Rival Redux: Webster 10, Kirkwood 9

   Darn those Pioneers! This well-coached team (we get to play them again later in the season) refused to quit, came back to not only tie, but take the lead – twice! But guess who else refused to quit – the Statesmen! Even after K-wood scored in the top of the 8^th to go up 7-6, our team willed itself to a victory.

I am tired, but not so lazy that I can’t write new copy. The above paragraph is from LAST YEAR’s game against Kirkwood’s Pioneers (which ended 8-7; this year’s score was 10-9). What’s that expression, “Déjà vu all over again”? That’s what Kirkwood’s coach thought. In many ways, this was high school softball at its finest. The umpires concurred. “Best game I’ve had this year,” said both of them. Rival programs battling it out with heart and respect for their opponent. Sportsmanship prevailing (and isn’t sportsmanship essentially respect?).

Of course, in other ways, this was our most poorly played game of the year (I was going to say “arguably” but there really was no argument when I opened the post-mortem with, “Nice win, ladies, but we kind of sucked.”). Lots of mistakes on the field and on the bases (and one could argue in the 3^rd base coaching box). But the character of this team was revealed by its attitude (r-e-s-p-e-c-t) toward each other; no slumped shoulders, no pointed fingers, no recrimination, no cliquey huddles, just whose turn to pick us up? What fun to watch, what fun to coach.

Highlights? You want highlights? Yes, there were a few, and, then again, not too few to mention. Caitlyn Boyle (Yes, I’m going to bunt. What are you going to do about it?) had four hits and made two nice catches in RF (plus always being in the right place on throws to 1B). Alyssa Moran added a double and a triple to her extra base hit collection. Myah King cleared the fence by plenty for her third HR – no pressure, just the bottom of the seventh down by a run – which generated her third intentional walk (that HAS to be a JV record) when she came up in the eighth. Get used to it Myah. That loaded the bases, thanks to two well-worked walks by our 8 and 9-hole batters, “Lids” Beggs and “Friday” Graning.

Intentional walks don’t work if there’s protection behind the hitter, and for the second game in a row, “Marko” made the opposition pay, this time with a bases clearing bolt to the right center gap to drive in the walk off winner (It would have been yet another triple for her, but we only needed two runs, and I would guess she’s probably pretty happy getting credit of a double.) Shortstop Nicola Rikand made an eye-popping dive and throw to get the Pioneer leadoff batter in the top of the eighth, helping to limit their damage to just one run. And TK notched her 13^th win in the circle, keeping her composure (and helping her teammates keep theirs) despite 6 unearned runs.

Another team win. Going into “Sophomore Day” next Tuesday against Pattonville, our record stands at 13-1. We also have Lindbergh’s Flyers at home on Wednesday and travel to Bug Heaven (Northwest Cedar Hill – scouting report says, “Pack the Deet”) on Thursday. The latter two games are both winnable and losable and each should provide another good test. Whether we prevail or not, we now know this Statesmen team will not quit. And thanks to Karen Smith for these great pix!

That score is about to change in the bottom of the seventh. A no-doubter, "She Gone!" (apologies to the Hawk Harrelson)

Myah King gets her deserved Hero's welcome after belting her third home in two games.

What happens when you walk Myah King? Marko happens -- to the fence in right center for a walk off winner!

And another deserved hero's welcome. But these girls also know that none of this happens without the work of their teammates who created the opportunity for victory.

Webster (14) Lights Up Chargers (5)

I don’t know that “Wednesday Night Lights” has the ring to make it a TV series or movie, but there were some “Must See” moments as we took on Cor Jesu under the lights at Affton Athletic as we followed the varsity contest against the same team. 

Taylor Knapp racked up her 21^st JV victory to break Olivia Collins old 2-season mark of 20; it was also TK’s 12^th win of the year as she led the JV into Friday’s Kirkwood game with a 12-1 mark. We were thankful for a challenge as we expect the Pioneers to be a tough team as we finish out our week. Join us at Plymouth Field as we take on our rivals.

Heady, aggressive baserunning put pressure on the CJ defense and Myah King put pressure on the limited number of softballs the Chargers brought to the party by powering two (yes, count ‘em, two) over the fence. We may have been the visitors but we ended up contributing a couple balls to the cause – and were happy to do so. The Cor Jesu coach decided she was convinced and called for intentional walks for Myah’s last two ABs. But Marko foiled that strategy in the seventh as she drove in two with a line single, then scored herself.

In the field, Myah also helped turn one of the two double plays (Nicola Rikand got the other) that blunted both threats Cor Jesu mounted. Venus Moran (2 hits) made another great catch and Taylor Smith (3 hits) snared a couple liners.

Their team featured their JV plus a couple back-end varsity bench players, including their second pitcher, from their varsity squad. However, they approached the game the right way and didn’t try to sneak in a regular position player, but that we handled them with a minimum of drama speaks well to our team’s abilities and preparation. Once again, all eleven available players contributed to a well-deserved team victory.

TK shows the form that has helped her set a new JV Career Wins Record, 21, breaking Olivia Collins' old mark.

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Shortstop Nicola Rikand takes a strong throw but the CJ base thief just beats Marko's peg.

Catcher Nora Marcinkiewicz catches one of TK's five strikeouts on the way to a 14-5 win.

We teach "Find the fence" and third sacker Myah King did a good job of that. Unfortunately, the fence found the ball before she could make the play.

When you have three players (Myah King, Nicola Rikand, and Emmy Gary) all converging on a short pop up, the out will be recorded more often than not. This one was.

No chance for the Charger runner to beat the throw to first.

Late Start, Quick Finish: WG 20, Hazelwood West 0

It was almost 3:45 by the time we were on our way to Hazelwood West to take on the Wildcats. Although the game didn’t start until a little after 4:30 we were on our way home by 5:30, even spending time celebrating Friday’s birthday with cookies, cake, and a 20-0 (her number is 20) shutout. It takes a little time to score that many runs, and the final inning featured two “Code Blue” calls (our runner leaves early to generate an out).

Taylor Knapp was extremely efficient, throwing 27 strikes out of the 30 pitches it took to finish her three innings. Our defense wasn’t really tested but made the plays to score the three other outs besides strikeouts. Our batters adjusted to the slow tosses of the ‘Cats hurler and, well, the game was essentially over quickly. The girls showed a lot of class, played their game, but treated their opponents with respect. “Win with class, lose with class” is the WG mantra and our players do a great job with that.

We have the “late” game tomorrow against Cor Jesu at Affton, then finish the week at home against arch-rival Kirkwood.

Myah King gets the first out of the game with a strong throw to Lydia Beggs.

Taylor Knapp tied the school record for career JV pitching victories, notching her 20th in the circle.

Sophomore Caitlyn Boyle, in her first year of softball, is developing her bunting/slapping skills, and batting over .600. Today she had three hits and a walk.

Lydia Beggs plays a variety of roles, both corner IF spots, DP, and team leader.

Myah King and Taylor Smith go for a shot looper. Myah got the ball and a bit of Taylor's face.