Apres Fox, Le Deluge Webster 20, Fox 5

Wait, what happened? Where did THIS team come from. Before the rain deluge there was a run deluge and we triggered the 15-run rule just in time to beat the downpour.

Fox scored three quick runs in the first inning, and based on their success in the Parkway South JV Tournament, I was fearing a short game with a mercy rule loss. Friday blocked their momentum like Jordan Binnington blocked shots in the Cup, taking a hit away from RF with a strong, quick throw to first and we were out of the inning.

I certainly didn’t envision the tables being turned so quickly or decisively, especially being down two starters. But there you go. It’s JV softball and the only thing you know for sure is that you never know for sure.

We countered with 5 runs of our own after only one out, and tacked on 2 more, batting around and forcing numerous Fox misplays and overthrows with aggressive base running. I think our outies saw how important hitting the cutoff can be when you don’t do it (not a critique of our outies, who generally do a good job in that department). 

A lack of experience and then a couple errors of our own handed 2 runs back to the Warriors, but Olivia Leaver (POG) just went back to work and retired the last 5 Fox batters as we continued to pile on with 11 in the bottom of the second and, almost literally, stole 2 more in the bottom of the third as Emmy Gary and Bailey Allen took matters into their own hands stealing on their own (or maybe I accidentally or magically gave signs I was unaware of). And just like that, the umpires threw up their hands to the darkening clouds swooping in from the South, calling the game at 20-5. 

The rains came in fast and hard, but I don’t think the girls minded getting wet. We hit the ball hard, we hit it soft, at and past Fox defenders, we ran aggressively, and looked (today) like the team I hoped we would become. I’m looking forward to seeing that brand of softball for the last half, as we evened our first half record at 6-6. Our second half starts Monday and players who have patiently waited for their opportunities to show what they can do will be in the lineup for our tilt against the Colts of Parkway Central (I-64 and 141, more or less, near St. Luke’s Hospital).

Thanks to Lydia Beggs, who spent the last two years with us but came to cheer us on, for some of the photos. Don’t forget to get your orders in for the photo books. You can give them to me or skip the occasionally forgetful middleman and go straight to Karen Smith.

POG Olivia Leaver picked up her sixth win in the circle.

Emmy Gary laces a ball to the gap for a double. (Ball top right of pic)

Bunt until they show they can deal with it. Nic Rikand drops down, and beats out, a sacrifice bunt in an 11-run 2nd inning.

If it works once, try again. Bailey Allen beats out her sacrifice bunt for a hit as Fox throws the ball all over the place.

Jilly Sanders scored three runs and drove in one on a fielder's choice, earned her "Spirit Animal" (a cat) from Coach Kate.

Morgan Lawrence gets ready to make her trip around the bases under darkening skies.

Morgan's teammates celebrate her "Double + that drove in 2 runs.

Emmy Gary adds her own thunder with her third hit of the day, then scored the penultimate (19th) run.

Tigers Claw the Statesmen: Oakville 18, Webster 6

In any season there will be ups and downs. This is especially true on the JV level. Today was a down day.

Not just because we lost. Not just because we lost badly. Not just because we played poorly. While all of those were true (and it must be noted that Oakville was better than we were), what made this game particularly disappointing (we coaches are disappointed FOR the girls, not IN them) was that we were not ready to put our best game on the field. 

The coaching staff had an inkling that that we might be facing a rude awakening. We didn’t really display the kind of energy that has become the Statesman Standard even in yesterday’s victory, and the result was a 7-run first inning mauling by the Tigers that essentially ended the game before we even got to bat. On a positive note, we finally discovered a sense of urgency in the third inning and answered with 5 runs of our own to extend the game to at least 5 innings. 

It’s relatively easy to be loud and energetic when you’re winning (and we’ve done a lot of that the past couple or three years); it’s more of a challenge when you’re not. I’m happy the players requested their own “players only” meeting after our post game to deal with the concerns noted. The key to success is growth, and we look forward to making progress toward that goal in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow doesn’t get any easier, as we travel down I-44 to Eureka to face the Wildcats. I’m looking forward to seeing the fire return to the Statesmen tomorrow and Saturday against Poplar Bluff. The card reader from Amazon didn’t make it when promised, so you’ll have to wait for an update (I’ll notify you) for pictures and just settle for the box score.
These just in. Because the time is 11:30 p.m., no captions, just pix, courtesy of players on the bench and our managers, Jack Korte and Zoe Weik.

Webster 13, Lindbergh 0

The 2019 JV Softball season is now officially underway, and while we would have preferred a more challenging game, perhaps this was the best way to get the jitters out of the way, as all of our players saw significant playing time in the 5-inning 13-0 victory over the Lindbergh Flyers. Besides the victory, I enjoyed reconnecting with two former students from my Hancock days (two brothers who served as my yearbook editors and are now the head principal and social studies department chair at LHS) and Maddy Raimondo, a former WG player of mine who is now an assistant principal.

Our next opponents will provide us with plenty of challenge as we face Oakville at home tomorrow (Thursday), visit Eureka on Friday, and host Poplar Bluff in the second game of a double header on Saturday. We know the first two will test us and I expect Poplar Bluff didn’t decide to drive three hours to get clobbered.

