Following much discussion regarding a potential co-op with another school, Steelville High School’s softball season is underway, co-oping with Viburnum. 

After an initial proposal to co-op with Bourbon was voted against, Steelville’s board of education officially approved a co-op with Viburnum on March 17, just two days before the Lady Cardinals’ scheduled season opening double header against Plato and Bismarck. Those games were postponed after the late decision and Steelville’s season officially began on March 24 on the road against Houston. 

The Lady Cardinals lost a high scoring duel against Houston before falling decisively in its home opener on March 26 versus Central.

Former Lady Cardinals’ assistant coach Jessica Eicholtz is now in her first season as Steelville’s head coach, following seven seasons at the helm from former head coach Scott Perkins. Cassidy Hill and Jennifer Perry are now assistant coaches. The Lady Cards were 1-15 last season, but had winning records in three straight years before last season. At least five players from last year’s team didn’t return this season, and Eicholtz is tasked with retooling with a seniorless squad of seven freshmen, three sophomores and four juniors. The Lady Cardinals did return junior Gracie Mae Boone, a reigning second-team All-District selection, who is expected to be a standout again on this year’s team. Steelville will play in Park Hills against West County on March 31 before playing road games in Stoutland on April 7 and Bourbon on April 9.

Steelville falls to Houston in slugfest 

The Lady Cardinals played their season opener on the road against the Houston Lady Tigers. There was no shortage of hitting for both teams, as this game quickly turned into a shootout. Houston led 3-1 after two innings before both teams erupted for five runs in the third inning. The Lady Cardinals’ offense kept them through five innings, but Houston’s offense proved to be too much to contain.

The Lady Tigers led 12-9 through five innings and pulled away in the sixth inning with a seven-run barrage to turn a three run game into a 19-9, mercy rule victory. 

Gracie Mae Boone blasted a two-run home run to center field, doubled and walked, finishing with two runs scored and two runs batted in to lead the Lady Cardinals. Sophomore Abigail Schlueter and freshman Grace Werley each collected two hits and two runs batted in for Steelville. Junior catcher Alayna Skinner doubled, walked twice and scored three runs and freshman Kaylee Piersall walked twice, scored a run and knocked in a run to round out the offensive output for the Lady Cardinals. Piersall pitched a complete game, striking out nine batters in the losing effort. 

Cards get crushed by Central

After a scoreless first inning from both teams, the Central Lady Rebels’ offensive attack and a dominant pitching effort from freshman pitcher Riley Jones took over, spoiling Steelville’s home opener. Central plated eight runs in the third and fifth innings to blow the game open en route to a 22-0 win in five innings. 

Freshman Kaylee Pitts and Boone both singled for the Lady Cardinal’s lone base hits on the afternoon. Pitts and Piersall combined to pitch five innings, but were both plagued by control issues, hitting a combined eight Lady Rebel batters with pitches. Lauren Hulsey tripled twice and scored three runs to lead Central.