PHS softball team goes 1-2 at season-opening Troy tournament
by Mark Cheffey
The PHS softball team opened the season with 1-2 at the Troy-Buchanan Lead-Off Tournament Saturday, but were in all three games against teams from larger class schools.
The Lady Panthers opened with a 9-6 error-filled loss to Winfield, dropped a 1-0 heart-breaker to Liberty-Wentzville, before winning the final game of the round-robin event, 8-3, over Fulton.
“It was good to end the day on a high note,” said Coach Alexis Van Nostrand, whose team trailed 2-1 before scoring four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to seal the victory.
“Kennedy Wilson pitched a great game, and our defense made some stellar plays,” Van Nostrand said. “This was an all-around team win. Our bats started clicking and we just took off.”
Palmyra squared the ball up for four extra-base hits including a home run by Jansen Juette, a triple and double by Jazlin Gottman and a double by Sophie Hoerr.
Wilson struck out six in pitching all seven innings, and the defense committed just one error.
The Lady Panthers committed five errors leading to six unearned runs in their 9-6 loss to Winfield
Palmyra trailed by six after the second inning, but tied it up with three in each of the fourth and fifth innings before falling behind for good.
Lydia Althoff took the hard-luck loss on the mound giving up just two hits while striking out eight and walking eight.
Lexi Peuster went 3-for-3 at the plate while Abby Redd hit a two run triple.
Palmyra out hit Liberty-Wentzville 4-2, but could not cash in on the opportunities in a 1-0 loss.
Jazlin (Gottman) pitched a great game,” Van Nostrand said of her junior hurler, who struck out 11 while giving up just two hits and a walk.
“We made one error in the field that cost us a run,” Van Nostrand said. “We struggled stringing hits together to make something happen.”
Redd had three of the team’s four hits, all singles.
Palmyra was to play their home opener Tuesday against Louisiana. Results were not available for this issue.
