Softball

Jackson pitcher Karli Johnson ended her softball career with an exclamation point. The Indians' senior struck out a school-record 256 batters in 158 innings, recorded a 1.373 ERA and finished the year with a 19-7 record, earning her Southeast Missourian Softball Player of the Year honors for the 2021 season...

Oran's Rylee Boshell recently signed a National Letter of Intent to further her education and softball career at Williams Baptist University out of Walnut Ridge, Ark. Boshell, a multi-sport athlete who plays softball, basketball and volleyball for the Eagles, is a four-year starter behind the plate as a catcher...

Growing up, Breann Thresher said she was never the ace pitcher for any of her teams. “I wasn’t really used as much until I got to high school,” Thresher said. “I had to really work. I went to pitching lessons every week and I’d practice every day on pitching to get where I am.”...

Meadow Heights athlete Marissa Byrd signed a letter of intent to further her education and play college softball at Hannibal-LeGrange University on Tuesday. Byrd — a multi-sport athlete who plays volleyball as well as softball at Meadow Heights — has started three out of her four high school years for the Panthers, the only exception being 2020 due to the spring sports season being canceled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic...

Oran catcher Rylee Boshell recently signed a letter of intent to play softball with Williams Baptist University out of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Boshell will complete her high school senior season behind the plate at Oran this spring. A solid defensive player with a big bat, Boshell hit over .500 her junior year...

Kelly senior athlete Elly Pattengill signed on the dotted line to further her education and play softball at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO. on Monday. Pattengill, a multi-sport athlete who plays softball and basketball for the Hawks, made the All-district second team this fall, posting a .262 batting average .392 on-base percentage, .310 slugging percentage and a .923 fielding average her senior year. ...

When she was in kindergarten, Lexus Hagood said she dressed up as a veterinarian for Halloween and thought Three Rivers College was the only college to become one. “Ever since I was little, I’ve always watched Three Rivers (sports),” Hagood said. To help reach her goal of becoming a veterinarian, the Neelyville senior will attend Three Rivers next fall and play softball...

Multiple Chaffee, Kelly and Saxony Lutheran softball players have been recognized as part of the Class 2 District 1 all-district and Class 2 Region 1 all-region teams. Chaffee catcher Lilly Wessel and infielder Ayne’ Held, and Kelly pitcher Mallory Lemonds, outfielder Carlee Ray and infielder Ava LeGrand were all recognized on both the all-district and all-region teams...

This story will be updated. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — East Carter’s season ended with, what else, a late rally. Down two runs in the seventh, the Redbirds got the tying run to second base but a line drive was snared and St. Elizabeth edged East Carter 8-7 in the MSHSAA Class 1 third place game Saturday at the Killian Softball Complex...

This story will be updated. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — After scoring a run in the first inning of the MSHSAA Class 3 semifinal, the Perryville softball team couldn’t scratch across any more Saturday at Killian Softball Complex. The Pirates lost 3-1 to Chillicothe in the semifinal and then 5-0 in the third place game against Sullivan...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The comeback started too late and the deficit was too much for the East Carter softball team Friday afternoon. Maysville scored in every inning before Caleigh Chilton’s home run capped a four-run fifth, ending a long drought for the Redbirds at the final four...

College volleyball SEMO 3, Austin Peay 2 High school basketball SEMO Prep 99, West Kentucky C & T 82, preseason High school boy’s soccer Rockwood Summit 3, Jackson 0 Cape Central 4, DeSoto 0 State High school softball Perryville vs. Chillicothe – Postponed to 10 a.m. Saturday...

The East Carter softball team will be able to sleep in before the MSHSAA Class 1 semifinal today in Springfield. Rain postponed Thursday’s games for Classes 4 and 5 into Friday forcing the Redbirds to a later start at a new location. East Carter (22-9) and Maysville (22-3) are scheduled to play at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Parkview High School...

East Carter’s Jaci Douglas didn’t play softball after her freshman year with competitive cheerleading also requiring a lot of time during the fall. She decided to play again for her senior year. “I’m so glad I did,” she said after the Redbirds beat Leeton 6-3 Saturday to reach the MSHSAA Class 1 final four...

This story will be updated. CENTERVIEW, Mo. — The East Carter softball team advanced to the MSHSAA Class 1 final four with a 6-3 win Saturday against Leeton. Jordan Moore hit a tiebreaking home run to start the bottom of the third and drove in a pair of insurance runs with two outs in the sixth. The senior struck out 10 and allowed six hits, four in a three-run third as the Bulldogs pulled even...

Pitch after pitch after pitch, Poplar Bluff hitters kept fouling off anything over the plate Thursday. Parkway South pitcher Ashley Ware struck out seven of the first eight hitters she faced, but each time the Mules were getting their timing down. After falling behind, Poplar Bluff was able to pull even with two hits while a third started another rally late. But that’s all the offense the Mules could muster in a 3-2 loss in the MSHSAA Class 5 quarterfinal...

