The season came to an end for the St. James High School softball team Wednesday, Oct. 14, as the fourth-seeded Lady Tigers lost to fifth-seeded St. Louis Notre Dame 11-9 in the first round of the Missouri Class 3 District 2 Tournament at Sullivan High School.

In other district first-round games Oct. 14, second-seeded Owensville shut out seventh-seeded Cuba 15-0 and third-seeded Lutheran South blanked sixth-seeded St. Clair 15-0.

In semifinal games Friday, Oct. 16, it was top-seeded Sullivan over St. Louis Notre Dame 13-0 and Lutheran South over Owensville 10-4. Sullivan was to play Lutheran South in the district title game Monday, Oct. 19.

The St. James Lady Tigers end their season with a 7-17 overall record and a 1-5 Four Rivers Conference mark.

First Round, Oct. 14 - St. Louis Notre Dame 11, STJ 9: Notre Dame got a run in the top of the first inning then took a 6-0 advantage with five more in the second. The Lady Tigers cut into their deficit by plating four runs in the fifth inning. Each team scored two runs in the sixth inning to make it 8-6 entering the seventh. Notre Dame got three more runs in the top of the seventh. St. James cut the deficit to two with three runs in the bottom half of the seventh before falling short.

St. James outhit Notre Dame 11-6.

Junior Kirrah Drennan had a big game, with three doubles and four RBI while senior Lillian Snelson had a double, single, two RBI and two runs; freshman Paige Nesbitt two hits and two runs; freshman Emma Meurer a double and two RBI; senior Raegan Witt a hit and RBI, and freshman Lela Teague and junior Millicent Hartley a hit and run each.

Teague went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing six hits and 15 walks while fanning 12.

“I thought we made great progress throughout the season from Day 1 to the final game as individual players and collectively as a team,” said Brad Purvis, who finished his 20th season as Lady Tiger head coach. “As a younger team coming into the season, along with moving a few returners to new defensive positions, you expect learning moments throughout the course of a season. I felt we did a great job of building on those moments.

“As I told our players after the district game, game experience is the best teacher. Overall, we gained valuable experience that I hope we capitalize on for the 2027 season. We are excited about the program’s future as we move forward. I believe it is a group that has a chance to do something very special. This was a fun group of players to coach. They were eager to learn and improve. As a coach that is what you want.

“Thank you to our seniors Madison Shields, Lillian Snelson, Brooke Warren and Raegan Wit for their dedication, leadership and contributions. We are better because of them.”