But we’ll celebrate today’s win (all 3 teams won today) and worry about tomorrow, well, tomorrow. Behind the pitching of Olivia Leaver, who picked up her first JV win and Nicola Rikand (a 3-inning “save”), the inexperienced Flyers were overmatched. We put the brakes on early but also struggled against the soft tosses of the Lindbergh pitcher (the principal’s daughter). Our defense was generally solid, with Taylor (Friday) Graning especially flashing some leather at 2B. Thanks to Karen Smith for the photos that follow. Okay, also thanks to the "Live" feature on my iPhone (I do not stock, but I do admit to having been an Apple Fanboy for 35 years now) for some of the others.

Freshman Morgan Lawrence contributed two hits including a double and drove home three runs; Maddie Keefer added her own double and drove in two. I know the girls appreciated all the fans in the stands for their first game as we look forward to our home opener tomorrow against the Tigers from Oakville.

Go go get 'em.... Let's play ball!

The Flyers decided to test Olivia Leaver right away with a bunt -- Put out, 1-3

Taylor (Friday) Graning played a solid 2B, solidified the right side defense with 3 put outs and 2 assists.

Ally Marshall settles under a fly ball to CF for the last out of the first inning.

Nora Marcinkiewicz prepare to grab Strike 3 for Olivia Leaver's first JV-Black K.

Maddie Keefer hangs on the Strike 3 from Nicola Rikand

Freshman Morgan Lawrence flips to Friday for a force at second and almost a DP.

Nicola Rikand finished the game with 3 innings in the circle, four strike outs.

Falcon Wings Clipped: Webster 14, Summit 3

Heading into this afternoon’s conference tilt against the Summit Falcons we had a 3-0 conference record and a 14-2 overall mark.

We clipped the Falcons’ wings in the top of the first, turning a sacrifice bunt into a double play thanks to heads up play by Megan Hayes (2B) and Carissa Castro (who moved from 2B to LF for this game) and then flew around the bases ourselves, running Summit out of the game and ourselves into contention for an undefeated conference season. (Ritenour will visit on Thursday to complete our conference schedule.)

Behind Taylor Knapp’s consistent pitching in the circle and Kelly Collins four straight hits at the top of the lineup, we jumped out with a 6-run first and were never really threatened again, giving us a chance to let all our players the opportunity to contribute. One of the joys of this team, for me as a coach, is the unselfishness I see every game. That attitude is a tribute the character of these 14 good players and great young women.

Thanks to the girls for the pictures of today’s contest. We travel to Fox on Monday, and will try to give the girls who have been role players, for the most part, a chance to shine. We are lucky enough to be able to field a competitive team no matter who is in uniform.

We will practice Tuesday in preparation for “Sophomore Day” against the added Wednesday home game against Kirkwood, a chance to honor our six super sophs and the leadership they have brought to the 2017 Statesmen. Thursday against Ritenour wraps up our conference schedule and a real chance to celebrate a conference championship (unofficial, of course). We have the Hancock Tournament next weekend, at Affton Athletic, where we will try to defend our 3 straight championships.

We close the season on Tuesday, Oct. 4 with a final home game against Cor Jesu, followed by a visit to Serendipity and a team celebration of what I expect will be a record-setting season. I am collecting orders for the photobooks, a chance to support the program and get a great souvenir of your daughter’s season. You’ve only seen a few of the many pictures from which our editors will be choosing.

Taming the Tigers: Webster 4, Oakville 0

We’ve been wanting a close game. Always be careful what you wish for, because we had a 1-0 lead after 4 innings and finally prevailed 4-0. We anticipated a tough game against the Oakville Tigers and that’s what we got. The Tigers pitcher was probably the fastest we have seen so far and it took a time through the line-up to adjust.

What really turned the day, however, was stout defense in the outfield. I told the girls yesterday that as I was going through the pictures that will make up your daughter’s photobook (shameless plug to get your orders in now – there are some great shots, but I’ll get to that later), what stood out to me was that in almost every picture our outies were on the move, backing up, doing all the right things, not just some of the time, but every time.

It is not easy to be an outie in softball, because there’s lots of work for not a lot of opportunities. We have asked our outfielders to be active, moving on every pitch, backing up every play. And they have responded. We may not make every catch (although we certainly did today, with spectacular efforts by all three outfielders, Rebekah in left, Noel in center and Jessica in right), but we are on the move and doing a tough job the way it needs to be done. Kudos!

Kelly Collins notched her seventh win in the circle with perhaps her best game this year, featuring a 2-hitter with 4 Ks and only 1 walk. By the way, we are averaging fewer than 2 walks per game for our staff. Not a surprise that we moved our record to 15-2 with this 4-0 victory. The girls then celebrated at Imo’s, further cementing (with congealed cheese?) their beautiful team bond. This year has been magical in so many ways. I’ll wax more eloquently(?) about that later. For now, here’s the box and the pictures, a duty the girls have taken over, with outstanding results on yet another level!