WhatsBestForTheGirls

The Villa softball team traveled to Dayton yesterday and suffered their first conference loss of the year. The girls put forth a gutsy effort against a solid Dayton team, playing through several injuries, but just could not get a timely hit while leaving 9 girls stranded. Alexa Meier (Sr/1B) led the offense going 2 for 4; Anna Eisner (Fr/LF) reached base twice including a single and walk, while Brooke Meier (Fr/P) allowed only 4 hits and recorded 6 strikeouts on the day. Villa's record is now 5-6. On the Dayton side, kudos to pitcher Kilee Donelan for a solid game from the mound, SS Grace Workman for all around outstanding defense and 3B Megan Downard for some incredible plays. Overall, Dayton is resilient, quick and scrappy! Best of luck to the Green Devils the rest of this season.

During a perfect afternoon for softball, Villa traveled to Maysville St. Pats and came home with a 13-0 victory. Once again dominating on offense was Anna Wagner (freshman/C) going 2 for 2 with 3 RBI and 2 Runs. Brooke Meier (freshman/P) also had an exciting day at the plate hitting 2 for 4 with 2 Runs and 2 SBs. Neema Adley (8th grade/CF) channeled her Blue Lightning speed to score 3 Runs. Also, a special shout-out and congratulations to Caroline Rice (sophomore) who recorded her first Varsity hit and RBI. In the circle, Brooke Meier hurled her 3rd no-hitter of the season facing 16 batters in 5 innings with a career high 14 strikeouts and no walks...just 1 error away from another perfect game! Villa's current record is 5-3, and Meier has thrown an impressive 4 shut-outs, 3 no-no's, 1 one-hit and 1 perfect game. In each of the last 7 consecutive games, she has recorded double digit strike-outs. It is evident that Meier and Wagner as Villa's battery have an incredible connection and comprehension of the game.

I personally am extremely confident in the Villa scorekeeper, and I know the Villa coaching staff and athletic department are as well. Lloyd pitcher, Crawford, did have an exceptional game, striking out 14 for the evening. As I said, the Villa offense struggled with only 4 hits versus Lloyd's 6 on the night...I guess there is discrepancy on recorded hits and errors by the scorekeepers. Not sure what to say about the difference in strikeouts recorded for Crawford...fairly cut and dry statistic to obtain and verify from the book. I might ask Coach Meier at our next game just out of curiosity. Of course, as you pointed out, Lloyd was home team and kept the official scorebook. However, your recollection of the bottom of the 8th is incorrect (and upon reviewing my notes after the chaos of the long night, I too am not completely accurate). It took me a while, but since I don't know all the Lloyd players by name, I had to look-up rosters on the school and KHSAA website. They should be identified correctly. Lloyd scored 1 run in each of the last 4 innings (5th - 8th). In the 5th with 1 out, Cunningham had a triple and was batted in by teammate Foley. In the 6th, Crawford had a double, then WP moving her over to 3B, which resulted in her scoring with the next batter. In the 7th, Foley had a single and eventually scored after Villa errors with subsequent batters. Tied 4-4 in the 8th, Brooke Meier led off with a single, SB and WP, but was stranded at 3B as the next three Villa batters in a row went down. At the bottom of the 8th, Sexton gets on for Lloyd after another Villa error, resulting in an overthrow with extra base. With a "perfectly executed" sacrifice bunt by Sears and strikeout by the next player, there are now 2 outs with Sexton on 3B. Cunningham comes through in the clutch with a single scoring Sexton for the Lloyd win, 5-4. There is no doubt both teams deserve recognition for their efforts. As always, I am happy to have Villa's opponents provide their own summary of the game. I am not nearly as efficient as NCC's LB to provide the play-by-play for both teams. My goal is to utilize BGP for quick highlights of the Villa games and acknowledgement of any stellar plays or stats by the girls when appropriate. Good luck to both Villa and Lloyd in their remaining seasons!

Yes.....she has been on the roster since 4th grade at which point she had some varsity time and again in the 5th grade. This year she is a varsity starter. Her grade level is not really startling news in NKY. There have been several KY Enquirer articles on the Villa softball program, Coach Meier and his 3 daughters over the past two seasons.

