Lady Eagles Softball Played Their Hearts Out In An Emotional Season And Finished At Districts

By Wyatt Hardy

The Lady Eagles softball team entered the 2022 season with their sights set on becoming state champions. However, they ultimately fell short in districts and failed to make it to state. With a close call in 2021, where they secured their 14th straight district championship but finished third at state, the team was determined to win it this time. The last time they had done so was in their remarkable 2020 season.

Head coach Ashley Crump led the team to a 20-13 record and kept their heads held high in every matchup. With seniors like Kayla Ulrich, Jaedin Blankenship, Alexis Funkhouser, Grace Halmick and Hannah Campbell in their final season, they were eager to finish their careers off on a high note.

On August 26, the Lady Eagles started their season off strong at the Peoples Bank Back To School Classic, dominating all three games against DeSoto, Capital City and Northwest Cedar Hill. Their defense shut down opposing batters, resulting in a combined total of 19 runs and zero runs allowed.

However, the competition got much more challenging the following day at the tournament. Sullivan couldn’t pull through in their first matchup against Helias, losing 2-1. A hard-fought offensive battle against Eureka ended with Sullivan trailing 3-2. Despite finishing fourth at the Back To School Classic, the Lady Eagles gained valuable experience and recognized areas for improvement. This tournament would mark only the beginning of their dominance.

On September 1, the Lady Eagles faced Windsor with a narrowly missed victory, losing 4-3.

However, they quickly regrouped and unleashed their full potential against Pacific, dominating both offensively and defensively in an impressive 12-2 win. Evvie Blankenship’s incredible pitching skills led to 10 strikeouts in just five innings.

Two days later, Sullivan continued their fantastic performance, overwhelming Hermann with a 15-0 victory. Ulrich contributed significantly with two home runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Although Sullivan faced a setback against Troy Buchanan with a 6-3 loss, they maintained their momentum against Owensville, shutting them out with a 16-0 victory.

The Lady Eagles played Union next, and after a tied game until the fifth and sixth innings, Sullivan unleashed their unstoppable offense, scoring six runs to win the game.

Traveling to Binder Park in Jefferson City for the weekend, the Lady Eagles won their first game against Lee’s Summit at the Lady Jays Classic with a 4-2 triumph. However, they faced three consecutive losses, with Fatima defeating them 16-0, Father Tolton winning 13-8, and Helias emerging victorious with a 9-1 score.

On the following Monday, Sullivan was squeezed 3-0 by Francis Howell.

Despite the loss, the Lady Eagles bounced back with a 15-0 win against St. Clair the following night.

They then secured a dominant 20-1 victory against St. James.

In the next game, Sullivan clinched a 6-3 win over Rolla after scoring three runs early.

The Lady Eagles experienced a mix of results at the Springfield Invitational. They lost to Willard and West Plains on Friday but came back to win on Saturday. Sullivan triumphed over Nevada 2-1, narrowly fell to the Battle Lady Spartans 1-0, and rebounded with an impressive 15-0 victory against Carl Junction.

Sullivan went on to shut Borgia out with a 6-0 win. Evvie Blankenship’s fantastic pitching performance included four strikeouts and only two hits allowed.

Their journey continued with a game against Eureka, where Sullivan scored first but ultimately lost with a final score of 4-1.

The Lady Eagles had another remarkable weekend at the Rolla Invitational with only one loss throughout the tournament. They secured 33 runs, ultimately winning the championship. Sullivan started with a 4-3 loss against Timberland but rebounded with victories against Neosho (9-2), Webster Groves (7-1),  and Farmington (4-0). In the tournament championship, the Lady Eagles beat Willard with an amazing 9-3 victory.

Sullivan now headed to the district tournament, hoping they would repeat their success from 2020 and win the state championship again. But the district was more challenging than ever, with Fatima, Blair Oaks, and Sullivan all ranked among the top six Class 3 teams. In the quarterfinals, the Lady Eagles faced the Owensville Dutch Girls and quickly took control of the game with two home runs in the first inning. Ulrich and Dorie Richardson both contributed to the early lead, and Evvie Blankenship’s great pitching resulted in a shutout. The Lady Eagles emerged victorious with a final score of 13-0.

In the district semifinal match, Sullivan faced the defending state champions, Blair Oaks, and fell short with a 9-2 loss. This defeat marked the end of Sullivan’s streak of 14 consecutive district championships since 2008. Despite the loss, the Lady Eagles started the game on a high note, scoring the first two runs.

The Lady Eagles softball team had high hopes for the 2022 season. Despite some challenges and setbacks along the way, Sullivan refused to give up and persevered. They had notable victories such as the championship game at the Rolla Invitational and several blowout wins against great teams. Even though they fell short of their district championship streak, the team showcased determination and gave it their all in every game.