SportsSeptember 14, 2023
Kelly’s unstoppable streak continues on Senior Night
BENTON, Mo. — When adversity called their names, the Kelly seniors didn’t flinch — they boldly confronted it, ready to rise above any obstacle in their way. With a significant season turnaround, the Lady Hawks (9-4) marked their Senior Night in style, thrashing Cape Central 11-1 and celebrating a ninth straight victory...
Dennis Marshall ~ Standard Democrat
BENTON, Mo. — When adversity called their names, the Kelly seniors didn’t flinch — they boldly confronted it, ready to rise above any obstacle in their way.
With a significant season turnaround, the Lady Hawks (9-4) marked their Senior Night in style, thrashing Cape Central 11-1 and celebrating a ninth straight victory.
As the final chapter of their high school softball journey draws near, the six seniors reflected on their experience and shared their heartfelt sentiments.
Mallory Lemonds, a finalist for the Softball Player of the Year at the 2023 Semoball Awards, cherishes the memories and the camaraderie with her teammates, stating “The bond I share with my teammates and the memories we’ve created together are truly the heart and soul of my softball experience at Kelly.”
Ava LeGrand, on the other hand, with a lighthearted tone, shared a memorable and amusing story from the Rockwood Summit Tournament in St. Louis. She chuckled as she recalled, “I managed to forget my entire uniform and didn’t realize it until we were getting ready for our game. The whole team rallied around me, teasing and laughing as we scrambled to find a solution. So the whole team had to change because of me.”
Macy Burger expressed gratitude for the support they receive, emphasizing the strong bonds between family, friends and the entire Kelly community.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated support from everyone,” she said. “Our families and friends come out in full force to cheer us on.”
Kayleigh Holman reminisced on her time with the team, “I’m going to miss softball in general because I’ve played since I was little, but I’m really going to miss playing with my teammates, especially these five other seniors.”
Allie Daniel offered advice to future players, encouraging them to persevere.
“I would tell them to stick with it and not give up,” she said. “It’s going to get hard at times, but in the end, it’s worth it.”
Katelyn Dannenmueller, looking towards the future, acknowledged the valuable life lessons she learned in softball, saying, “Softball has taught me to have drive and determination in any situation that is thrown at you. Make the most out of any outcome.”
Lady Hawks coach Melanie Heuring had high praises for this group of seniors, highlighting their valuable contributions to the program.
“What is special about this group of seniors is the fact that they have been playing varsity from day one,” she said. “This was the group that gave us three consecutive district championships and a run to the final four as freshmen. They know what it takes to win and work well together day in and day out.”
LeGrand, the team’s lead-off batter, showcased her exceptional skills at the plate against the Lady Tigers (1-12). After missing last season with an injury, her return to the lineup has been a tremendous asset.
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She went 4-for-4, including two doubles, and drove in four runs.
“It’s great having her back in the lineup,” Heuring said.
Holman and Burger form a strong and cohesive middle infield duo, displaying strong defensive chemistry on the field.
“They don’t always hit for power but [Holman and Burger] are consistent at the plate in making contact to move the runner,” Heuring said.
Burger and Lemonds excel as pitchers, each with their own unique style of pitches.
“You can count on them for the win,” Heuring said. “Our defense plays well behind them. They have such different styles and pitches but they both do so well on the mound for us.”
Daniel, the catcher, adeptly adjusts to the varying styles of Lemonds and Burger’s pitching, showcasing her versatility and skill behind the plate.
Lastly, Dannenmueller’s return added a new dimension to the team.
After also missing last season due to an injury, her comeback has been eagerly awaited and has revitalized the team’s potential.
“It is good to have her back,” Heuring said. “She’s a quick lefty who puts pressure on the other team by bunting, slapping and hitting away.”
Despite starting the season 0-4, the team has turned their fortunes around with an impressive win streak.
The Lady Hawks are averaging 9.3 runs per game, nearly three more runs per game than the previous season, marking their highest scoring average since 2017 when they finished fourth in the state tournament.
The win against Cape Central mirrored Kelly’s season as the Lady Hawks fell behind 1-0 early, but rallied with 11 unanswered runs.
“Overall I liked the fact that we didn’t get down after getting off to a slow start,” Heuring said. “We started hitting, went ahead and made sure we were moving runners and being aggressive on the bases.”
Blaire Riley was the team’s other top player at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run, an RBI and scoring two runs.
Lemonds earned the win on the mound after throwing three innings and allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Burger pitched the final two innings, striking out one and not giving up any runs or hits.
“The biggest positives were our pitching performances from [Lemonds and Burger], [LeGrand and Blaire Riley’s] hitting performances, and our overall discipline at the plate. I know we had two strikeouts but we had six walks so that shows us they are being patient at the plate and more selective with the pitches that they know they can drive.”
Kelly travels to Saxony Lutheran (3-4) on Thursday, September 14, and will compete in the Jackson Tournament this weekend.
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