You are correct, per KHSAA guidelines 6th graders are not eligible for high school level teams. However, this player was grandfathered in.

During an important District seeding matchup yesterday, Villa lost a heartbreaker at Lloyd 5-4 in extra innings. Lloyd took the lead in the first inning 1-0. From there it was a very intense game, with both teams battling it out on the field and at the plate, inning by inning. In the 2nd inning, Camdyn Meier (6th grade/RF) walked and then pinch runner Neema Adley (8th grade) scored off steals and overthrows, tying the game 1-1. In the 4th inning with one out, Brooke Meier (freshman/P) started a rally for the Blue Lightning with a solid shot to RF, followed by a walk from Gabrielle Schulte (senior/SS) who was replaced by pinch runner Casey Fulton (7th grade). Then at the plate was Carol Dosker (junior/LF) laying down a single. Out #2 came as the next Villa player at bat struck out. Stepping to the plate again was 6th grader Camdyn Meier with 2-outs and bases loaded. With a short fly to LF which had the outfield scrambling, the Lloyd player appeared to catch it but the ball dropped out of her glove as she was running out of bounds. Villa took the lead 4-1 as the bottom of the 4th inning began. To summarize the remainder of the game - with Lloyd recording only 6 hits, they were able to capitalize on several infield errors and eventually tie the game sending it to extra innings. Unfortunately, with Brooke Meier in scoring position after another single in the top of the 8th, stealing 2nd and 3rd, Villa was unable to bring her home. Lloyd then took the lead winning in the 8th after a single, strikeout, fly-out to RF, and two fielding errors. Alexa Meier (senior/1B) recorded a hit during the evening but the Villa offense overall struggled at times, leaving runners on base after walks and/or errors. Brooke Meier led all hitters going 2 for 3 at the plate while recording 10 strikeouts. The youngest Meier daughter/Villa player, Camdyn Meier, had 2 RBI on the day and made three spectacular catches in RF, holding the winning run on third base at the time. Villa's record is now 4-3. After graduating 5 seniors last year (4 from starting positions), Villa is a young and developing team. Their starters include 3 seniors, 1 junior, 1 sophomore, 3 freshman and 1 6th grader. The program continues to build with interest and fresh talent as they have expanded their roster to include several new players and younger ones returning to the field now that they are junior high age and eligible for the high school team. Look for Villa to continue to surprise their opponents this season and in years to come.

It is extremely sad the negativity with which this and the earlier Villa vs Dixie post have been addressed. Rather than criticizing a field with no lights and calling out the school as a total embarrassment, or arguing about the dilemma public schools face with mandatory bus service, this thread should have heavily complimented 3 excellent schools, their soccer programs, players, coaches, and athletic directors for 2 incredible post-season games. These are the match-ups you dream of as a fan.....cheering for your team/players until the very last second, soaking in every play and memorable moment.....holding your breath at times, until that final whistle! The unpredictable happened over the course of two nights. No one is to blame......instead we should be congratulating the teams for their impressive performance. Tied after regulation and double overtime, sending the games into PK's - Wow! If mother nature intervened and a game was postponed just before PKs due to lightning or severe/dangerous weather, would we blame the hosting school for not preparing, calling their effort embarrassing? Not every field, gym, or facility is the same, but each school has the right and priviledge to host according to their District rotation. Villa took great pride in their opportunity to host a District soccer tournament. The field condition was excellent - a project that the coaches, players and parents together have spent many hours working on. The only thing missing to avoid any complications - lights - not that the Villa athletes and parents wouldn't love to have them, but there are underlying restrictions. There were several comments within the BGP girls soccer forum, specifically the above mentioned threads, about players bashing other schools on social media, and how shocking and inappropriate this was! Really! Seems to me the girls are learning it first hand with posts like this which blatantly scrutinize schools with extreme negativity, attempting to place blame or accountability over uncontrollable circumstances. In a District where the caliber of play and degree of skill on the field was so equally matched, sending game determination into PKs, I am baffled that the most important thing to discuss was Villa's field not having lights. What a shame that the players from those 3 teams did not get the same amount of recognition on BGP as Villa's lack of lights. Maybe tomorrow we will see a player affirming post giving kudos to the District Champs. One final thought, for all those that don't comprehend the camaraderie, spirit and pride in hosting on one's school campus, and continue to comment about the gate and admissions, IMO a neutral facility (with all the requirements of a "perfect field") is only fair and viable if required to be consistenly used year after year, by every hosting school. Just because one school does not have field lights (but meets KHSAA guidelines for a District field), is everyone willing to sacrifice their home field and play at the same neutral facility? I don't know the answer, just playing devils advocate since it was constantly suggested that Villa should rent a facility. Best of luck tomorrow to the St. Henry and Dixie girls. No matter the outcome, I promise you the field circumstances and lack of lights will not be to blame for any disappointment. Hold your heads high for the level at which your team played throughout the District tournament. Be proud! Good luck to the Villa coaches and athletic personnel as they continue their hosting effort. Hopefully, the majority of attention will be positively focused on the players and not directed negatively toward you or the facility. This spectator does not feel that you have anything to be embarrassed about.

