Walk Off Winner! Webster 8, Eureka 7

If you had predicted we’d have two wins in the first week without playing Lindbergh (rescheduled Oct. 3), I’d have said, “Well, thanks, I hope you’re right.” I don’t think I’d have believed the prediction, though. I would have hoped  you were right, but….

Well, good for you. You were right (assuming you actually made that prediction). But even before we walked off this win with a 2-run seventh inning, I felt like this was a winner. So did the umpires. In a break between innings, the more veteran of the pair told his rookie partner (behind the plate) that he was lucky to be getting such a good JV game for his first time. “Solid play, sportsmanlike behavior. It’s not always like that.” (If you haven’t read the article by Michelle Munz in the Post today about the officiating crisis, it’s worth your while. Technically it’s about football, but applies to all sports. Full disclosure, this reporter is the mom of one of my granddaughter’s best friends.) {Link: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/friday-night-lights-on-thursday-as-schools-struggle-to-find/article_804f1a1b-b74c-5c64-b149-5adcbe169018.html} Had the final score actually been 7-6 in favor of Eureka, we would have still been pleased. 

But I actually did believe, as did the girls, that we would win this game when we went to the bottom of the seventh down by only a run, thanks to getting through the top of the frame facing 2-3-4 unscathed, thanks, in part, to Nora Marcikiewicz’s first nab of a base thief. Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy Rule #1: Don't Panic.

Venus (Flytrap) Moran started off the bottom of the seventh (against a pitcher who has pitched for their varsity) with her second base hit and moved to second, then was driven home with the tying run by Myah King’s ripped double down the LF line. Myah (who had again channeled her inner Bader by scoring from second on a dribbler) then scored the walk-off winner as Marko (Marcinkiewicz) battled in an AB that forced the Wildcats into an error.

So many highlights, including Ivy Clark’s yard shot in the first, followed by two more runs, let Eureka know they were going to have a contest. Solid defense, tough at bats (only 5 Ks in the game), and controlled pitching from Taylor Knapp kept things close until we could add on with two runs in the fifth. Eureka’s 3-spot in the top of the seventh only set the stage for the walk off drama.

We were down players due to absence and illness (thanks to freshman Maddie Keefer for grabbing a uni and offerering us some insurance), but the bench was as loud as our 14-player unit from last year who were known for their enthusiasm and support for their teammates. We coaches are loving how this team is coming together for each other and developing their own softball family. Come see us at home on Tuesday against Mehlville. “You’ll like the way we look” [and sound, and play, and….]

But for now, enjoy the pictures from Andrew Graning and Maddie Keefer.

Ivy Clark is congratulated on her bomb to put the Statesmen up 2-0 in the first inning. 

Emmy Gary connects for her fourth straight hit to start the season.

Sophomore Taylor (Friday) Graning did a good job at second base with two put outs and two assists.

Don't forget we had salsa in the dugout before the game. This is what a team looks like.

Myah King is a threat on offense and defense as she learns a new position, third base.

Catcher Nora (Marko) Marcinkiewicz didn't get this runner, but she dot the one in the seventh to send us to the bottom of the inning only one run down.

Taylor (Salsa Queen) Knapp has walked only one batter in her 12 innings, is now 2-0. 

Alyssa (Venus Flytrap) Moran is a two way player, outstanding in CF and reached base on all four ABs in the leadoff spot.

Myah King slides in safely with her second stolen base of 2018.

Zoe Weik got her first opportunity to try out her slapping skills against a tough pitcher.

Defense! Only 1 unearned run today.

The Innies were stout today to back up TK in the circle.

This was the ball that sent Myah King home with the game winner. Marko did a great job of base running, putting pressure on the Wildcat defense -- they blinked, we walked off with a winner.

Off and Running: Webster 9, Oakville 4

Our first challenges of the season were the result not of the sport of fastpitch softball but the weather. Our opening game against the Lindbergh Flyers was postponed (to October 3) due to Wednesday morning’s deluge. Our next opponent, the usually powerful Oakville Tigers, called Thursday to let us know their field was unplayable (and their coach predicted it would remain so for the foreseeable future, to the extent that they have already moved some of their games to Affton Athletic next week). Coach Cerutti and Athletic Director Collins joined Webster maintenance in working and dragging the field to make it ready not only for the varsity contest but our JV tilt that formed the second game of the unplanned double header. The 5 innings constituted a complete game.

We have a challenging schedule this year and would have preferred to start with more of a confidence builder (there’s no guarantee Lindbergh would have met that description, by the way, but it’s been more than a few years since they’ve been able to fly past us). However, Mama Nature dictated this was how we would start.

We took advantage of shaky Tiger defense to score four runs in the first inning, taking tough at bats against a hard-throwing Oakville hurler (we defeated her last year, as well), putting the ball in play and pressuring their defenders. A key at bat was Nora Marcinkiewicz’s battle with runners on second and third and down to her last strike. Although she was out at first on a throw by their catcher, Ivy Clark used smart base running to score the first run, followed quickly by Myah King channeling her inner Harrison Bader and scoring from second. Three solid hits by Emmy Gary, Nicola Rikand and Taylor Smith plated two more runs and a 4-0 lead.

Oakville had a strong hitting club, but Taylor Knapp struck out six and walked no one to limit their opportunities. We also saw some standout defense, notably from Alyssa Moran, Rikand, Clark and Smith. Eschewing (yes, I really do talk like that) the easy out at first, TK, Nora and Myah cut down a “certain” run at the plate and kept the Tigers caged with a zero in that first inning.

Even when Oakville closed the gap to 5-4, the Statesmen kept their composure (as true statesmen do) and made the plays to give us time to add on with more good baserunning, excellent bunting, and opportune hitting. Rocket atom balls by King and Marcinkiewicz were caught to keep the score close. As darkness closed out the game, the new scoreboard lit up the night, Webster 9, Oakville 4.

We have another tough contest tomorrow when the JV of perennial state contender Eureka comes to call. I know the girls and the coaching staff appreciate the great support we had tonight, including the varsity girls who stuck around to cheer us on. Great energy from the bench was a fitting punctuation mark as we notched the first (but not last) win of 2018.