Webster JV Softball : Playing for Plastic: Successful Defense of Hancock Tourney Championship

I would like to tell you that winning all three games to successfully defend our Hancock Tournament Championship took away the pain from my back. It didn't. But it did at least make the agony worth it.

Game 1: Webster 15, Hancock 0

Taking nothing away from the Tigers, where I began my coaching career, but this was the walkover we expected, although it took taking the foot off the brakes in the 3rd to gain the 15-run mercy win, after Hancock shut us out in the second inning. I was pleased to learn that the school, with an enrollment of about 500, actually had more girls out for softball (28) than we did. Well, not pleased that we only had 27, but, you know. They also have teams in the feeder league for middle schoolers, so there's hope that the program can return to a competitive level. That half the kids on the feeder team, and 2-3 on their JV, are the daughters of former students is more than a little disconcerting, though.

Game 2: Webster 18, Parkway South 5

I expected this to actually be the championship tilt, given the strength of the P. South program. Yes, it was their freshman team, but many of their players come out of west county club ball. But we came out swinging, with quality ABs and our usual running game and the Patriots never quite knew what hit them. The first inning only ended because Jenna Hoffman's bullet up the middle found the pitcher's glove for a bases loaded, inning ending double play with 4 runs already across the plate.

When you pound out 20 hits and 18 runs (almost all earned), there are obviously lots of hitting stars, but for this section let's single out Nicole Preston's 3 for 3 with 4 RBI and Alina Castro's 3-for-3 and 3 RBI; Skyler Jones and Caroline Kinstler each contributed 2 hits, as did Josie Krueger backing her efforts in the circle as she notched her seventh win. Emma Hintze piled on with her first HR of her career. It wasn't just offense, though, as Julia Love slid over to third base and, as the country song goes, "...ripped out [the Patriot heart} and stomped that sucker flat...." with outstanding defensive play.

The Parkway South parents had been loud supporters of their team in its win in the first game over Affton, but were stunned by our offensive onslaught. One complimented our team as we made our way to Field 2 for the final, "Your girls can really hit!" Yes, yes they can.

Game 3: Webster 14, DuBourg 7

And we would need to. This was not the same DuBourg team we had dispatched with ease in the Parkway Central Tournament a few weeks before. And I mean literally not the same team as they brought 4 of their varsity players with them. That's not uncommon with smaller schools that use those players primarily as back-ups. However, I was a little disappointed that the Cavaliers did not take advantage of the opportunity to bat the lineup and left two of their JV players languishing on the bench. One of the reasons we play in this tournament is because it gives ALL our girls one last chance to showcase their skills. Even sophomore Karlee Scholtes, who, unfortunately, was forced to spend most of her season on the bench with a concussion and learning how to work the scoreboard, got to spend time in the first base coaching box and share in our success.

We needed those skills as we quickly fell behind 4-0 after just an inning and a half. One of the character traits of this 2015 squad is their adherence to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Rule #1: Don't panic. We narrowed the gap to 4-2, got a shutdown inning from Josie Krueger, who picked up her eighth win in relief, went ahead 5-4, but fell behind again 7-5 as the DuBourg's varsity stack at the top of their lineup added three more runs.

The Statesmen were up to the task, however, putting a 6-spot on the board in the fourth and adding three more as the game ended with the time limit and Webster still batting. Becca DeGreeff had a Field 2 HR (If I could hit a 9-iron with that spin and precision, well, I'd still be a bad golfer) and didn't need her usual courtesy runner. (Nicole Preston had hers overturned by a ground rules interpretation that cost us a couple early runs, and had to settle for a double.) Emma Hintze, Julia Love, Skyler Jones, and (the aforementioned) Nicole Preston each had two hits in the championship game. Note that our hits game from our 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 11th batters in our lineup.

Too snarky? Too bad. We kept running, piling up 12 stolen bases. No apologies. They may be the Cavaliers, but it was Webster who had the horses. It was a great gift on a cold day to see the joy in the girls' faces as they accepted the championship trophy. We'll bring it to the banquet on Monday, October 26 and then it can join its sister from 2013 (the tournament was rained out last year). The three wins pushed our final record to 14-9 and put the cap on a successful JV season.