Thank you very much for addressing this point with such an excellent response! I too am aware of an extremely successful girls soccer program in the NKY area that does nothing until after July 15th. Seems their down time has not negatively impacted performance. So, there are cases for argument where shutting down by an entire team for player rejuvenation still produces optimal results, in contrast to those who argue that player injuries increase and conditioning is negatively affected when players utilize down time, or a Dead Period.

Wow, I thought this thread had reached its peak and come to an end. First of all, please get your facts straight before accusing me of something in a public forum! I have only commented on one sport because since joining BGP, that has been the ONLY sport in season. Secondly, my post was NOT aimed or targeted at any specific school, coach or athletic director. As this was my first general topic discussion, I will be more careful should I post again in selecting a title for zealouts and investigators, such as yourself, who try to find hidden meanings! Anyone who has read through the 5 pages of this post will see why the Dead Period is such a hot topic...every coach, player, parent, AD, etc., all have a different opinion and take on its purpose. I am friends with several coaches, and am involved with athletics at many levels. I was amazed with the difference of opinions that exist for June optionals and Dead Period. When my year-round, multi-sport athletes are being told by the BEST sports medicine docs and PTs, that they need a few weeks to let their bodies rest, I am inclined to listen and respect their expert opinions. They see and treat the constant injuries that non-stop athletes encounter. My children are dedicated athletes and know they must show up conditioned and in shape July 15th, but prefer to approach conditioning in a manner that allows for injury prevention and physical rejuvenation (away from the field and court). Besides the need I see for mental and physical rejuvenation which a Dead Period provides, I am a rule follower, and to me if the Diocese and KHSAA have a mandate for a Dead Period, player run optionals are just a way to circumvent the system and guidelines. We are so protective of the health and well-being our athletes during school run practices and competitions, yet, we are encouraging our seniors, mostly 17years of age, to run conditioning offsite with no trainer or adult supervision in case of emergency ---- and no, I do not consider seniors as adult representation in the face of a medical emergency. I just hope it does not take a tragedy to draw awareness to concerns around player run optionals. Upperclassmen and incoming players have plenty of time to interact during the month of June, when most sports hold some type of team camp or optionals. So, contrary to your stated assumptions, I was not calling anyone out. Yes, I do have an opinion regarding the benefit of the Dead Period, which according to this post I share with many others. In hindsight, my title should have been worded differently. I was trying to draw attention to player run optionals in an attempt to generate thoughts from BGP posters. I thank you for your valued opinion, as everyone is entitled to one, and I appreciate your insight into this apparently heated topic!

Where is this loophole is documented? HS softball coaches who have summer travel teams are not permitted to be involved per the Dead Period guidelines. Ironically, there are several HS coaches whose daughters play on both their HS and travel teams, and still they are not permitted to be involved, but may at least sit in the stands to watch. In 2013 Bullitt East self-reported a KHSAA violation pertaining to the Dead Period and AAU Basketball. Also, in 2012, when the Volleyball Nationals were held during the Dead Period, correspondence was submitted from KHSAA as a reminder of the guidelines for HS Coaches that are involved with Club Volleyball. So, is this "loophole" an erroneous assumption on the part of AAU Basketball Coaches, or is there actually a written mandate from KHSAA stating such (I am sure the HS Softball Coaches would love to know the answer).

