Community R-6 softball marks first ever 20-win season, defeats Van-Far 12-0

History happened for Community R-6 softball on Thursday in quick fashion in Vandalia.

The Lady Trojans defeated Class 2 Van-Far 12-0 in five innings to move their record to 20-5 and record their first ever 20-win season. The previous school record was their 19-8 campaign in 2021.

Community walked eight times and needed seven hits while limiting the Lady Indians to one hit by Trinity Skwirtz. Meanwhile, the Lady Trojans had a 2-for-4 game from Paige Painter along with a RBI and five shutout innings pitched with three strikeouts. Jocelyn Curtis had two RBI, Brooklynn Glasgow went 1-for-1 with three runs, two walks and a RBI, and three others added a RBI.

Most of Community’s damage was done with a seven-run third inning that had RBI driven in by Alyssa Beamer and Amy McCurdy and two errors committed by Van-Far (2-14), making 10-0 at the end of the frame.

Community plays another Class 2 Eastern Missouri Conference team at 5 p.m. Monday at Montgomery County (13-4).

Lady Trojans start slow, come back fast in 7-6 loss to Monroe City

Community R-6 has defeated its fair share of bigger schools this season and tried its best late on Tuesday.

Community R-6 vs Monroe City Photo Gallery

The Class 1 No. 9 Lady Trojans fell behind 7-0 at home to Class 2 Monroe City and scored four runs to narrow the deficit to one run with the winning runs in scoring position. After a couple two-RBI singles by Rylee Rafferty and Paige Painter, the Lady Panthers silenced the rally as Community fell 7-6.

The matchup with Monroe City (12-4) was reignited this season after being nonexistent since 2015, but head coach Kendra Murphy wanted to add another tough game to the schedule to better prepare her players for postseason. Murphy said the Lady Trojans (19-5) haven’t been intimidated all year, defeating Class 2 schools such as South Callaway, Hermann, Marceline, New Bloomfield, North Callaway and South Shelby. Tuesday was more difficult after the three unearned runs Community allowed early in the game and struggled offense against Lucy Pratt.

“We haven’t been afraid of anybody that we’ve played, and I love that about them,” Murphy said. “We have proved time after time after time that we can come back from a deficit. Seven runs is a little much. We’ve got to figure out a way to play the first couple innings of the game like we play the last couple innings.”

Errors in the third and fourth inning added to Monroe City’s output that saw the Lady Panthers tally 10 hits — Pratt and Taylor Pfaff each had multiple hit games. In the circle, Pratt posted four innings with six strikeouts, three hits, one run and one walk. 

“She’s got a lot more velocity than we’re used to seeing, especially at Class 1,” Murphy said. “She also has a very good changeup. When you combine the velocity that she has with the changeup that she has, you really have to pick, ‘Am I going to sit fastball or am I going to sit changeup.’”

Murphy said she was glad Community didn’t have to “pick your poison” the entire game as Audri Youngblood pitched in relief, showcasing a slower windup but less tricky changeup to allow Community to foul it off. It was around this time the Lady Trojans’ lineup showed more life.

Leading the charge was the top three in the order — Brooklyn Glasgow, Rafferty and Painter — as they combined to hit 6-for-11 with six RBI. Painter led with three RBI as she drove in Community’s first run in the fourth inning, which was Rafferty after she found a hole in the defense. 

There was a small change to the lineup on Tuesday as Glasgow switched places with Rafferty in the order. Murphy said this was done based on how Glasgow was hitting doubles and Rafferty was going to the opposite field, hoping this combination would turn into a run or more. No matter where they are slotted, Murphy said Community’s top three have been a big part of the order.

“Our top five have been really solid, especially Rafferty and Painter as both of them have been doing a great job of putting the ball in play when it matters,” Murphy said. “The bottom of our order, they started that inning by just getting on base. ‘You can only do so much so it’s your job to get on base and send the next person to the plate.’ The bottom of our lineup has really embraced that and have done a great job of rolling the lineup over.”

Case in point, the Nos. 7-9 hitters led off the seventh inning for Community and Taylor Johnson walked, Chloe Johnson singled and then Glasgow walked from the top of the order to load the bases. Rafferty and Painter each hit hard ground balls that found holes out of reach of Lady Panther fielders.

Murphy said Jocelyn Curtis did a good job of limiting Monroe City following a slow defensive start for the Lady Trojans as she pitched five innings in relief with six hits, five strikeouts, two walks and one earned run. All three unearned were charged to her. When it comes to Monroe City’s offense, Murphy said she expected to allow some hits so it was a matter of finding the best matchup in the circle.

“It was Paige’s turn to start, but my plan was to keep Paige on a short leash today,” Murphy said. “If they started hitting her hard early, then I was going to make the flip.”

Community traveled to Class 2 Montgomery County (13-4) at 5 p.m. Monday.

Community R-6 girls pick up first medals in Moberly

The Community R-6 girls took home their first hardware on Thursday.

Evelyn Scott and Grace McCoskey finished sixth and seventh in the junior varsity 5,000 meters in the Moberly XC Invitational, running to respective times of 36:08 and 36:12.

“We conquered some hills in Moberly tonight,” head coach Josie Hess said. “Several goals were met and our girls picked up their first medals in the JV race.”