Final HS Softball Report BY ALAN BRAKE

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LADY WILDCATS SOFTBALL TEAM FINISHES SEASON WITH 3 LOSSES

The Montgomery County R-2 Lady Wildcats softball team saw the season come to an end with three losses.  On September 29, they lost 9-4 to Wright City in the first game of the first-ever East Missouri Conference Tournament.  On October 1, they lost 15-0 to Louisiana in the last game of the regular season.  Then on October 3, they lost 18-3 to Principia in the first game of the Missouri District 11 Playoffs.

In the Wright City game neither team scored in the first inning.  In the second inning WC scored a run on a walk, a wild pitch, a stolen base and an R-2 error to make the score 1-0. 

In the top of the third inning Payton LaBrier doubled and stole third base, but the Lady Wildcats were not able to drive her in.  Wright City then broke the game open in the bottom of the third by scoring 8 runs on 1 hit, 6 walks, 2 hit batters and 2 R-2 errors, to take a 9-0 lead.

Shelby Roark started the fourth inning with a double and then stole third base.  She then scored a run on a bunt by Emily Walton to make the score 9-1.  The score remained that way through the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning the Lady Wildcats rallied for 3 runs.  Shelby Miles reached base on a WC error to start the inning.  Roark singled and Cayleigh Lively reached base on another WC error, which also led to Miles scoring to make the score 9-2.  Roark then scored on a passed ball to make the score 9-3.  Walton, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice play to get Lively out at second base, scored on a single by Taylor Lauer to make the score 9-4.  However, the tournament game time limit expired at that point and WC won the game 9-4.

In the top of the first inning in the Louisiana game the Lady Wildcats threatened to score as Miles walked, Roark reached base on a Louisiana error, and Lively singled to load the bases with only 1 out.  However, the next 2 batters struck out to end the inning.

Louisiana wasted no time taking control of the game, as the Lady Bulldogs scored 5 runs in the bottom of the first inning on 4 hits and 2 walks.  Then, after holding R-2 scoreless in the top of the second inning, Louisiana scored 10 runs on 7 hits, 4 walks, 1 hit batter and 2 Lady Wildcat errors to make the score 15-0.

LaBrier reached base on a single to start the third inning, and later in the inning Lively reached base with a walk.  However, the Lady Wildcats once again failed to drive in either runner for a score and the game ended after 2½ innings of play due to the “mercy rule” (15-run lead after three innings of play).

Principia (out of St. Louis) wasted no time scoring in the District 11 Playoff game, as they came away with 5 runs on 4 hits on 4 walks in the top of the first inning.  However, the Lady Wildcats came back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 5-3.

LaBrier started the inning with a walk and scored on a double by Miles.  After the next two R-2 batters flied out, Lauren McGarvey walked and Walton singled, scoring Miles.  McGarvey eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk to Megan Ramo.

Unfortunately, R-2 had only 1 runner reach base in the second inning and again in the third inning.  Meanwhile, Principia scored 2 runs in the second inning on 3 hits and a walk to make the score 7-3.  Then in the top of the third inning Principia put the game away with 11 runs on 7 hits, and 5 walks to make the score 18-3.  With Principia having a 15-run lead after 3 innings of play, the game was ended with the “mercy rule”.

This brought the Lady Wildcats 2012 season to an end.  After winning the first game of the season the Lady Wildcats were unable to come away with another victory and ended the season with a record of 1 win and 18 losses.

The Lady Wildcats would like to thank their family, friends and fans for supporting them in 2012.  As always, “Congratulations” to the Lady Wildcats for their hard work and always giving their best effort.