District Champions

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 10/22/20

CROCKER — Just over 48 hours removed from his 500th career victory against Newburg in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 1 District 2 Softball Tournament …

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District Champions

Posted

CROCKER — Just over 48 hours removed from his 500th career victory against Newburg in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 1 District 2 Softball Tournament semifinals, Mick Byrd’s Vienna Eagles faced off against Richland’s Lady Bears in the district championship game Friday night at Crocker High School.

Behind a perfect game in the pitching circle from senior Marsie Messersmith, Vienna dispatched the Lady Bears 15-0 in three innings.

“I’m so proud of our kids,” Byrd said. “I’m so proud of our community! I’m so proud to be an EAGLE!”

Messersmith kept Richland off the base paths in the bottom of the first inning with two strikeouts and a pop up in foul territory caught by freshman third baseman Kayla Hertzing.

Getting their first at bat in the bottom of the first inning, Vienna wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.

Hertzing tripled and scored on a RBI single from Messersmith.

Karissa Feeler then reached on a fielder’s choice before Gabby Wilkinson was hit by a pitch bringing Jada Kleffner to the plate.

Kleffner duplicated Hertzing with a two-out, two-RBI triple driving in Feeler and Wilkinson for a 3-0 Vienna lead.

Alicia Long kept the two-out rally going with a RBI single allowing Kleffner to score bumping the Eagle lead to 4-0.

With Molly Otto now at the plate, it was time for Vienna to play some long ball.

Facing a 1-2 count, Otto hit a two-run home run giving Vienna a 6-0 lead.

The Eagles were not done yet.

Terra Huffman joined the triple club with one of her own turning before turning the batting order back to the top.

Kadence George reached on an error before scoring on another error pushing the Eagle lead to 8-0.

Hertzing tripled yet again in her second at bat of the inning before scoring on a Messersmith RBI single capping Vienna’s nine-run first inning.

Striking out the side in the top of the second inning, Messersmith kept Richland off the bases and the scoreboard.

This also gave Vienna a chance to add to their lead.

Starting the bottom of the second inning, Wilkinson singled before stealing second and third base and eventually scoring.

Kleffner then drew a walk before stealing second.

Looking to add to her home run from the first inning, Otto came up in the bottom of the second inning and hit yet another two-run homer giving Vienna an 11-0 lead.

George capped the scoring by drawing a walk. She then stole second and third base before scoring on an error giving the Eagles a 13-0 lead after two innings.

Once again striking out the side in the top of the third inning, Messersmith and her Eagle offense were just two runs away from a district championship in three innings via the 15-run mercy rule.

Wilkinson led off the bottom of the third with a single before Kyleigh Logan took her place on the bases as a courtesy runner.

Kleffner followed with a single before Long delivered a walk-off two-RBI single.

Last Wednesday in the district semifinals against Newburg, Vienna turned a 1-0 deficit into a 16-1 lead after one inning before going on to defeat the Lady Wolves 17-1 in three innings giving Coach Mick Byrd his 500th career victory in 40 years of coaching softball at Vienna High School.

“I couldn’t have done this without all of the players that I have coached over the years,” Byrd said. “I also have to thank the community of Vienna for supporting me over all of these years.”

Doing the biggest damage for Vienna in that 16-run bottom of the first inning was the number nine batter in Alexi Struemph.

In her first at bat, she came up with the bases loaded thanks to a hit batter and two walks.

Two pitches later, Struemph found a gap in the outfield clearing the bases giving Vienna an 8-1 lead at the time.

Batting a second time through the line up, Struemph came up yet again with the bases loaded.

Hitting another gapper, she was only credited with two runs batted in with the bases loaded.

Going along with Struemph’s offensive output, Long earned the complete-game victory against Newburg giving up just one run on two hits and a walk in addition to five strikeouts.

Awaiting Vienna in the sectional round will be Neelyville’s Lady Tigers.

Located in southeastern Missouri, Neelyville will have about a three hour hike to Vienna for sectional softball action.

Common opponents between Vienna and Neelyville include Salem and Cuba.

Vienna has defeated both Salem and Cuba by scores of 16-8 and 15-4 respectively.

Neelyville also defeated Salem 8-2 during the Cuba softball tournament but lost to the host Lady Wildcats 9-1.

Defeating Naylor 11-1 in their district championship game, Neelyville was led by senior pitcher Payton Reinbott who had two hits and three RBIs on offense for the Lady Tigers.