High-powered Bernie offense overcomes 'sluggish start' in latest W

BERNIE – The Bernie High School softball program spent all off-season preparing for this spring, and it has shown as the Mules have raced out to a 5-1 start.

“We worked in the winter with the time that we had,” veteran Bernie coach Brad Botsch said of the allowable three hours each week. “We have started pretty strong, but I think that we’ll be a lot better at the end than where we are now.”

While Bernie’s experience was evident in Thursday’s 10-0 rout of Stoddard County rival Dexter at Bernie High School, so was the Bearcats’ youth and inexperience, aside from senior pitcher Amelia Jenkins.

Dexter committed five errors and totaled just three hits (two by Jenkins), as it is learning on the fly under first-year coach Christina Jenkins.

“I don’t think the score really reflected how well we did play today,” Jenkins said. “We had some amazing plays by our second baseman (freshman Melanie Pfeffer).

“I just try to keep it positive.”

The Bearcats trailed just 2-0 until Bernie put across three runs in the fourth inning.

The Mule sophomore pitching duo of Mikalyn Kirkwood and Blair Pleimling kept the Bearcat hitters off-stride, though Botsch felt his team got off to a “slow start.”

“Mikalyn started out and walked a few too many,” Botsch said.

Kirkwood threw 2 1/3 innings and walked three while allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out two.

Pleimling came in and pitched the final 3 2/3 innings and gave up just two hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out three.

“The other day (against Bloomfield),” Botsch continued, “(Kirkwood) threw great and walked one. That is one thing that we want to do is not give away too many free passes.”

Offensively, the Mules have been phenomenal this spring. Bernie is outscoring its opposition by an average margin of 11-plus runs to two.

“Offensively,” Botsch said of Thursday’s game, “we had a slow start. We were sluggish out of the gate, and (Jenkins) did a good job.”

Jenkins threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, seven earned runs, and six walks while striking out nine.

“(Amelia) is a senior,” her mother and coach said, “she has been a leader on this team since her freshman year.”

Jenkins had two hits to pace her team, including a double.

Bearcat junior Isabella Pittman had the other hit for Dexter (0-3) while Ava Schaefer (one walk), Brooke Morgan (one walk, one stolen base), and Meredith Benton (one walk) also contributed.

Bernie sophomore Lexi Dillinger had a pair of hits to go with two RBI, and a run while Macie Botsch (one RBI, one walk, two runs), Rylie Powell (two runs, one walk), Abbygail Powell (one hit, one run), Mackenzie Meese (one RBI, one walk), Elicia Freeman (one walk), Kirkwood (two walks), Kealea Powell (one run), and Pleimling (one hit, one run, one walk) also were productive.

Bernie will host Advance/Bell City (5-0) on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Dexter will host Oran (3-1) on Monday at 4:30 p.m.