Updates & Reschedules

So here’s the latest, up-to-datest on our schedule. Not since coaching Spring softball at Hancock have I had a team impacted by weather as much as this one.

Nerinx Hall is still up in the air. We tried for a couple Saturdays, but they don’t have enough players on those days. My guess is that was the problem the first night when the varsity played and the JV didn’t. They probably need to find a day when they can use a couple players to “play down.” Disappointing, but what can you do?

We will be making up the Parkway Central game next Tuesday, September 19, at home. The varsity will play them tomorrow, but their JV is already scheduled for that day.

The McCluer North game has been moved to October 7. That potentially creates some personal complications for me, but we’ll find a way around it. And maybe it won’t be a problem.

Remember that the Hazelwood West game has been moved to next Thursday. That makes a game every day next week, which is why we took today off. Plus, indoor practice gets crowded with both teams in a small space. We will have a short, targeted practice tomorrow, with individualized goals for each player. Expect to be finished by 4:30 at the latest.

We have the brackets and locations for the Francis Howell Tournament on the weekend of September 27. We will open against Francis Howell at Francis Howell High School. We will then meet the winner (or loser, I guess) of Lindbergh vs. Ft. Zumwalt South. Winning the first game would mean we will stay at the high school. Losing in the first round means we will finish the day at C&H Park (not a sweet outcome). 

    We have the brackets and locations for the Francis Howell Tournament on the weekend of September 27. We will open against Francis Howell at Francis Howell High School. We will then meet the winner (or loser, I guess) of Lindbergh vs. Ft. Zumwalt South. Winning the first game would mean we will stay at the high school. Losing in the first round means we will finish the day at C&H Park (not a sweet outcome). 

    So that yesterday won’t be considered to total washout, I include below, for your viewing pleasure, the pictures Amy Love snapped before Percy the Lightning Thief made his appearance. (YA literature reference, good for boys, although, as Ted Drewes might say, “Girls like it, too.” [sometimes, says me]) Clearly I have too much time on my hands. Maybe we should have practiced.

Quality Softball, Quality Win: Webster 5, Pattonville 2

What a good game! Slightly less than perfect to give some us some things to work on, but seriously quality softball against a good team, one we’ve never defeated before (8-12, in 2012, 2-3 in 2013), despite some good games. The Pattonville pitcher is a two-way player, who spends time with their varsity. They also have a freshman team, which means their JV players are not the bottom of the barrel. I’m really proud of the girls, who showed grit, intensity, and spirit, as well as skills. We don’t panic, we just play! 

Behind AnnaClaire Bryant in the circle and stout defense all around, we scored two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings and then sank the Pirates with a pair of 1-2-3 innings (last 8 batters in a row). Just good solid play. We saw a “Wow-wow-Wubsie!” moment  (grandfathers make strange children’s TV references from time to time) from Grace Behrle at short, who added three shots for hits, and great at bats from Emma Hintze (sacrifice fly) and Karlee Scholtes (single that resulted in a run with great base-running from Olivia Weik). 

But I want to shine the spotlight on AnnaClaire Bryant, who ran her record to 2-0 with a 2-hitter. AC patiently spent a lot of time on the bench last year, taking advantage of her limited opportunities without complaint. She then worked hard during the off-season and has become a force, not just in the pitching circle, but in the dugout where she is a quiet, but respected leader. I hope she’s as proud of herself as I am of her. Great work, ACB!

As always, thanks to Amy Love for the great pix!

Busy Week Ahead

Because we’ll be making up our game against Parkway Central at home on Tuesday, we’ll have four games this week, two at home and two (far) away (Pattonville and McCluer North -- which, for the record, didn’t exist when I did my student teaching in that district).

I will be posting the tentative lineups for the first two games, along with some explanation of what goes into the process of making those lineups at the JV level.

Pattonville is a league contest; although technically there is no conference championship for the JV, games against conference opponents (Pattonville, Parkway North, Ritenour, Summit, and Kirkwood) carry more weight in the “important to win” category, if for no other reason than we want the girls in those programs to expect to lose (and ours to expect to win). While I always have a plan to play every girl at least some in every game, those plans are subject to in-game decisions and my assessment of a player’s chance for success. Additionally, when games last fewer than 7 innings or are low scoring, fast encounters, like our last two, there are fewer at bats available or fewer innings to dole out.

