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 8th 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 3rd
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 13th 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. |
