Knock Knock. Who's There? Statesmen Bats. Webster 14, Pattonville 3

The first “real’ game, our conference opener, was over almost before it started, as the Statesmen banged out 6 hits and forced 3 errors on other hard hit balls, scoring 9 runs in the first. We did at least get to play 5 innings (well, 4 ^1/2 actually) and apply the 10-run rule instead of the 15-run standard that marked our first 2 games. We also lowered our walks per game average from 15 to 10, as the Pirate pitcher had good control and threw strikes, which we hit, and hit, and hit.... The Pirates may have made almost as many errors as the Cardinals in a home game, but several of those were because we hit the ball so hard that they were overmatched.

Our third pitcher finished what she started as Allyson Peters continued the fine work in the circle. Zoe Schultz completed our first double play, Elise Keller banged out our first triple, and Guin Ellsworth drove in two more runs. That total was matched by Keller, Josie Krueger, and Jenna Hoffman who also added 2 hits to her career first from last game. The girls really distinguished themselves with outstanding base running, and not just our rabbits at the top and bottom of the order.

We’ll see how the season develops, and it’s too early to get overconfident, but there’s more than half a chance we’re going to be pretty good. As well as we played today, the team agreed we still have even more to offer. The spirit, work ethic, and desire to improve are all promising and I’m looking forward to seeing just how high our ceiling can be. I’m thinking those old houses down on the Lafayette Square house tour have nothing on us.

Keep track of our schedule which seems to be changing faster than a local channel weather forecast. So far we actually still have the same game schedule, just different opponents. Monday we will play our first of two games against Summit, Tuesday (9/6) we’ll replace the DuBourg Cavaliers with the Vikings of Parkway North (originally scheduled for Monday), and on Monday (9/12) travel to Lutheran South instead of Parkway West. 

As always, thanks to Amy Jo Love for the pictures. Kind of gives you a preview of what to look for in the photo books she and Stacey Greer are preparing.