Did You Get Your $2 Worth? WG 18, Fox 0

I hope the fans who forked over the $2 for admission to watch our softball game today (if you think their facilities are nice, you should see their superintendent’s office – what, too soon?) felt like they got their money’s worth. Personally, schools ought to pay people to watch JV sports, not the other way around. Both umpires took the time to compliment our players, both for their skills and approach to the game.

I’m not sure why it (also) irks me that the Fox coach, for the past two seasons, seems to think we shouldn’t be thumping them as we have. Or maybe he’s just annoyed at his own team. In either case, facts are facts. The game against the Warriors went from a scoreless tie after one inning to over before Fox batted in the second. Taylor Knapp recorded her second career no-hitter despite their coach trying slip in a “greasy ball” to the point the umpire finally admonished him to quit (this one lasted four innings), the bats came alive, the batting eyes were sharp, well, you get the picture.

Actually, the pictures are below as we moved to 6-0 (so no reason for me to be cranky) and the girls have well-earned a day off (optional – short BP for those who are so inclined) ahead of our Monday home contest against Parkway Central. We’ll have an intense practice Tuesday prepping for an expected tough match at the field of the JV of defending state champion Marquette on Wednesday. That, plus Thursday’s Festus contest, should prepare us for the FZW Tournament (rescheduled) next weekend.

Speaking of rescheduled, if you haven’t added the postponed Lindbergh and Kirkwood games to your calendar, pencil them in on October 3 and 9, respectively. Oh, and the girls are developing some serious photo skills.The first five pix are courtesy of Andrew Graning, but the rest are JV Black; their lens work was as hot as their bats!

Ivy Clark slides home on a passed ball/wild pitch.

Marko showed some pop with her bat, contributing a triple and single to the onslaught.

Sarah Sammon took the last inning, recording all three outs on Ks.

Nora Marcinkiewicz establishes rapport with the umpires and helps her pitcher adjust to sometimes seemingly floating strike zones. Lots of props from the Blues (not the hockey team, despite the color of her gear).

This is how you get a lead. (Alyssa Moran) 

And the result of this attempted steal..... (Wait for it....)

Safe at second with her third stolen base of the year. (Nice slide, too)

TK was dominant in the circle, notching her second career No-No.

Caitlyn (Speed Racer) Boyle worked on her bunting/slapping technique to great effect.

Meanwhile, over in the Fox dugout, the Warrior coach whined, "She was safe? How could he miss that call?" Ummm, he clearly didn't. [Sorry, Coach Kate]

Taylor (Friday) Graning slides home safely after a good read.

The swing of Ivy Clark that cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double.

Pitchers apparently should never be glad a ball-strike call went their way when Myah's at the plate. A line drive to follow  is a safe a bet as, well, its' a safe bet. Just sayin'....

Nicola Rikand played a solid SS as the next two pix demonstrate.

Just your routine 6-4 force out as Friday takes the throw from Nic.

Friday was there, but why throw when you don't have to. Also, of note, while the score was 12-0 at this point, check out the movement of our LF, Myah King. Our Outies have been OUTstanding all year in moving on every pitch, every play.

And a No-No deserves two pix, don't you think? TK picks up her (and our) sixth win.

Oh No! No, Not That. A No-No. Webster 10, Hazelwood West 0

It’s funny how match-ups work. I can’t remember ever beating Hazelwood West, nor can I remember every feeling we shouldn’t beat them. I think Festus (next Thursday) probably feels the same way about us (although they did win 3-0 last year in a game-shortened contest). So when the Wildcat coach bemoaned that they had really only faced one good team (Francis Howell Central) I just agreed that they were a good team and didn’t tell him how badly we had beaten them just the day before. Softball can be a funny game. We were a little flat, from warm-up through the end of the game, but prevailed 10-0.

Against their #2 pitcher we had trouble generating offense (we actualy hit the ball harder against their lefty in the 4^th inning.

Behind Kelly Collins’s no hitter (and no ball hit very hard and 8 strike outs), and a big 6-run 3^rd inning, a close game broke open, thanks to Maya Litton’s big 2-RBI single. Sarah Sammon, giving Hannah a break behind the plate, brought Maya home. We tacked on 3 more in the 4^th and when Kelly completed her no-no (a tough error was the only blemish), the game was over.

Which, at the request of some parents, provides the segue needed to offer this brief lesson on the run rule in fast-pitch softball. A 15-run (or more) run lead after 3 (or 4) innings ends the game. So does a 10-run (or more) lead after at least 5 innings also completes the contest. So, if the fifteenth run scores in the bottom of the 3^rd or 4^th inning, the game is over. The same is true if the tenth run scores in the bottom of the 5^th or 6^th. The home team always gets the chance to close the gap, of course.

As we head into Saturday’s tournament, our record stands at 8-0 and we have outscored our opponents by a cumulative, and ridiculous, 121-10 margin in 35 innings of play.

The danger is that a good team will catch us flat. We’ll work to try to keep that from happening when we play Timberland Saturday morning at 8 a.m. The bus will be one way and the girls have assured me that everyone has a ride home from the tournament. If a player is riding with someone other than her parent, I would appreciate written notification, either via email or even antediluvian paper.