More Reasons to Celebrate -- The Magic Season Continues

It was a beautiful day (in the neighborhood) for softball, specifically the Hancock Tournament where we gathered on (Homerun) Field 2 to defend our title (actually, our three consecutive titles) and try to extend our 7-game winning streak to 10.

When the oddsmakers in Vegas heard that Affton had dropped at the last minute and been replaced by Parkway South’s upper echelon JV squad, the numbers on the big board changed rapidly and dramatically, perhaps fueled in part by the confidence exhibited by the Parkway South parents. “Webster who?” Of course, what were the odds of losing three straight coin tosses to determine home team? (Actually, as it turns out, according to Marilyn Vos Savant, 50-50, but never mind.)

An Experiment and Control Group: Webster 20, Gateway Science Academy 8

First things first. GSA (Gateway Science Academy) and their young program suggested a rule change that mirrors the WGBSL’s rec-league rules for 3^rd and 4^th grade: 5 runs or 3 outs, whichever comes first. We demurred and promised to find a more authentic way to end the carnage if that became necessary. In addition to letting GSA have the call on the coin flip we were beginning to second guess ourselves after our opponents answered our 4-run first with their own 8-spot. I wasn’t really worried, but we had never allowed that many runs to a team we had defeated all year.

Order was restored with a pitching change and our own 9-run 2^nd inning. We tacked on 7 more in the 3^rd, including two “leaving early” calls (yes, there’s an app, I mean sign, for that) to end the inning and move us into the semi-final round with a 20-8 victory. Sarah Sammon (double) and Nicola Rikand (home run) each contributed an extra base hit to go with many walks, wild pitches and uncontested stolen bases.

The mismatch wasn’t really a challenge, but neither was there any sense of panic on the bench or in the coaching box after we fell behind. The victory meant we were able to stay at Field 2 for Game 2 against the Parkway South JV-Blue (freshman) squad.

Blue Patriots: Webster 16, Parkway South (Blue) 0

Well, that didn’t take long. I didn’t have the heart to tell the Patriot coach we were featuring an “upside down” lineup after 2 of the first three batters banged home runs and we led 3-0 before the umpire had a chance to dust the plate again. By the time P. South had recorded their third out, we were up 11-0. Taylor Knapp notched her eighth win by keeping things that way, pitching a 3-inning, 1-hit shutout and we added more runs in the second (2) and third (3), with a triple from Hannah Jansen and a homer from Kelly Collins. Errorless defense supported the pitching and the game ended quickly on the 15-run rule, setting up the championship finale.

Red or Blue, We Don’t Care: Webster 9, Parkway South (Red) 7

This was a worthy championship game, featuring two strong programs, even if only one thought they deserved the trophy. Because we had the same plate umpire for all three games, I was saved the trouble of giving him a new roster each game. “Same as last time,” said I. Parkway South declined the “Bat the Roster” option. (That’s the primary reason we play this tournament – if we didn’t want the chance to showcase ALL our players, we’d find a different tournament.)

In the post-game autopsy, Coach Cerutti praised the girls, saying “Parkway batted their best 9.” Hannah Jansen’s perfect rejoinder? “We batted our best 14.” Does anyone wonder why the coaching staff loves this team? Life doesn’t always turn out this way, sadly, but when doing (what you think is) the right thing has the desired result, well, it’s just (insert your adjective here).

The Patriots jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Statesmen pitching and defense adjusted and cooled their momentum. In our top of the third, Megan Hayes worked a walk, Rebekah Riefle added a single and Jessica Peterson bashed her first career home run to seize the lead. Kelly Collins drove in Hannah Jansen and Carissa Castro with a double to stun the Patriots and their supporters.

Good baserunning by Guin Ellsworth in the 4^th saw her cross the plate as Sarah Sammon battled a 2-strike count to make contact and get an insurance run across. We flirted with disaster, in more ways than one, in the fifth. A line drive up the middle skipped off the top of Kelly Collins’s head, temporarily putting her on the bench. A Field 2 home run off Taylor Knapp knotted the score before she could get the third out.

As Coach Knapp pointed out in the post-game, this team doesn’t play for themselves but for each other. With Kelly on the bench and under an ice bag, we rallied for three runs, with a huge hit by Taylor Graning and a clutch single by Maya Litton that drove in two and scored another when the Patriots panicked. With a 9-6 lead and time expired, a single and error put a runner on second with no one out in the sixth; Kelly returned to the circle. She recorded two quick outs (scoring P. South’s seventh run), but the third, fourth and fifth hitters in their lineup all reached. Bases loaded, two outs, momentum seemingly on the side of the Red Team.

But the red faces belonged to the Patriots as Kelly induced a ground ball back to her and she made no mistake in getting the ball to Maya for Out #3 and a hard-fought 9-7 win. Can you say, “Four-peat?” I can. The pride I have in this team, their hard work, their unity, their general attitude and love for the game, would not have changed, no matter the outcome, no matter the score. But it was such a pleasure, such an honor to take the trophy from Hancock’s A.D. (and my former student and softball scorekeeper from my days as a Tiger) and hand it to the most deserving group of young women with whom it’s been my pleasure to associate.

Well done, ladies. Couldn’t be happier for you reaping your deserved reward. With or without the trophy, you are champions! Look for Tourney pix tomorrow or Monday (after a short practice to prep for our last game against Cor Jesu on Tuesday) after I get a chance to download them. Oh, our record, you ask? 21-2.

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!

Saving the Worst for Last: Cor Jesu 10, Webster 7

Apologies for the delay. We were paid an unexpected visit by the WG Fire Dept. last night, thanks to a gas burner cap that was not properly seated on our stove, resulting in a Carbon Monoxide alert and alarms all over the place, both CO and security, phone calls, sirens. Kind of an appropriate end to the day, because….

We played perhaps our worst game of the year yesterday. We have beaten Cor Jesu, but have also struggled against them, as we did yesterday. Our usually steady defense got away from us (thanks in no small part to playing on Field 2 at AAA, which does not lend itself to good softball, and, to be fair [man, I hate that] also impacted the Chargers defense, as well). Mental breaks were plentiful, including in the third base coaching box, and ragged base running didn’t help. And, for whatever reason, we did not swing the bat as well as we have against better pitching and left the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh.

I’m not sorry we added this game, because it was only our twentieth of the season and it was exciting and entertaining. Not good, but exciting and entertaining. Batting last was going to be an advantage, as it usually is when we face CJ.

Happily, I was able to get all but one of our 16 players into the action (Sorry, Dazsa) for our last contest and despite having to come from behind, our Statesmen kept up the 3 Es, effort, enthusiasm and energy to the last pitch. I’ll do a more thorough season wrap in the next couple days, complete with final statistics. Suffice to say, had you asked me if I would take 16-4 with a side of trophy back in August, pretty sure I would have taken it.

I was glad all the girls were able to join their teammates at (shop small, shop local) Serendipity for a season-ending celebration. No game pix this time (dead camera battery) so only celebration ones.

This team grew as players and as a team, individually and collectively. I am proud of this great group of young women who represented their school, parents, community and themselves with class all season long. Thanks to the sophomore leadership and freshman followership.

With some encouragement from Coach Kate and a fair amount of trepidation, this (maybe) needs some explanation. Because we're old and can't reach our toes with ease (and because it feels good) my wife and I go (to a former Hancock Tiger) for regular pedicures. My former shortstop has been following our team's success and, because this represents both my personal best at the helm of a Webster team and my highest season win total (tie, 1994), I said I was looking for my own personal celebration demonstration. This is the color she picked, and I thought, why not? Orange & Black, 2016.