Miller’s 12 K's Lead Bobcats to Split with Olney Central

With postseason positioning on the line in Region 24, Coach Jeremy Ellis emphasized the importance of this late-season series for the Frontier Bobcats against Olney Central College. The top eight teams in the region earn a postseason berth, and with Frontier sitting in eighth place as of Thursday morning, every game carries added significance down the stretch.

Game 1 – Frontier 8, Olney Central 1

Behind a dominant performance in the circle from Lexi Miller, Frontier opened the doubleheader with an 8-1 victory over OCC. The left-hander struck out 12 batters, allowing just three hits and one run over seven innings while walking three.

The Bobcats broke the game open in the seventh inning, plating five runs. Alicia Stanley drove in a run with a single, Chloe Papineau followed with a two-run single, Rylee Hendricks added an RBI triple, and Hessi Johnson capped the inning with an RBI single.

Frontier first got on the board in the fourth inning when Johnson delivered a two-run single.

Olney Central's lone run came in the sixth inning on a solo home run to right field by Kyra Swift.

Madison Francois started in the circle for the Blue Knights, allowing three runs on three hits over six innings while striking out eight and walking four.

Johnson led the Bobcats offensively with three RBIs, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Hendricks, Papineau, and Johnson each recorded two hits, while Harper Holeman drew two walks. Frontier showed discipline at the plate with four walks and added pressure on the bases with three stolen bases. Defensively, the Bobcats were flawless, with Stanley recording a team-high 12 fielding chances.

Jenna Shelley, Swift, and Francois each collected a hit for Olney Central, with Swift driving in the team's only run.

Game 2 – Olney Central 4, Frontier 0

OCC responded in game two, defeating Frontier 4-0 to earn the split.

The Blue Knights took control in the fourth inning. Kyra Swift drove in a run with a single before Shelby Seay delivered a three-run inside-the-park home run to give Olney Central all the offense it would need.

Alli Downes earned the win for Olney Central, tossing a one-hit shutout over seven innings with three strikeouts and two walks.

Chloe Papineau took the loss for Frontier, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking three.

Kyndall Webb recorded the lone hit for the Bobcats, who also turned a double play defensively.

Seay led Olney Central at the plate with two hits, while the Blue Knights played error-free defense. Taegan Webster led the team with six fielding chances.

With the split, Frontier moves to 15-29 overall and 15-21 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference. The Bobcats will return home to Southwest Park on Saturday, April 25 to host Lincoln Trail in a doubleheader beginning at noon.