The Perryville softball team punched its ticket to the Class 3 state semifinals berth, taking down St. Charles West on Wednesday. The Pirates beat the Warriors 10-4 at Perryville Park. Perryville coach Lilly Pecaut went with her ace Alyson Stortz in the circle, and the junior did not disappoint. Stortz struck out a game-high 14 batters for the Pirates...

ELLSINORE — There was no rally needed this time for the Redbirds, but East Carter did manage to win with a walk-off hit Wednesday. Rylee O’Dell ended the game with no outs in the fifth on a hit over a crowded infield to drive in the final run of a 10-0 win over Norwood in the MSHSAA Class 1 sectional playoff...

BENTON – The Kelly High School softball team played beyond its experience in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Iberia in the MSHSAA Class 2 Quarterfinal.

Stuck in quarantine just as the softball season was starting, East Carter senior Jordan Moore was bored and wanted something to do. So she made a rally hat. The white hat lined with red feathers around the brim features a diamond logo with crossed bats and a ball. At first, it wasn’t very lucky...

After starting the district playoffs without their head coach, the Poplar Bluff softball team stuck around long enough for Joel McDuffey to return to the dugout. Then, they earned another home game by winning the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 title. “I think we just found our groove and I think we’re just going to keep rolling,” said senior Ella Zgaynor after Monday’s 6-5 win over Notre Dame...

ARNOLD, Mo. — Ella Zgaynor slammed 16 years of frustration in the district playoffs for the Poplar Bluff softball team Monday. The senior’s two-out grand slam capped a third inning in which the Mules broke a tie on Emilee Cheek’s RBI hit while Clara Rahlmann kept the rally alive with an infield hit...

ELLSINORE — Elizabeth Crowley waited nearly two days to finish her at-bat with a runner at third base with the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 championship tied. The East Carter senior was batting Thursday when rain suspended play with a 2-2 count. Crowley, who grounded out to the shortstop to end the top of the second when play resumed Saturday, had to wait again before stepping to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth inning...

This story will be updated. ARNOLD, Mo. — After falling behind by five runs, the Poplar Bluff softball team answered right back Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal. Adrianne Casey hit a go-ahead, two-run single to cap a six-run fourth inning as the Mules advanced to the championship game with an 11-7 win over second-seeded Oakville...

ARNOLD, Mo. — Notre Dame got on the board in the first inning and never looked back. The Bulldogs would score once more in the fifth and again in the top of the seventh on back-to-back bunts to advance to the Class 5 District 1 championship with a 3-1 victory over top-seeded Jackson on Thursday at Fox High School...

POPLAR BLUFF — One dugout at Rains Field featured a team making its first district finals appearance since the spring of 2016, the other side had been here plenty of times before. Still, there were nerves on both sides Thursday night. “Right before we took the field we were like this is weird,” Kelly senior Kendyl Stuckey said. “We could tell our hearts were pumping. We all took a deep breath and we’re like ‘it’s fine, we’ve been here before, we can do it.’”...

ELLSINORE - It took a late rally but the East Carter Redbirds found a way to book a spot in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 softball championship game. Second-seeded East Carter scored two runs in the sixth to tie things up and added another run in the seventh inning to beat third-seeded Naylor 8-7 in the semifinal Wednesday...

By DUSTIN WARD Contributing Writer ELLSINORE — It is going to be a bit longer before a champion is crowned in the Class 1 District 1 softball tournament. Play was suspended at 4:36 p.m. Thursday following two rain delays in the first 36 minutes of the title game at East Carter High School...

POPLAR BLUFF — Greenville’s run as the Cinderella run in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 softball playoffs ended without a happily-ever-after ending Thursday night. Kelly, the top seed making its 10th straight appearance in a district final, scored early and let the defense work in a 7-0 win over the Bears at Rains Field...

FESTUS, Mo. — Sikeston saw their season come to an end in the Class 4, District 1 Softball Tournament Wednesday after a late rally lifted Windsor to a 6-3 win. “I feel like we played a very competitive game against a great ball club that is ranked 10th in the state in Class 4,” said Sikeston coach Jacob May. “I think defensively and offensively we played very sound and mistake free.”...

ARNOLD, Mo. — In past years, Notre Dame’s softball team was known for its speed. This year, it’s all about the Bulldogs’ power. Audry LeGrand and Kadi Dohogne both homered and the Bulldogs beat host Fox 4-1 to advance to the Class 5 District 1 semifinals on Tuesday at Fox High School...

ARNOLD, Mo. — Jackson’s softball team didn’t waste much time punching its ticket to the Class 5 District 1 quarterfinals. The Indians were hot at the plate and starting pitcher Karli Johnson torched opposing batters to lead Jackson past eight-seeded Seckman 11-1 in five innings Tuesday afternoon at Fox High School...