The JV program has two important goals:

1) To feed the varsity, both this year, when necessary, and next year. The coaching staff consults together to determine the varsity’s future needs and we make decisions accordingly. Quick anecdote. A few years ago I moved my freshman shortstop to second base for her sophomore year. She was still my best shortstop and her mother demanded to know why the switch after a game. I had already told the player and she (at least said she) was in agreement on the plan: the varsity would need a second basement her junior year and wouldn’t need a shortstop, so we decided to get her ready for the spot she could likely fill. Player parent communications often have hurdles that are not overcome, but in this case it didn’t matter because Mom never really listened to my answer anyway, although her daughter still apologized for her. It is still too early to know or project about next year for the freshmen, incidentally.

2) To provide a great athletic experience for our players, to improve their skills, to introduce them to the rigors of interscholastic competition and all the advantages that endows, and to develop a strong work and team ethic. These are season long goals that may not always be easily quantifiable in the short term. With one exception (and she played in 22 of the 23 games), every girl averaged at least one plate appearance per game, and we had an 18-member team. Only four girls of the eighteen played in every game. It’s a long season. What I think constitutes our best lineup at the beginning never matches up to my thoughts at the end. We will designate several games (including Tuesday’s match-up with Parkway Central, a team that beat us 6-5 last year) as “non-starter starts” to make sure every player gets some playing time on a regular basis. I’m concerned that neither Hazelwood West nor Nerinx has made much, if any effort to reschedule, but that is out of our control. Finally, each player is guaranteed a full game in each tournament at the end of the season. We especially like the Hancock Tournament at Affton AA on October 4, because we exercise the option to "bat the lineup," something few of the other teams do.

Below is our projected lineup for tomorrow’s tilt against Pattonville. Below that is what we plan for Tuesday at home against Parkway Central. We are optimistic we will have our full 14-player squad available by Wednesday, but we’re waiting for a final medical clearance to make out that lineup, as well as the chance to assess performance in Monday and Tuesday’s games.

This may be more than you cared to know, but I don’t come with the Staples Button.

vs. Parkway Central

Good Game: Francis Howell Central 5, Webster 4

Both coaches agreed that this is a series we want to continue, despite the long drive. Last year we battled back from a 10-0 deficit to win 20-15 with an 8-run seventh inning. This year's contest was a whole different kind of game.

Despite being outhit, 14-7, and having only 1 strikeout, we battled to the last pitch, had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the seventh, and provided spectators on both sides with a close, entertaining game, falling 5-4. FHC has a very good team, but we proved that we do, too. Most importantly, we never became discouraged, never panicked, made plays when we had to. Bodes well for the rest of the season.

Kate Nieman had two hits and scored two runs with good slides at home. Maggie Pool returned to us and took charge in CF, including a strong throw to get a runner tagging up trying to score with a good tag by catcher Lauryn Greer, who also reached base all four times in the leadoff spot. Lots of positives with contributions from everyone who played.

Playing time is always a challenge and one of my jobs as a coach is to provide players with opportunities for success. Low scoring, fast games like this one make it difficult for every player to get on the field as much as she might want, or even at all. The Tuesday home game against Parkway Central has been designated as a "non-starter start," where we try to even out the playing time without sacrificing the chance to compete. If an out-of-town relative is going to be at a game, let me know and I will try my best to make sure (s)he gets a chance to see the player perform.

 Thanks to AmyJo Love for the pictures!

Nice First Win: Webster 7, Cor Jesu 5

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Rule #1: “Don’t Panic.” We didn’t and the result was our first win of the season. The Chargers of Cor Jesu threatened, pulling to within one run, but we stayed steady, played good defense, and prevailed.

In a well-played game on both sides, Webster avenged last year’s extra inning loss to CJ by jumping on top in the first two innings with good base running and 4 RBI by Grace Behrle, then playing good defense behind the strong pitching of AnnaClaire Bryant, who picked up the win, and Grace, who tied the JV record for saves in a season by notching her first with two good innings of relief.

Adjusting to the local that was the Cor Jesu pitcher was a challenge after the express that was Seckman hurler last week, but some early small ball and aggressive running plated three runs in the first. Gives us a practice goal, for sure.

Illness and varsity call-ups required some adjustments to the line-up, but Hannah Love was solid on the corner at third. The OF had three put outs and two assists to help shut down Charger rallies. Just an all around solid game with contributions from every player offers the promise of more good softball for spectators as the season goes on and the team continues to mature.

Scoring change. Upon further review, a error awarded to a player (because there is no mechanism to award it to an umpire) has been changed to a hit for Cor Jesu.

Hazelwood Game Postponed....

Today's game against Hazelwood West has been postponed with a date TBD. Saturday options may start to come into play.

Please add, if you haven't already, Friday's game at home against Francis Howell Central.

We will practice today. Players should meet at the field but be prepared to go inside.