Monday's prep softball: Defending champs score early and often against Elverado
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[After Elverado took an early lead, defending Class 1A state champion Cobden wasted little time in taking full control of Monday's game.
The Lady Appleknockers spotted their visitors a first inning tally but then plated 14 runs in their half of the inning, setting the stage for a 17-3 rout.
Kayla Quertermous homered, doubled and had six RBI to pace Cobden as Dakota Knop tossed a four-hitter.
Sami Hicks and Kelsey Tuthill accounted for the Elverado safeties, each going 2-for-3. Tuthill managed the lone RBI.
"We definitely weren't as sharp as we were in the tournament over the weekend," EHS coach Donette Wheatley admitted. "They can just flat out hit and are a very, very good team. But I just don't think that mentally we were ready for this game."
Kelsi Teague was the pitcher of record for Elverado, which plays host to a strong Fairfield team at 4:30 Tuesday.
Freshman Corrine Wilson relieved and allowed Cobden just three earned runs.
The Lady Falcons are 4-11.