Ft. Zumwalt West Tourney Recap

 Apologies for the tardiness of this entry. About midway through yesterday’s tournament, Coach Cerutti noted, “I can tell I’m older this year.” Were I young and hip (which, actually, I never was; well, I guess I was young once) I would have replied, “Word,” or “Truth,” or whatever happens to be the young hip expression du jour. Because there were numerous players within earshot I also didn’t respond, “No – uh – kidding.” I just said, “Me, too.” But better late than never (also not a young, hip, phrase, but at least an expression that’s actually older than we are).

To be honest, looking at the bracket for our third trip to the Ft. Zumwalt West JV Tournament at Ozzie Smith Sports Complex in O’Fallon, I might have predicted a 1-2 outcome. The day ended with that outcome but left me feeling a little disappointed. Not in the girls, but I just felt we had a real opportunity to walk away with the Consolation Championship Plaque and, as we entered the final game against St. Dominic, was hopeful, almost confident, that we could walk away a winner. And we came close.

Don’t misunderstand, there were lots of positives to come out of this tournament. We fell behind in each game, but battled back in each game to either tie or take the lead. We hung on in the middle game against Summit, when their coach (prematurely) pulled her starting pitcher (and catcher) and we rallied with 7 runs, added on 2 more after she re-entered her starters, and held on for a 9-6 victory. I don’t expect her to repeat that strategy when we face Summit again on Tuesday.

We played 20 of the 21 innings possible, which, on the JV level with an hour and a half time limit, is kind of remarkable and a testament to our pitchers not walking lots of girls or getting into many deep counts. 

With injuries, illness, and absences we were a little short-handed, although we’re kind of used to that; we played almost all last season with 11 players, and occasionally just 10. The girls just bowed their necks and went to work, not giving less than their best until the last out closed out the day. This is a fine group of young women and it’s a pleasure to work with them.

We had a large parent contingent out to cheer their players, and that’s always welcome. The umpiring was, um, a little uneven but I appreciated our girls and fans for living up to our high expectations for sportsmanship.

So here are the box scores and some pictures the kids took during the day.

 

First baseman Emmy Gary keeps her composure to corral a loose ball and get the out at 1.

Coaching girls is different. Just sayin'....

Pitcher Olivia Leaver gets the easy out at first.

Getting ready to fight for the Consolation Championship v. St. Dominic

Players, please note. The Summit runner is getting a TERRIBLE jump!

BaileyAllen rounds third, heading for home on Morgan Lawrence's triple.

Maddie K had a double in each game. Here she becomes better acquainted with second base as Summit changes pitchers.

Coach Cerutti and Caitlyn Boyle

Should make someone's cover photo for some social media platform, don't you think?

Freshman Bailey Allen  signals 2 outs to her teammates.

Pioneers Axe the Statesmen, 13-5

We knew going in that this might be a tough contest. We had seen enough of Kirkwood this summer – and the past several years – to know that they had talent and coaching, a growing program that has closely paralleled our own. Add to that the long-standing (friendly, characterized by respect and sportsmanship) rivalry, well, it was going to be a big day.

Except for one bad (terrible, horrible, no good very bad) inning, we played even with that strong Kirkwood team. However, those were mistakes of execution, not preparation, not attitude, and they didn’t diminish our approach to the rest of the game. Olivia Leaver kept her cool on a hot day, just taking the ball and firing strikes. Another game with no walks from her. Nic Rikand finished out the last two innings with a solid effort in the circle, as well.

Maddie Keefer put us ahead, briefly with a bases clearing double and a 5-2 lead. She also was robbed twice by the left fielder. Caitlyn Boyd (POG) defied the Pioneers to throw her out and they couldn’t, not at first, not at second, not at third. Only a great diving catch by the Kirkwood backstop deprived her of a perfect day. 

I don’t know how many games we will win this weekend, next week, this year. But given what we saw today, I’m optimistic that we’ll see improvement game after game, week after week, and I’m looking forward to seeing that happen.

Marko sets up to receive one of the many strikes thrown by....

One of my favorite moments in every game is when the IF gathers around their pitcher.

Nikola Rikand finished out the game with a strong two inning performance.

Bailey Allen forces the Pioneer runner back to second, backing up the throw back to the pitcher.

Caitlyn Boyle not only sparked the offense with 2 hits and 2 runs, but added a catch in RF.

Big Steps Forward, Ignore the Score. Eureka 12, Webster 1

We have already lost as many games this season as we did each of the last two. But the coaching staff is much happier this evening, following our 12-1 loss to an excellent Eureka team. With all due respect to the excellent Oakville team we saw yesterday, I’d bet that this Eureka team would beat them most of the time. The Wildcats probably could have made the score even more lopsided, but demonstrated the class consistent with their reputation and refused to take advantage of an outgunned opponent. (No implied criticism of Oakville, btw; I respect their coaching staff, as well.)

But the Statesmen worked hard and I’m certain learned from this experience, lessons that will serve us well as we grow throughout the season. Softball is a game of inches, and I can think of four balls that, given an inch or three, could have easily ended up in gloves.

Whatever the girls said in the Players Only meeting after yesterday’s game clearly had impact, and I truly respect the leadership that is growing in their roles, as well. This is a long season, one that has just started, and if we continue to progress in skill and approach, I think all of us will look back on the season as a success.

Olivia Leaver showed tremendous mental toughness in the circle, not walking a batter and battling back from some 3-ball counts. Neither errors nor rockets seemed to phase her and she kept her composure throughout. Nic Rikand’s stiff shoulder kept O in the circle a little longer than we would have preferred, but she soldiered on. Freshman Morgan Lawrence flashed leather on the left side at both short and third and Emmy Gary was a rock at 1^st. Maddie Keefer notched our first “caught stealing” and girls worked and cheered hard throughout the game.

Progress often comes in small steps and can’t always be measured by statistics. The losses might look similar on the scoreboard, but the girls unanimously agreed that today’s game was lots more fun.

Doing a little “catch-up,” we have instituted a (purely subjective) “Player of the Game” Award, a stretchy bracelet given to each game’s “winner.” (All our girls are winners.) Morgan Lawrence inaugurated the award for her game against Lindbergh; Nic Rikand took the honors after the Oakville game, and Taylor (Friday) Graning is the current bearer. Hope to see you at tomorrow’s 12:30 (or thereabouts – we follow the varsity, so the time must remain flexible, maybe earlier, maybe [but I hope not, for personal reasons] later) contest against Poplar Bluff, where you can play along trying to predict who will wear the award until our next game (players can earn the honor more than once). 

"Speed Racer" Boyle gets ready to work her slap/bunt magic, drew two walks, stole two bases.

Olivia Leaver pitched a complete game for the Statesmen; Morgan Lawrence, busy in the field, gets ready for a play.

Catcher Maddie Keefer took two good ABs, drew a walk and (via courtesy runner Jilly Sanders) scored the lone run.

CF Ally Marshall continues to develop as a slap hitter, getting one hit and driving in the lone Statesmen run.

Freshman Bailey Allen brings a lot of energy to her play, subbing in at 2B due to an injury.

Taylor Graning will play multiple positions this year because of her good glove. Today she was in right.

When not behind the plate, Marko mans the OF, and makes a catch in left in the second inning.

Nicola Rikand manned the shortstop position today; she'll also pitch and play OF.

Sophomore Ally Marshall gets ready to return the ball after making a catch in CF.