Southeast Missourian Player of the Week: Perryville's Casey Hotop

Perryville senior Casey Hotop pitched the Pirates softball team to a pair of shutout victories last week.

Hotop started the week with an 8-0 victory over crosstown rival St. Vincent. She struck out four and walked three over seven innings.

The right-hander followed that with a 4-0 win over Kelly. She struck out six and walked one.

"I felt pretty strong today," Hotop said after the Kelly win. "My changeup was working for me."

The Pirates improved to 12-6 with the win against Kelly.

"Casey has been pitching very well lately," Perryville coach Jeff Steffens said. "Really, she's pitched very well all year. I'd say there are only two games she deserved to lose."

Hotop credited her teammates for the shutouts.

"The defense has been playing well," she said.

Hotop helped the Pirates reach the Class 3 District 1 title game last season, where they lost to Notre Dame.