Diamond Dutchgirl quartet claims postseason recognition

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 11/3/21

One game short.

That is how close Hannah Koppelmann’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team came to ending a long district title drought before falling to Sullivan’s Lady Eagles back in …

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Diamond Dutchgirl quartet claims postseason recognition

Posted

One game short.

That is how close Hannah Koppelmann’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team came to ending a long district title drought before falling to Sullivan’s Lady Eagles back in mid-October.

In spite of that, a quartet of orange and black softball players earned recognition for their play throughout the regular season and the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 3 Softball Tournament hosted by Sullivan High School.

Serving as the team’s primary pitcher, Dutchgirl senior Addison Wright led the team in nine offensive statistical categories.

They included batting average (.563), on-base percentage (.659), slugging percentage (1.438), plate appearances (83), runs scored (31), hits (36), doubles (9), home runs (13), and runs batted in with 47 RBIs.

Wright’s most productive game of her senior season came against St. James in a late-September FRC softball doubleheader with four hits, three runs scored, two home runs and eight RBIs.

In that game, Wright also had a double and a triple leaving her a single shy of hitting for the cycle.

She also matched her season-high of four hits in games against Vienna and Tuscumbia.

Among her team-high nine doubles, she had two each in games against New Haven, Tuscumbia and Vienna.

On the base paths, Wright stole a season-high three bases against Tuscumbia.

Drawing a team-high 17 walks, Wright was walked three times against St. James in their district opener after she hit two home runs against them in their previous meeting.

In the pitching circle, Wright went 12-9 on the season with a team-low earned-run average of 2.98.

Striking out 149 batters in 122 innings pitched, Addison went for double digits in four games.

In their season opener against Windsor at the Peoples Bank Back to School Softball Classic in Sullivan, Wright struck out a season-high 13 Lady Owls.

She also went for 11 strikeouts against Eldon, St. James and Lutheran South.

Ironically enough, those three games were also played within the city limits of Sullivan.

For her efforts, Wright was an All-FRC First Team Pitcher, All-District First Team Pitcher and an All-Region Second Team Pitcher from the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association (MHSFCA).

Wright was not the only senior to earn multiple postseason honors.

Fellow Dutchgirl softball seniors Anna Finley and Paige Loyd also earned recognition from the FRC and Class 3, District 3 coaches.

Finley was an All-FRC First Team infield selection and an All-District Second Team pick.

Leading the team with 13 stolen bases, Finley was also second on the team in RBIs (13), doubles (8), singles (13), hits (24), batting average (.375), on-base percentage (.452) and slugging percentage (.625).

Of her eight doubles, six came in three games with Finley hitting two each against St. James, New Haven and Salem.

Also against Salem, Finley scored a season-high four runs.

Her two home runs on the season came against South Callaway and versus Lutheran South in the district semifinals.

Among her team-leading 13 stolen bases, Finley stole a season-high four against Fort Zumwalt North at the Rolla Tournament.

Loyd was named to both the All-FRC and All-District Second Teams for her outfield play and her offensive production.

Leading the team with 14 singles, Loyd had two hits in games against Union, Tuscumbia, Vienna, Salem and St. James.

She also scored twice against Vienna, St. James and Salem.

Her season high in RBIs was two in game against Vienna, Salem and Fort Zumwalt North.

Third on the team with 10 walks, Loyd drew two apiece in games against Tuscumbia and St. James.

She also stole bases against Union, Tuscumbia, Hermann and Salem.

Rounding out the quartet of Dutchgirl softball players earning postseason nods is sophomore Emma Daniels.

Near the top of several offensive categories, Daniels led the Dutchgirls with five triples while placing second on the team with three home runs and third on the squad with 11 stolen bases.

Her best game of the season came against South Callaway’s Lady Bulldogs in their final home game of the fall at OHS Field.

Daniels scored three runs, hit two home runs and drove in three runs against the Lady Bulldogs.

She also helped OHS’ seniors have a memorable senior night against Hermann.

Against the Lady Bearcats, Daniels drove in three runs, scored three runs and added a pair of hits.

Among her team-leading five triples, she hit two of them against St. Clair.

In addition to her plethora of run production against Hermann, she also stole a season-high three bases against the Lady Bearcats.

Throughout their season that ended with a 13-12 overall record, Owensville had a pair of losses to Sullivan who wound up placing third in Class 3 softball.

They also fell 4-0 to Rolla in their own tournament with the Lady Bulldogs placing second in Class 4.