Vienna celebrates senior night with 17-0 win

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 9/24/20

Surviving a nine-inning battle with Belle’s Lady Tigers the night before, Mick Byrd’s Vienna Eagle softball team welcomed Newburg’s Lady Wolves to Vienna City Park Friday night for …

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Vienna celebrates senior night with 17-0 win

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Surviving a nine-inning battle with Belle’s Lady Tigers the night before, Mick Byrd’s Vienna Eagle softball team welcomed Newburg’s Lady Wolves to Vienna City Park Friday night for senior night.

Going for their third win of the week, Byrd’s Eagles needed just three innings to defeat the visitors from Phelps County by a final score of 17-0.

“Ellie and I are fiercely proud of our seniors,” Byrd said. “They are all dandy humans. We can have a special year. Keep your eyes on the prize.”

One of eight seniors, Jada Kleffner recorded two hits and stole three bases.

Fellow senior Marsie Messersmith added a double, single, two stolen bases and three runs batted in (RBI).

Molly Otto also doubled and drove in three runs in addition to fellow senior Sadie Novak with a double, two stolen bases and two RBIs.

Senior Alexi Struemph also had a hit and a RBI in addition to another hit and a RBI from Eagle senior Alicia Long.

Karissa Feeler also tied Kleffner with a team-high three stolen bases.

Underclassmen scoring a run for Vienna on senior night included Nora Garro, Tori Schulte, Madeleine Novak, Kyleigh Logan and Jaelee Stricklan.

Abrea Simmons and Eva Hollis combined to handle the pitching duties on senior night.

Simmons threw two innings allowing two hits and no walks to go with two strikeouts. Eva tossed a scoreless inning giving up one hit and striking out two batters.

Three nights earlier, Vienna opened Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) softball action on the road in Crawford County against Cuba’s Lady Wildcats.

Tied at 1-1 after two innings, Vienna scored the next four runs of the game before going on to a 5-1 victory at Steve Schuette Field.

Feeler led the way with a double, two singles and a stolen base against Cuba.

Senior Gabby Wilkinson added two hits a stolen base and a RBI.

Kadence George followed with a hit, two stolen bases and a RBI.

Messersmith added a hit while Kleffner stole a base.

Scoring runs against Cuba were Long, Otto and Eva Hollis.

Defensive highlights against the Lady Wildcats according to Byrd included a catch of a line smash by third baseman Kayla Hertzing in the first inning, an outstanding play up the middle by Feeler at shortstop and a very well executed pitch out by Messersmith and Wilkinson which resulted in Wilkinson gunning down a would be base stealer at second base with Feeler applying the tag.

Messersmith earned the complete-game victory allowing no earned runs on four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

Running their record to 3-0, Vienna’s junior varsity Eagles edged Cuba 4-3.

Sadie Novak led the JV Eagles with a hit and two stolen bases followed by a hit, a stolen base and a RBI from Jenna Wiles.

Terra Huffman added a hit and a RBI while Allison Buschmann recorded a hit and a stolen base.

Abrea Simmons record a hit and a stolen base while Cara Petershagen posted a team-high two RBIs.

Simmons pitched one inning allowing no earned runs on one hit with no walks and a strikeout. Eva Hollis also pitched an inning allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.