By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Falling 6-4 last Thursday on the road in Jefferson City against Capital City’s Lady Cavaliers, Mick Byrd’s Vienna Eagle softball team looked to get back on the winning track Saturday in their annual softball tournament at Vienna City Park.
Richland dropped out of the tournament due to COVID-19 and Vienna’s JV Eagles took their place in the tournament.
This gave Vienna a chance to keep both the championship and second-place plaques in town.
In the first two games of the tournament Saturday, Vienna’s JV Eagles took on Newburg and Laquey.
Offense was plentiful for the Eagles against the Lady Wolves to the tune of a 32-3 victory in two innings due to the 90-minute time limit.
Terra Huffman finished a home run shy of the cycle hitting a single, double and triple against Newburg.
Eva Hollis had two hits along with a hit each from Kiera Hollis, Andrea Novak, Abrea Simmons and Jaelee Stricklan.
Scoring runs against Newburg for Vienna’s JV Eagles were Nora Garro, Alayna Patton, Allison Buschmann, Madeleine Novak, Olivia Hagan, Tori Schulte, Karleigh Briscoe, Kyleigh Logan and Aliyah Griffin.
Eva Hollis was the winning pitcher giving up one earned run on one hit and no walks to go with four strikeouts.
Facing Laquey in their second and final game, Vienna also came out on top by a score of 9-6.
Buschmann finished the game with two hits to go along with a hit apiece from Andrea Novak, Eva Hollis and Garro.
Scoring runs against Laquey were Briscoe, Griffin, Buschmann, Simmons, Garro, Andrea Novak and Eva Hollis.
Simmons and Eva Hollis did the pitching with Hollis picking up the win.
She allowed an earned run on three hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts. Vienna’s JV Eagles improved to 6-3 on the season with their two wins in the tournament.
After Laquey and Newburg faced off, both the Lady Hornets and Wolves faced Vienna’s varsity Eagles to close the tournament.
Already defeating Newburg on senior night earlier in the season, Byrd’s varsity Eagles scored another victory over the Lady Wolves, 19-0.
Jenna Wiles highlighted the game with her first career varsity home run.
Karissa Feeler recorded two hits and three runs batted in (RBI) to go along with two hits, two stolen bases and two RBIs from Gabby Wilkinson.
Jada Kleffner duplicated Wilkinson’s offensive production while Marsie Messersmith added a hit and two RBIs.
Molly Otto added a hit and two RBIs while Alicia Long helped her cause with a hit and a RBI in addition to pitching a no-hitter allowing one walk and striking out five batters.
Kadence George stole a team-high three bases against Newburg in addition to Andrea Novak scoring two runs and stealing a base.
Sadie Novak also stole a base and scored a run against Newburg.
Alexi Struemph scored a run as well for Vienna against the Lady Wolves.
Closing the tournament against Laquey, Kayla Hertzing also hit her first career home run to go along with six RBIs in Vienna’s 26-1 tournament-clinching win over the Lady Hornets.
Feeler finished a home run shy of the cycle while also driving in two runs.
Wilkinson record three hits, three RBIs and a stolen base. Messersmith also hit a home run, a double and drove in three runs.
George stole four bases giving her seven in two games.
Long had a hit and three RBIs to go along with the second win of the day giving up three hits and a walk in three innings while striking out four batters.
Vienna’s final home game will be on Friday at Vienna City Park against Richland’s Lady Bears with a 5 p.m., first pitch
