North Callaway softball hold own at Take the Lake Tournament, finishes 12th

North Callaway softball finished 2-3 in five games this weekend

The Class 2 Ladybirds earned 12th place while playing against high-caliber schools larger than they were in the Take the Lake Tournament at the Ball Parks National complex in Macks Creek on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Mariah McKee said this is the toughest tournament the Ladybirds have played, and she said they proved they belonged in the field.

North Callaway (8-3) finished the first day of competition 2-1, losing 5-3 to Class 4 Marshfield but defeating Class 5 Timberland 7-6 and Class 4 reigning district champion McDonald County 14-3. The Ladybirds tallied 24 hits in their victories after mustering three hits in their loss. On the second day, the Ladybirds lost 8-3 to reigning Class 3 district champion Father Tolton and then fell short 5-0 against Class 5 Francis Howell, who finished second in the state last year.

“I can’t ask for anything better,” McKee said. “We didn’t really get our tails kicked at all. We’re going to need this kind of competition when we go into districts.”

Kymorie Myers went 2-for-3 with a triple against Marshfield while Lauren Speight allowed two earned runs on six hits in 4⅔ innings. Marshfield used a five-run fifth inning helped along by errors to take the victory.

Myers was walked twice with the bases loaded as the Ladybirds scored all of their runs in the second and third innings. Kendra Pennell had two RBI, and Olivia Knoepflein allowed three earned runs in five innings.

Out of North Callaway’s 17 hits against McDonald County, Megan Schmidt finished 4-for-4 with two RBI, a triple and a double and also pitched four innings with six strikeouts and one unearned run on two hits and two walks. Five Ladybirds had at least two hits, including Brianna Prosser going 2-for-3 with a double, and Knoepflein and Lia Bondurant each going 2-for-3 with two RBI.

“We had great pitching all weekend,” McKee said. “Lauren pitched well (Friday), Olivia held together in a bunch of innings and Megan (Schmidt( started and finished a whole game against Francis Howell so she did amazing. My pitching also has a lot to do with how we did this weekend.”

North Callaway allowed six unearned runs to Father Tolton as Faith Cash had the team’s lone RBI, and Schmidt was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run. The Ladybirds scored one run in the third inning and then two runs in the sixth inning, which was the final inning.

Schmidt returned in the circle for North Callaway against Francis Howell, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings. Howell scored four of their runs in the final two innings, which were the fifth and sixth. Schmidt and Ella Slater were each 1-for-3, and Prosser had a triple.

“We hit the ball really well this weekend,” McKee said. “All day (Friday) we hit the ball well. (Saturday), we played a little stiffer, but we were still in there. Our first game, we just woke up a little late.”

North Callaway (2-0 EMO) played at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Clopton (1-4, 0-1 EMO) on Tuesday before hosting Elsberry (3-2, 2-1 EMO) at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Thunderbirds' explosiveness doesn’t match South Callaway in 20-6 loss

North Callaway has been alternating victories with Callaway Cup rival South Callaway the previous five times.

On Friday at home, North Callaway lost its second straight Callaway Cup game 20-6, making it the first regular season meeting between the two teams since 2015 where the home team lost.

Head coach Kevin O’Neal said he was partially at fault on a couple play calls that led to interceptions thrown by Lane Kimbley in the first half. Overall, O’Neal said the offense moved when Riley Humphrey carried the ball for 120 yards on 27 carries but not as much beyond that.

“It seems like every drive that we had would have a penalty or a play where we lost yards,” O’Neal said. “Anytime we got behind the sticks, we had trouble making up for that.”

O’Neal said the offensive line continues to do well while blocking for Humphrey as he runs the ball hard. However, he said not being as explosive as South Callaway (2-1, 2-0 EMO) saw North Callaway (1-2, 0-1 EMO) playing catch up.

South Callaway quarterback Tayber Gray ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, and Owen Rees added 71 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. On the other side, O’Neal said North Callaway was explosive on a 32-yard passing play to Cashton Holloway but on not much else.

“We really didn’t have any big plays on offense,” O’Neal said. “That’s not really the type of offense we are right now. Part of that is on me. I’ve got to get better at preparing us, and part of that is South Callaway fundamentally solid defensively. We’re pretty predictable offensively with what we do.”

O’Neal said South Callaway loaded the box and its safeties were aggressive in stalling North Callaway’s run.

North Callaway on defense was led by Riley Humphrey’s 10 tackles, Tyler Huddleston’s eight tackles and Cooper Wortmann’s seven tackles.

North Callaway plays at 7 p.m. Friday at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Louisiana (1-1, 0-1 EMO).

North Callaway volleyball swept out of Fulton tournament

North Callaway volleyball had some standout performances on Saturday even if it didn’t take a set.

The Ladybirds lost 0-2 to Fulton, Bowling Green, Owensville and Savannah in the Melissa Hoerber Invitational Tournament. Still, Rylee Horstman and Riley Blevins led North Callaway in the eight sets it played, having a team-high nine kills and 52 digs, respectively.

Blevins was named to the all-tournament team.

North Callaway (2-8, 0-1 EMO) lost 3-1 at Centralia (3-3) on Monday before hosting Eastern Missouri Conference and district foe Montgomery County (3-1, 2-0 EMO) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a rematch from this season, where the Ladybirds lost in three sets.