mission
McCutcheon carries three seniors who will each play college softball led by third baseman Mallorie Beutel (Marian University), first baseman Molly Davis (University of Findlay), and Hayle Peterson (Polk State College).
Along with an experienced senior group comes Peckinapaugh and outfielder Aubrey Miller who carry college aspirations of their own while Nading displayed her pop and defensive abilities on Tuesday night.
More: 2025 Lafayette area high school softball preseason power rankings: Rossville leads the pack
McCutcheon has 11 sectional softball titles but its last came in 2011 and finished 14-11 last season.
The goals for the Mavericks are being set higher in 2025.
"It's really just a growth thing," Peckinpaugh said. "Putting in the work during the offseason and my teammates and coaches have helped me grow the most. I just think when it comes to experience, the goal every year is to get better."
You must be registered for see images attach
Pitt's birthday consolation
Lafayette Jeff struggled to hit Peckinpaugh but senior Evy Pitt took solace in getting her team's only hit on her birthday.
Pitt bunted with one out in an effort to jolt her team's offense. She stole two bases but was left stranded after Peckinpaugh's 13th and final strikeout.
"Coach (Brian Knipp) told me surprise bunt," Pitt said. "I was just trying to get it past the pitcher and it worked."
More: Oracles-inspired IHSAA regionals repeat captivates youth softball community in Delphi
You must be registered for see images
Lafayette Jeff's freshman battery
Pitcher Andi Mooney and catcher Abbigail Griffith started in a game that tested the two promising stars for Lafayette Jeff.
Mooney walked in one of two plate appearances and Griffith showed composure in what was the third high school games for both players.
"They had a little bit of nerves but I thought Andi settled in there a little bit," Knipp said. "Just got to keep working, keep your head up and if they can keep working they'll get themselves out of messes."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCutcheon beats Lafayette Jeff softball four takeaways
Continue reading...
