Bernie SB making strides heading into tough SCAA match-up

BERNIE – Veteran Bernie High School coach Brad Botsch has used the word “frustrating” at times through this softball season, but Monday wasn’t one of those occasions.

The Mules (4-11) thumped Puxico 23-0 in three innings in the opening round of the Stoddard County Athletic Association Softball Tournament, and all of the lessons that Botsch has been preaching for months were seemingly being adhered to – for the most part.

“We don’t have a senior on the team,” Botsch said. “It is frustrating when we see mistakes happen, that we know more experienced players won’t make. But it is also rewarding when we correct those same mistakes.”

The Mules haven’t endured a losing season since finishing 11-13 in 2012 but will be hard-pressed to keep that streak alive after this season. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t signs of progress being made, and that was evident against the Indians (0-7).

“This group has done a really good job of continuing to improve as the year has gone on,” Botsch said.

Not only did Bernie look impressive on Monday, but in a recent 9-8 win over a very solid Twin Rivers team, it cranked out 14 hits, and freshman pitcher, Mikalyn Kirkwood allowed just two earned runs in seven innings.

“I feel like our pitching is getting better,” Botsch said.

The Mules will face Dexter (4-5) for the second time this spring today at 6 p.m. at Advance in the tourney semifinals.

In the first meeting between the two rivals, the Mules were in control of the game with a 7-3 lead in the fifth inning before an onslaught of walks resulted in a 12-9 loss.

“The thing that I have tried to do is keep their confidence level up,” Botsch said of his roster, which has 11 freshmen or sophomores. “Even though we are getting beat, we are competing in those games.

“We’re not just getting smashed most of the time. We are competing.”

Kirkwood was good against the Royals, but fellow freshman Blair Pleimling was dominant on Monday early.

“She has probably been the most consistent pitcher that we have had, of late,” Botsch said.

Bernie can also throw junior Elicia Freeman, which gives Botsch some depth on the mound.

“We’ve got three pitchers that we have been working with,” Botsch explained, “and they have gotten a little bit better as the year has gone on.

“If they’ll continue to get better over the next couple of weeks, it is going to help a lot.”

Kirkwood and Pleimling each threw against Dexter, while the Bearcats had junior Amelia Jenkins throw the entire seven innings against Bernie.

“Jenkins is a really good pitcher,” Botsch said. “She throws hard and strikes out a lot of people.

“We’re going to have to find a way to put the ball in play against her.”

In the earlier game, Jenkins gave up just three hits to Bernie, while striking out 10 Mule hitters.