The seventh-seeded Greenville Bears stunned second-seeded Chaffee 8-5 in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 playoffs Tuesday at Rains Field, the only lower seed to win in the tournament’s opening round. In other first-round action, fourth-seeded Twin Rivers downed No. 5 Saxony Lutheran 3-1, top-seeded Kelly shut out No. 8 Seymour 4-0 and No. 3 Hartville downed sixth-seeded Gainesville 3-1...

The top-seeded Kelly Hawks staved off elimination on Tuesday, beating the eighth seed Seymour Tigers 4-0 at the Class 2 District 1 quarterfinal at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. Sophomore pitcher Mallery Lemonds pitched a complete-game shutout for Kelly, allowing just four hits, striking out seven and walking three...

IMPERIAL, Mo. — Lauren Webb got down the bunt in the sixth inning with the game tied Tuesday. The Poplar Bluff senior ended up on second base after giving the Mules the lead. Morgan Courtney scored from second when Webb’s bunt was misplayed and the Mules advanced in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 playoffs with a 3-1 win over Mehlville at Seckman High School...

Notre Dame lost both games of a double-header on the road Saturday, falling 12-10 and 4-2 to Eureka. In the opener, the Bulldogs took an early 7-1 lead through three innings. That lead quickly dissipated when the Wildcats scored five runs in the bottom half of the third, two runs in the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth...

With their coach in quarantine, the Poplar Bluff softball team enters the postseason looking to extend their season long enough for him to return. “I don’t want anything to be a distraction for them,” Mules coach Joel McDuffey said by phone Monday. “I want them to be able to move through as clean as they can and without as many hiccups as possible — just be confident and do their thing.”...

Greenville's Kenzie Hill hit a two-run, go-ahead home run to lift the Bears past Saxony Lutheran 3-1 on Friday. After Greenville's Janee Lane got on base with a single in the bottom of the sixth, Hill hit a Lily Roth pitch over the fence to give the Bears a two-run lead. Hill went 2-for-3 on the day and crossed the plate twice...

SIKESTON — The Kelly Hawks grabbed an early lead and never relinquished it, knocking off Sikeston 9-4 Friday afternoon. Kelly scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after a triple from Carlee Ray led off the game. Ray came in to score on a single from Ava Legrand while Kayleigh Holman stole home after singling earlier in the inning...

Miranda Ladson put together a solid performance on Thursday for Jackson, accumulating three hits in five at-bats — including a three-run home run in the sixth inning en route to a 13-2 victory over Greenville. Ladson drove in a game-high five RBIs for the Indians...

It had the ingredients of a resurgent rivalry. Defending Class 4 state boys soccer champion Jackson had to earn every open look in Thursday’s 2-0 blanking of Cape Central. It was physical with bouts of emotion. Each school’s respective fanbase was animated...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Small schools have their benefits. Chaffee assistant softball coach and teacher Shawn Powderly has been able to gauge future talent well before it logs a varsity inning thanks to a Junior-Senior High setting. When he saw Reese Van Pelt — now the Devil's talented freshman hurler — coming down the pike, he felt good about the future of his program...

The Chaffee Red Devils took advantage of Fredericktown's pitching on Wednesday, tagging the Blackcats for five runs in the second and nine in the fifth en route to a 14-4 five-inning run-rule victory. Reese Van Pelt and Lilly Wessel paced the Red Devils at the plate, batting in three and two runs, respectively. Van Pelt went 1-for-1 at the plate and was walked twice while Wessel went 1-for-3 with a home run...

Three Rivers College will host the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 tournament. In an up-and-down season marked by injuries, small rosters and COVID issues, coaches in this narrowly divided district think their teams can play with anyone … if they show up ready to play...

POPLAR BLUFF — Having just seen their teammate get hit in the neck by a ball and appear to pass out, members of the Poplar Bluff softball team were visibly shaken Tuesday afternoon. With their head coach was in quarantine and the seniors set to play their final home game, assistant coach Kayla Keith gathered the team together...

SIKESTON — On an emotional Senior Night, the Lady Bulldogs of Sikeston fell to the Raiders of North County 6-5. The Lady Dogs (9-14) out hit the Raiders 11 to 8, however, would eventually fall in the top of the seventh off a late triple by Lady Raider Sammy Waller. The Lady Bulldogs had no answer for the triple, allowing North County (12-9) to defeat them 6-5...

Behind Scarlett Alcorn’s two RBI doubles, the Van Buren Bulldogs made quick work of Alton on Monday, beating the Comets in six innings, 11-1. The senior’s first double came in the bottom of the second inning, with Alcorn smashing a pitch sharply to right field, scoring Olivia Christiansen from second base...

ELLSINORE — Neelyville, East Carter and Naylor will likely be the top three seeds in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 tournament, in some order. An average of 2.75 runs decided the four games the three teams played against each other. The final iteration in the series happened Monday, with East Carter beating Naylor 11-8...

Karli Johnson’s crafty, high-velocity pitches have often put Jackson in cozy situations. When the senior right-hander isn’t helping the Indians reach 20-win seasons and continue their Class 5 District 1 softball ascent, Johnson is rewriting the program’s history book...