The Marion County Lady Warriors used Thursday's District 6-A softball game at Sale Creek to let the rest of the league know who they think should be in control this season.
The message began two batters in, and the back-to-back doubles by Harlie Jordan and Breanna Vinson were only the beginning of things to come. Marion went on to deliver 13 hits in a 10-0 win in six innings.
Every team in 6-A now has at least one district loss except for Marion (18-5, 4-0), which controls its own destiny with two league games remaining.
"Before the game, I was as nervous as I could be," Marion coach Randy Ellis said. "I looked around at the players, and they were just as confident as they could be. Then we scored right out of the chute. We scored in every inning but one, but we put ourselves in position to score every inning."
The Lady Warriors backed their two-run first inning with a three-run second and a two-run third. Sale Creek also contributed to its downfall, making four errors before getting seven outs.
"They beat us like they owned us," said Sale Creek coach Clifford Kirk, whose 19-player roster includes 10 freshmen and three eighth-graders. "They hit the ball everywhere, and we made a ton of errors, mental errors and physical errors.
"Being young, I think that affected us. But you have to give Marion credit. They came out and smacked it around."
Taylor Roberts earned the pitching victory. Ellis said she had "tweaked a knee a couple of weeks ago" and said the team is fortunate to have her back so soon.
She did not allow a walk, although she did hit one batter, and her two strikeouts were in the first inning. Four of the Lady Panthers' five hits were during the last three innings.
"We chased some bad pitches early," Kirk said. "She didn't have to throw strikes. As it got a little later on, we put the bat on the ball more. Just something we've got to learn."
The Lady Warriors committed no errors.
"Our infield is as good as anybody's around," Ellis said. "We've got a very solid defense."
Marion's Makayla Dalton went 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Vinson was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Haley Baker was 2-for-3 with a double, sacrifice fly and three RBIs, while Roberts was 2-for-4.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.