Excelsior Springs’ varsity softball players have hung up their cleats for a while.

A 6-0 Oct. 11 loss to visiting Belton in the first round of the Class 4 District 8 Tournament prompted the Tigers to stow away their cleats and other gear. They finished the season 12-16.

Belton took control in the first inning with two runs on three hits and benefitted from an Excelsior Springs error and a passed ball. The Pirates then added three runs on four hits in the second.

The Pirates scored their final run on back-to-back doubles in the fourth.

Offensively, the Tigers were held to one hit. Third baseman Willa Schreier, a first-year high schooler, provided the hit – a one-out, sixth-inning double.

First-year high schooler Kayden Rogers lasted 1 1/3 innings pitching. Rogers’ stat line as the Excelsior Springs starter included three earned runs and two strikeouts.

Reliver Keira Romazon, also a firstyear high schooler, struck out six, walked one and gave up one earned run.

Rogers and Romazon yielded a comb…