By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The St. John Lady Hornets of Chester won the Championship of the 2021 Class S Regional Softball Tournament with wins over Prairie Du Rocher, St. Boniface of Edwardsville, and Red Bud Catholic.
The St. John Lady Hornets Softball Team in Chester hoists its Class S Regional Championship trophy into the air Monday September 27 after beating Red Bud Catholic, 7-1, to earn the 2021 title. Tracy Mott Photo
With the title comes a trip to the 2021 Class S State Softball Tournament October 4-7, 2021.
Pictured, front row, left to right, are: Mallorie Homan (17), Joella Eggemeyer (3), Lillian Diskey (13), Avery Hasemeyer (4), Brystol Stellhorn (16), and Hannah Crow (15). Back row, left to right: Jeff Mott, Assistant Coach, Addison Coffey (24), Macy Bert (10), Aubrey Coleman (2), Lexie Mott (11), Camryn Wolff (22), Aubrey Colvis (14), and Justin Frazer, Head Coach.
The 2021 Lady Hornets are coached by Head Coach Justin Frazer. He is assisted by Jeff Mott and Tracy Mott. The 2021 roster consists of 12 players including five 8th graders, three 7th graders, three 6th graders, and one 5th grader.8th graders include Aubrey Coleman (2), Macy Bert (10), Lexie Mott (11), Lillian Diskey (13), and Camryn Wolff (22). 7th graders are Joella Eggemeyer (3), Avery Hasemeyer (4), and Aubrey Colvis (14). 6th graders include Hannah Crow (15), Mallorie Homan (17) and Addison Coffey. The lone 5th grader is Brystol Stellhorn (16).
The Lady Hornets compete in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and recorded a conference record of 3-2 for 2021. Their overall regular season record was 13-3.
The Class S Red Bud Catholic Regional Tournament featured seven teams including New Athens, Prairie Du Rocher, Red Bud Catholic, Red Bud Lutheran, St. Boniface Catholic of Edwardsville, St. John Lutheran of Chester, and Valmeyer.
The Lady Hornets of Chester faced Prairie Du Rocher in their first game, winning to advance to the semi-finals against St. Boniface Thursday September 23. With the win, St. John improved its overall record to 14-3.
St. Boniface proved to be a worthy opponent for the Lady Hornets as the game came down to the wire with Chester winning, 7-6, in a hard-fought contest.
Assistant Coach Tracy Mott said, “It came down to the wire Thursday as we took the victory on a dramatic walk-off single in the late innings that sealed the victory. The game was tied in the bottom of the 9th when Joella Eggemeyer singled on a 0-2 count to score the winning run.”
Both offenses were strong at the plate throughout the game. Chester collected nine hits while St. Boniface recorded 11 hits in the high scoring affair. St. Boniface drew first blood in the first inning when an error scored one run. Chester answered with a run to tie the game, 1-1 after one inning of play.
Neither team scored in the second inning, but St. Boniface added two runs in the top of the third to lead, 3-1.
St. John was silent until the bottom of the 4th when they scored one run to trail, 3-3. The next inning Chester added four runs to take their first lead of the game, 6-3. During that run, Macy Bert hit a single, Lexie Mott grounded out and Avery Hasemeyer smashed a double.
That lead held until the top of the 7th when St. Boniface’s Miller singled on her first pitch to tie the game at 6-6. St. Boniface’s Stanhaus and Miller contributed RBI’s to help tie the game.
The contest remained tied until the bottom of the 9th (extra innings) when the Lady Hornets’ Joella Eggemeyer hit her walk-off single to break the tie and win the game, 7-6.
Lexie Mott had the pitching duties for Chester. The right-hander surrendered six runs on 11 hit over the nine0inning game. Antonini toed the rubber for St. Boniface for eight and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on nine hits. She struck out 13 batters and walked one in the loss.
Chester had nine hits in the win. Avery Hasemeyer, Lillian Diskey and Lexie Mott each contributed two hits apiece to lead the Hornets. The Lady Hornets tore up the base paths in the win with Lillian Diskey recording a pair of steals.
With the win, Chester improved to 15-3 for the season and advanced to the Championship game to face Red Bud Catholic on Monday September 27.
Assistant Coach Tracy Mott said, “In the Championship game the Lady Hornets earned a resounding 7-1 victory over Red Bud Catholic without ever putting up a big number.”
The Lady Hornets got things started in the top of the first inning when Camryn Wolff doubled to score two runs. Chester added two more runs in the top of the third and again in the top of the fifth to lead 6-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Red Bud scored its only run of the game to trail, 6-1. Chester added an insurance run in the top seventh and that would be enough to secure the victory and the Championship title.
Lexie Mott pitched for the Lady Hornets. She allowed three hits and one run in the win, striking out 10 batters and walking one.
Day started in the pitchers circle for Red Bud Catholic. The hurler allowed six hits and five runs over four innings. Ohlau came in to relieve Day for the final three innings.
In the win, Chester recorded ten hits as Avery Hasemeyer, Camryn Wolff, Aubrey Coleman and Lexie Mott each had multiple hits for the Hornets. Hasemeyer went 3-for-3 at the plate to pace Chester.
Red Bud Catholic was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit any errors in the game. Red Bud’s Kreher had the most chances in the field with 15 balls hit to her.
With the win, Chester’s St. John Lady Hornet’s Softball Team earned the title of 2021 Class S Regional Softball Champions and improved to an overall record of 16-3. The Hornets will now advance to the 2021 Class S State Tournament.
Assistant Coach Jeff Mott said, “The girls will now take the field in their first State Softball game Monday October 4 and face Coulterville. With a win, the Lady Hornets will advance to the Semifinals Tuesday October 5.”
“I am proud of each and every one of them and how much they have improved throughout the season. They are such a fun group to coach and are a blast to be around.”
“As far as the five 8th graders go, it’s not surprising to me that we are in the State Series. These girls have all had the ‘Refuse-to-lose’ attitude ever since I can remember. I wish them luck against Coulterville. The one thing I know for sure is that they will ‘leave it all on the field’. Go Hornets!”