The early-season woes continued for Steelville High School’s softball team after the Lady Cardinals were blown out in three-straight losses to Stoutland, Bourbon and Grandview.

Steelville’s top pitcher, freshman Kaylee Piersall, was out due to injury and troubles from the circle and in the field fueled the Lady Cardinal’s struggles.

The Lady Cardinals are now 0-6 on the season and will seek their first win of the season and the first victory for first year head coach Jessica Eichholz. Steelville played Licking on April 13, which will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to host Dixon on April 16 and Bourbon on April 20 before playing in Salem on April 21 and on April 24 and 25 in the Salem Softball Classic.

March 31 vs. West County

The Lady Cardinals put up a fight against the West County Lady Bulldogs for a while, but a six run third inning and a seven run fifth inning eventually proved to be too much for Steelville.

Steelville scored two runs in the top of the first inning when freshmen Grace Weley walked with the bases loaded and Lizzy Warden followed with a single down the left-field line. Valley then plated two runs in the first inning to tie the game and both teams went scoreless in the second inning to take a 2-2 game into the third inning.

The Lady Cardinals went ahead in the top of the third when juniors Hayleigh Parrett and Takira Smith singled and walked with the bases loaded to plate two runs.

Valley immediately took the momentum back in the bottom of the third, plating six runs to turn its two-run deficit into a four-run lead. Steelville would add one more run in the top of the fourth to narrow its deficit to three but the Lady Bulldogs exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to turn a close game into a 15-5 run-rule victory over the Lady Cardinals.

Parrett led Steelville with three base hits and two runs batted in. Sophomore Nikki Jensen doubled and junior Gracie Mae Boone singled and scored two runs to go along with Warden’s single for Steelville’s six base hits on the day.

Freshman Kaylee Pitts pitched all 4 1/3 innings for the Lady Cardinals before West County walked off with a victory. Pitts struck out three batters, but struggled with her control, walking 10 Lady Bulldogs. She also didn’t receive much help in the field as the young Steelville squad committed seven errors on the day leading to eight unearned runs.

West County sophomore Kaytli Holbert led the Lady Bulldogs with two base hits and a run scored in the victory.

April 7 vs. Stoutland

Steelville struggled throughout their matchup against the Stoutland Lady Tigers on the road. Stoutland scored two runs in the first, six in the second and five in the third inning to take a commanding 13-0 lead. Stoutland freshman pitcher Amelia Greenwood baffled Steelville’s hitters, throwing five no-hit innings throughout the afternoon. The Lady Cardinals did walk three times and scored one earned run in the top of the fifth inning before the Lady Tigers came away with a 13-1 run-rule victory in five innings.

Pitts hurled 3 2/3 innings, striking out one before Boone came on in relief and got the last out of the inning. Parrett, Jenson and Smith were Steelville’s only base runners on the day and Jenson scored the Lady Cardinal’s lone run of the ballgame. Stoutland junior second baseman Candice Barnwell collected three hits and senior shortstop Emma Cornelison homered to lead the Lady Tigers  

April 9 vs. Bourbon

The Bourbon Lady Warhawks rudely welcomed the Lady Cardinals to town for its senior night.

Bourbon senior pitcher Annalise Gobin was honored before the game and quickly mowed down Steelville before the Lady Warhawks bats erupted.

Bourbon exploded for 17 runs in the first inning against Pitts. In that inning, every batter had at least two at bats and half of Bourbon’s lineup came to the plate three times. Pitts hit five batters in the inning and didn’t get much help in the field.

Boone pitched the second inning and the Lady Warhawks added eight more runs to balloon their lead to 25-0. After Steelville didn’t score in the top of the third, the game ended due to the run rule. 

Pitts collected Steelville’s lone hit in their first at bat of the game and Boone and Grace Werley each walked as the Lady Cardinal’s only base runners of the game. 

April 10 vs. Grandview

Early-inning struggles continued to haunt the Lady Cardinals, who gave up nine runs in the first inning and seven in the second innings against Grandview. Steelville added one run in the second inning before the game was called after three innings with a 16-1 Grandview victory due to the run rule.

Steelville scored their lone run of the ballgame on a double from sophomore Abigail Schlueter that scored Jensen. Boone started in the circle and struck out four batters in two innings before Pitts pitched a scoreless-third inning.