Time to Start a New Streak: Championship Final, Ft. Z West 10, Webster 6

All good things must come to an end. Maybe.

Certainly our 10-game winning streak ended, with a 10-6 loss in the championship game of the Fort Zumwalt West Tournament. If you’re going to lose in a tournament, the championship finale is what you’d pick, with the second place plaque to take home.

But here’s what has not come to an end, and what I’m looking forward to seeing continue all the way to October: the heart and chemistry of this team that makes them a joy to be around. Our mantra, “Win with class, Lose with class” was manifest today. Much to the annoyance of our Jaguar hosts, we refused to roll over when they took the lead and fought our way back into the game, tying at 2 and then coming back with 3 after FZW had put up a 4-spot in the top of the fourth.

The team was loud and rocking even in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t to be this afternoon. Had we actually won I would have been happier, but not prouder, of both our team and our fans. The umpire didn’t have to yell at our fans or tell me to get them under control. We’ll just leave it at that.

There were lots of highlights to the day, but I want to make a special note of one player. The only outs our catcher, Hannah Jansen, made were as she exited the bus on the way in, and then leaving the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex in O’Fallon. In three games she went 8-for-8 with two home runs and a triple. She also threw out the first (and only) Jaguar to try to steal in the championship game and picked off a Warrior in the Fox tilt, all while working with our pitchers and keeping them on track. A pretty good day’s work.

Game 1: Webster 13, Timberland 6

Another first for the Statesmen, a win over Timberland, a young but pretty strong program. Once again, we jumped out early, with 2 in the first, then 6 in the second. By the time we added another 3 in the fourth, the game was essentially over, although Timberland added some runs late, but never really threatened as we ran our season-opening winning streak to 9 games and gave Kelly Collins her fifth victory. Overheard in the Timberland dugout, “ALL those girls can hit!”

Game 2: Webster 16, Fox 1

Now it can be told. I had lineups prepared for both our potential 2^nd round opponents, Francis Howell Central’s Spartans (last Wednesday opponents) and Fox’s Warriors (whom we will see again in a couple weeks), but, based on advanced scouting, I expected to FH Central after victory in Game 1 or Fox had we lost. I admit I was surprised to see Fox emerge in the winner’s bracket.

We really didn’t hit like we’re capable of, as the Warrior pitcher’s pace was a little soft and we had trouble staying back. Of course, that didn’t stop us from putting up 10 runs in the first, taking advantage of a lack of crispness from the Fox defense, but also really good base running, taking off on contact from third and pressuring the opposition. We added 6 more in the top of the 3^rd and, behind Taylor Knapp in the circle, pushed our winning streak to 10.

Game 3: Championship Final: Fort Zumwalt West 10, Webster 6

The Jaguar’s trip to the finals was similar to ours, with victories over St. Dominic and a rout of Summit. It was clear they expected a similar outcome facing us. I actually toyed with batting first after we won the toss, hoping to stun them into confusion as we had done so often. For better or worse, I went with the conventional wisdom and took “home.” Until FZW added four in the top of the 6^th it looked like “tried and true” might have been a winning strategy.

Maybe it’s just me, but I seemed to sense that Fort Z was irked that we refused to concede their superiority and actually play the game. As noted above, I was proud of the girls, their effort, their energy, their support for each other. We could not win another game and the year would still be magical. Pretty sure we’re going to win more than few more, although this week’s schedule is a challenge with an away game at Lindbergh, home against Marquette (whose varsity is undefeated and ranked #1), and then away against Festus, always a challenge (one of our four losses last year). Good softball on tap. And check back later for pictures.