Wow, so anyone who takes a little down time during the SUMMER, away from the demands of HS sports/coaches is not fully committed and plays strickly as extracurricular?!?!?! I am so glad you are not my child's sports medicine specialist/doctor who is in full support of a shut down period and monitors players for signs before overuse injuries occur. My children, who you refer to as not committed because we embrace the Dead Period, happen to be multi-sport HS athletes. I guarantee you their commitment level is more than just extracurricular. In fact, they realize if they want to pursue a higher level of play, say college, they need a period of down time for their bodies to REST and HEAL. The remainder of the year they are balancing 2-3 sports at a time, with commitment to HS teams in season coming first. Comments like "not committed" and "toughen-up" (from another post) are exactly why the Dead Period should exist. Besides wanting year-round access, coaches are pushing today's teenage athletes to endure training and workouts which were designed for 25-year-olds, hence the KHSAA term "sometimes overzealous". It is not a toughness factor, it is physiological - the body of a growing teen (male or female) does not have the same design as that of an athlete in their 20's. The Dead Period is not a waste of time, but it needs to be monitored and enforced by ADs, and possibly a modification by KHSAA of the bi-law which changes or edits the wording to eliminate "optionals" or "voluntary" practices run by players off-site (so coaches can't find a way around the 2-3 week shut down)!

An interesting topic of conversation that generated discussion on social media this week focused on the KHSAA and Diocesan Dead Period. I have never fully read the specific bi-law outlining the reasons for the Dead Period, but here is a summary: "The Dead Period was developed following a nearly year long task force review in the middle-1990s to address a growing issue where year-round athletics was eroding family opportunities for a break from participation, and outside entities were beginning to sponsor a growing amount of school based summer competition. In addition, over the years, many sometimes overzealous coaches required their players to play scores of games throughout the summer, in addition to a year-round workout regimen. While this may seem to be in the best interest of developing sports talent, such is not the purpose of high school athletics. High school sports are to supplement classroom learning and allow for in-season competitive opportunities, not a year round Olympic or professional development period. Families were complaining that they could not plan vacations or family outings because of coach’s requirements and athletes were complaining of burn out. In addition, schools were increasingly concerned with liability issues related to the summer. In a survey conducted by the KHSAA, 80% of superintendents, principals and athletic directors who returned the survey indicated they supported a “dead period” in the summer. Initial responses were overwhelmingly in support of a four (4) week dead period. The primary intent of the regulation is to eliminate, for an approximately two (2) week period, the leverage a coach has over his/her high school athletes." The Diocese has added a third week to the Dead Period for all parochial/private high schools. The point that was addressed through social media banter (and I admit I do agree) is if the pupose of the Dead Period was to prevent burnout, allow young athletes down time for their bodies to rest/rejuvenate energy, plus provide valuable family time over the summer with no school sports commitments, why then do coaches not seem to appreciate or understand the implications and long-term effects of overuse and year-round commitment with no time for recovery! More and more schools seem to have their seniors organize and run "optionals" during the three weeks in which high school athletes are supposed to have time to physically and mentally recover, with the full knowledge and support of coaches. Ironically, the Dead Period is suppossed to be a time in which coaches have no leverage over their athletes, yet most players consider these "optionals" mandatory as it is stated one should attend unless they have prior commitments. Why do coaches (and for that matter Athletic Directors since they are ultimately responsible for their sports programs) continue to ignore the warning of sports-medicine experts who are in support of overuse prevention programs in youth sports. Coaches push these Dead Period "optionals" as a method of injury prevention. However, sports-medicine doctors and physical therapists are pushing a shut down period for athletes as a method of injury prevention! Until all coaches honestly support the Dead Period and openly discourage player run "optionals" during this time, high school athletes will never really benefit from the true intentions of the Dead Period. Come July 15th, summer is over for all fall athletes - so why are coaches insistent on dominating an athlete's time year-round? As the KHSAA bi-law states, athletics is supplemental to the classroom, and academics should take precedent. We as parents want time with our children/athletes as much as you coaches want them on your court/field! Remember coaches, they were our children and part of a family before they were your athletes and part of the team!

