After two tough losses, Community R-6 wanted a victory.

The Lady Trojans earned a 10-6 win over Class 4 Hannibal (2-8) in the last game of their triangular on Saturday. Community picked up the five-inning victory after the time limit expired on the same day it lost 12-3 to Paris (9-0) in a rematch of last year’s district championship game. 

Community (5-8) couldn’t score more runs in a 2-1 loss at district foe Silex on Thursday and in the Paris game when it finished with 12 hits. Head coach Jeff Angel said the Lady Trojans struck out 10 times against Silex and made progress by cutting those down to six against Paris and five against Hannibal.

Community R-6 vs Hannibal Photo Gallery

“I had seen some things we could take advantage of out there,” Angel said. “There were people out of position on defense. Most of my bunters are toward the bottom of the order. Once it worked the first two times, they didn’t make any adjustments so we’re going to stay with it until they can prove they can get us out.”

Angel said Community’s offense is more efficient if it can turn the lineup over, meaning girls like Kaytlynn Arens and Ana McLeod play key roles. They respectively went 3-for-4 with two runs and 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. 

There was traffic on the bases for the top and middle of the Community order. Jocelyn Curtis finished 4-for-4 with one RBI and Maci Poindexter was 3-for-4 with one RBI against Paris, and Poindexter had three RBIs against Hannibal. Leadoff hitter Peyton Schafer went 2-for-4 against Paris and had two walks and one RBI against Hannibal.

“The heart of our lineup with Poindexter, Curtis and Myla Carroll, who has really been hitting the ball well, once we get to them with people on, it betters our chances to score a lot of runs,” Angel said.

Schafer said she liked the team’s energy and fundamentals against Hannibal more than the previous few games. She was the No. 2 hitter on last year’s team and is making her home at the top of the order again. As the leadoff hitter this time, Schafer owns an on-base percentage of .553, a team-high 12 runs along and a batting average of .382.

“It’s not really any different from hitting second except that I bunt less,” Schafer said. “My approach helps a lot. I think ‘yes’ until I know I can’t hit the ball, and I attack the first pitch a lot.”

Schafer was in the middle of a key defensive play in the second inning against Hannibal. Community’s lead was cut to 4-2, and Hannibal had a runner on third base until she was picked off on a throw from catcher Poindexter to shortstop Schafer. It was the second straight inning Hannibal lost a runner on the basepaths when a throw from the outfield got the runner advancing to third base on a run-scoring hit.

Angel said the pickoff play is a “signature play” for Community to counter aggressive runners. Schafer said the timing has to be right.

“I’m more of a fielder, so when I make a good play, I get more excited about my fielding,” Schafer said when asked if she is more excited after a good defensive play or crucial hit.

Angel said both Saturday games benefitted Community’s whole season and hopes the progress he saw can help them in four games this week, including three against Central Activities Conference opponents.

“We got a lot of good stuff out of the first game,” Angel said. “As a whole today, we got better. Momentum is starting to turn a little bit here, and that’s the time for it to turn when you’re getting into the conference games.”