ND, Kelly are playoff veterans

Notre Dame's softball team has history on its side heading into a 4:30 p.m. Class 3 sectional matchup today with De Soto at Notre Dame Regional High School.

The Bulldogs (20-6) are two-for-two in sectional games, with back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in 2001 and 2002.

Kelly, playing in a Class 2 sectional contest at Elsberry today, has been in the state playoffs 20 times since its first sectional berth in 1980.

While Notre Dame has been to the playoffs in recent years, only three regulars have state playoff experience.

Seniors Alana Weissmueller, Whitney Ostendorf and Sarah Scherer have been the only upper classmen to see regular time on the field this season. Notre Dame's sophomores have done much of the damage, with pitchers Miranda Schlosser, Beth Schnurbusch and Kristain Burger playing key roles.

"We don't have the number of seniors or leaders we did last year, so we have to stay up," Weissmueller said.

The Bulldogs have had a few rough patches this season, but the team has turned up its play lately. Notre Dame shut out Windsor in the district championship following a shutout of Festus St. Pius in the district semifinals.

"Before the past two weeks we weren't really pulling it together well," Weissmueller said. "Now that we started hitting and our defense is back, it's all coming together."

Added Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett: "We're playing well at the right time, that's key."

Sparking the Bulldogs' strong play has been the defense. Weissmueller and Ostendorf team up to make one of the top left sides of the infield in the state at shortstop and third base, respectively.

"Our defense is really good when we're on," Ostendorf said. "When we start making errors it goes downhill, so we have to stay focused."

Kelly seeks return trip to quarterfinals

Reaching the state playoffs is nothing new to the Kelly softball program.

Since capturing its first sectional berth in 1980, the Hawks have made it to the state playoffs 20 times. Kelly won 15 straight district titles between 1986 and 2000, and has now won three straight after beating Valley Park on Saturday.

Kelly will start its 20th trek through the state playoffs today in a sectional meeting with Elsberry (20-5) at Elsberry. The two teams have met in the sectional the past two years, with Kelly blanking Elsberry 6-0 last year.

"It feels kind of odd facing them a third year in a row," Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge said.

The Hawks enter sectional play with a 21-6 record.

Ratledge said Kelly's success comes from having a group of girls who simply love to play softball.

"It's just the love of the sport. They just enjoy it," she said. "If you have something you enjoy, you'll put forth the effort."

Kelly's current group of seniors will look to put their own stamp on the program's rich history. The Hawks have made it to the state final four eight times, with a trip in 2000 their most recent appearance.

Ratledge said while the team takes it one game at a time, it is hard not to think about another trip to the final four.

"That's always in the back of your mind," she said.