Villa Madonna Junior 1st Baseman, Alexa Meier, wore a face mask at the All-Star game AND all season long. Coach Meier is a huge advocate that his infielders wear masks. His pitcher (and daughter), 8th grader Brooke Meier, also wears a chest protector. Not sure if nkysoftball watched the entire Junior All-Star game, but while she did not start, A. Meier played several innings at 1st, with her mask ON!

Another great article by Marc Hardin! Direct link at the end. "Throughout the season, the Villa Madonna softball team received salient reminders about the true power of team play. Along the way, the emerging small-school force set school records, won postseason accolades and put a smile on the face of everyone associated with the program. "It was a great year. It was a fun year," coach Dave Meier said. "We did things we'd never done before." The Blue Lightning won a program-record 16 games and put together their longest winning streak in eight years with nine straight. They tied for first in the Division III standings of the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference with an 11-2 record. In pitcher Brooke Meier, they boasted the Division III player of the year. She was backed by a .399 team batting average. "I think there was great improvement from last year," Brooke Meier said. "It was good to meet some of our goals." Villa Madonna set three goals. But it was what the team accomplished in total that impressed the coach, who was in jeopardy of missing the entire season near this time last year following July 3 quadruple-bypass heart surgery. "Our first goal was set the win record. The second was win conference. The third was win district," coach Meier said. "But what I needed from the beginning was some help, and I got a lot of good help from my assistants. I had some dads pitch in. I was showing up after work at games, and I only had to fill out the line-up card and coach, because I'm surrounded by great people." He used to show up well before start time and line the field, and do all the extras required to make it game-ready. After doctors found 90-percent blockage in his coronary arteries and performed surgery, he was advised to re-think the idea of coaching. He wanted to stay in the dugout. Meier has three daughters on the team, including junior first baseman Alexa Meier and fifth-grade utility player Camdyn Meier. He is a former Covington Catholic baseball all-star and Thomas More record-holder who found a niche coaching softball. This is the third high school sports program he has successfully grown from scratch or reinvigorated, the second at Villa Madonna, where he launched the varsity baseball team in 1995. He returned to Villa as softball coach in 2013 after a stint at Notre Dame Academy. But he couldn't stay as active this year as he was before the operation. The first to step up were assistant coaches Sydney Maxwell, Michelle Woods and Colleen Desmond. The coach's wife, Jennifer, a cancer survivor, became the team's unofficial public relations person. Her father lent a hand. They added a team photographer, just in time to catch all the history-making action. "It was amazing," coach Meier said. "This season was a true team effort on the part of everybody involved. We got the help we needed. We set the win record. We were co-champs in the conference. We didn't win the district. But, year in and year out, we keep getting closer." They finished 16-7, averaged 9.3 runs per game while giving up 4.8, and took down some teams they had not beaten in years. They won 11 games the previous season and gave up 6.3 runs. Brooke Meier, an eighth-grader, was a big part of the turnaround with a 2.90 ERA, seven shutouts, one no-hitter, a .576 batting average, eight home runs and 47 RBI. But she had plenty of help from the ensemble cast at Villa. Meier's battery mate, Anna Wagner, hit .471 with four homers and 38 RBI, and struck out once in 68 at-bats. Alexa Meier hit .469. She was followed by Kylee Newman (.455), Abby Bittinger (.417) and Charrisa Junker (.407). Brooke Meier, Alexa Meier, Wagner, Junker and Newman were named Northern Kentucky Softball Coaches Association Division III all-stars." Meier]Meier family part of Villa's remarkable turnaround family part of Villa's remarkable turnaround

No matter what the field dimensions provide, a short or deep fence, it is outside the control and decision making authority of the players and many times coaches as well. A player should not be penalized in the recording of stats because they have a deep home field fence line. Their opponents are hitting on the same field during the game. When the guidelines supply a range, you are going to have discrepancies and inconsistencies from field to field. Many of the fields are not used or supported for just HS Softball. I have confidence that most coaches uphold the integrity of statistics and are not recording an inside the park home run when any error has occurred with ball contact. In the rare case that there are some inaccuracies, it is not justifiable to discredit the legitimacy of every inside the park home run!

Just for clarity purposes, since when is a ball that is cleanly hit over an outfielder's head considered an error? If the runner rounds the bases and beats the throw home (with no bobbles, missed tag or players out of position) you have a home run. Unless you are implying that the outfield be responsible for playing at the fence for every and all potential sluggers? I have seen hitters adjust to the outfields position and knock one down the line with distance enough to result in an inside the park home run. Would this be considered an error on the outfield for being out of position? It seems to me that this is really the case of a perceptual and talented hitter with the ability for placement, power for distance, and speed in base running! These hitters know when they get distance behind the ball and are going to be running all out, with the full support of their coaches. I am extremely impressed by Miss Graybill's amazing power and game intellect. The distance she gets on the ball puts her in a class of slugger all its own. However, I don't think it is fair to question the authenticity or statistical legitimacy of the home runs posted by players who might not clear the fence (especially at home fields with deep fence lines)! If an inside the park home run meets all the criteria to not be considered the result of any errors, then it counts as a home run for stats and averages, plain and simple.

Villa does have an extremely deep fence, measuring at least 225. You would be correct in that all B. Meier and Wagner HRs have been inside the park. However, an inside the park home run, where the runner is able to hit the ball deep into the outfield (though not far enough to clear the fences) and runs around all bases into home plate before the defense can get the ball to the catcher, is still considered a HOME RUN! Both Meier and Wagner have hit the yellow protective caping around Villa's fence, but the ball bounced back inside. On many other fields that would unquestionably be an over the fence/outside the park home run. I know for a fact that Coach Meier reviews the scorebook and stats after every game before entering into the system himself, so as to maintain integrity and verify accuracy. There were several occasions that Coach Meier held B. Meier and Wagner at 2nd or 3rd on a legitimate triple or HR to avoid running up the score during a mercy rule game. IMO, a player that can a hit a fair ball with enough distance that it settles on the ground at or close to the fence, but with the speed to outrun the defense, is no less valuable than a powerhouse that clears the fences. A legitimate inside the park home run (with no error) is still recorded the same as a home run that clears the fence. Both types of player are viable assets and potential sluggers! In MLB, does a player not get credited with a HR when it hits the fence and they clear the bases with no defensive error?!?!?! Statistically, an inside the park HR counts as a regular HR in the player's season and career totals.

Actually, I just happened upon the Campbell County interview while waiting for the Villa link on the CN2 website (since not all of us are TWC customers). I believe that was the only other NKY softball story for this season that was recently posted. I would have shared no matter what school it was for---although you are correct that Villa's volleyball coach is also Campbell County's softball. Hope if any other school premiers on CN2 we get notice and a link on BGP.

TWC just put out the link for the Villa interview on their website: http://mycn2.com/cn2-sports/the-family-that-plays-together-stays-together Great storyline by Kaci Kust. In the process of watching the Villa story on CN2's page, I found the prior week's piece on Mallory McGrath and Campbell County softball. Thought I would share as well...another great storyline worthy of recognition! If you have not already seen, hope you get the chance to view both! Great publicity for NKY High School Softball! http://mycn2.com/cn2-sports/cn2-all-star-of-the-week-mallory-mcgrath

TWC just put out the link for the Villa interview on their website: http://mycn2.com/cn2-sports/the-family-that-plays-together-stays-together Great storyline by Kaci Kust. Enjoy!

It is no surprise that Villa Madonna and its current season are sparking the attention of some of the news outlets. They are a fairly young team with several individuals putting up some impressive stats...showing up on quite a few leader boards! Ironically, one of the unique interpersonal dynamics surrounding the team is the relationship of Coach Meier with his 3 daughters, Alexa, Brooke and Camdyn, all members of the team! Yesterday, Kaci from TWC CN2 went to the field to interview Coach Meier and his daughters on how things work with having Dad for coach and sisters for teammates. This sports segment with interviews and game footage airs tonight at 6:30pm and 10:30pm on CN2. Great job Coach Meier and Meier girls...we are excited and intrigued about what each of you has to say regarding Coach Dad and teammate sisters!!!

Cru Bat Boy did a great job summarizing...yes indeed, St. Henry has an incredible offensive team...every one of those girls can hit the ball and in some cases go quite the distance. However, the score is not truly reflective of some of the accomplishments for the Blue Lightning on the field. I do believe the 2 first inning runs that Villa scored were the first earned runs that Jessie Roark gave up so far this season! Roark pitched an amazing game and those were the only runs allowed, but still an accomplishment for this young and small Villa squad. While the Villa bats were shut down most of the game, 8th graders Anna Wagner and Brooke Meier were able to produce. Wagner was 1-2 with an RBI, and Meier 1-2 with a double and RBI. There were also some great catches in the outfield by Senior Paulette Moser, who is in her FIRST year of softball. Meier snagged a line drive up the middle that almost ripped her face off (thankfully she wears a face mask....but I know that is an entire other thread). So, while this was a tough week for the Blue Lightning with Dixie and St. Henry back to back, all in all the team held their own on the field as best they could, with subtle hints of the foundation for a good softball team showing up several times! Kudos to Coach Meier and his staff for taking several good athletes with NO softball experience and working them into the lineup with his returning starters, to produce a team capable of having a successful and winning season. The Blue Lightning play at Heritage at 5:30pm today and are hungry to get back on a winning streak after their two losses this week. Their record is now 9-4.

The Blue Lightning came out strong in the first two innings holding the score at 0-0. However, Dixie then had several incredible shots, long and deep to the outfield, quickly getting on the board with multiple runs. Villa's bats were somewhat quiet tonight, with only a few chances to score, but unfortunately they left runners stranded. Dixie played solid defense the entire game and has an impressive lineup of power hitters. Dixie Senior, Courtney Garrett, piched an incredible game, taking down many of the Villa offensive leaders. The only Villa player to have multiple hits tonight was Alexa Meier who went 2-3. Although Villa did have some bobbles and mishaps resulting in a few fielding errors, there were still several strong defensive plays by the Blue Lightning to keep them in the game. Tonight ended Villa's 9 game winning streak, resulting in their current record of 9-3. Villa hosts St. Henry on Wednesday at 5:30pm.

This list is quite impressive! I have had the pleasure of seeing many of these players during their time in summer/travel ball. I think you could also add the following two players from Villa: Brooke Meier, 8th grader, Pitcher, Villa Madonna; Meier has been their Varsity starting pitcher since 6th grade. She has been playing travel ball since 10U, and happens to be quite the SS and 2nd baseman when not pitching. Anna Wagner, 8th grader, Catcher, Villa Madonna; Anna transitioned this year from Outfield to fill the Catchers position. She has been involved with travel ball for several years and is an extremely versatile player. Both girls have presented themselves as a threat at the plate, batting over 600 with multiple HRs already this season. With Meier and Wagner as the pitcher-catcher combo through their Senior year (potentially five years together), I imagine they will have quite the impact on the developing Villa program. Good luck to all these fine athletes throughout their season and future years.

Brooke Meier threw a 2 hit shutout with 9K's tonight making this her 4th shutout of the season. Not only was she aggressive on the mound but strong offensively as well going 2-2 with a 2 Run Homer. Anna Wagner once again put up the first Runs for the Blue Lightning with a 2 Run Homer, and ended with 3RBI. This pitcher-catcher duo of Meier-Wagner has been leading Villa's offense this season, and they are both only 8th graders! Following right behind as a consistent hitting leader has been Alexa Meier, who was 2-3 again tonight. She is also turning heads with some incredible scoops and stretches at First Base to secure the tough outs. Villa's solid, experienced infield this season has limited their opponents stolen/extra base opportunities. Carol Dosker, in her first year with the team, is finding her groove. Tonight she had 3RBI. Villa has won their last 9 consecutive games, standing now with a record of 9-2. They are mentally and physically preparing for a tough week as they meet up with Dixie on Monday and St. Henry on Wednesday!