Last Thursday, Hannah Koppelmann’s Owensville Dutchgirl softball team proved the old adage that patience is a virtue.

Facing St. James’ Lady Tigers in a game originally scheduled to be played at Nelson Hart Park, wet field conditions in Phelps County prompted the game to be moved to OHS Field for St. James’ annual pink out night.

Playing as the visiting team on their home turf, Owensville drew 20 walks helping them to an 18-1 Four Rivers Conference (FRC) softball victory in which they only had three hits.

Those three hits were singles off the bats of Ryan Miller, Dallas Miller and Kabren Kelley.

Scoring two runs in the top of the first inning and five more in the bottom of the second, Owensville put the game out of reach with a four-run top of the third and a seven-run top of the fourth inning.

Leading the way in the walk department for the Dutchgirls with four apiece were Ryan Miller, Cameron Ryerson and Hannah Keeney.

One more walk from either one of them would have tied the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) single-game record for walks in a game.

Owensville’s 20 walks as a team put them tied for fourth in MSHSAA history with Ozark who walked 20 times in a game twice back in 1986 and 1989.

Along with their four walks, Ryan Miller and Ryerson scored a team-high four runs followed closely by Dallas Miller and Rylee Dare who each scored three runs.

Crossing the plate once for the Dutchgirls in varsity action against St. James were Ari Robson, Shae Abernathy, Halle Thompson and Kelley.

Keeney earned the complete-game win allowing two hits and an unearned run to go with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Three outs away from a doubleheader sweep, Owensville led 7-3 entering the bottom of the third inning of JV action only to see St. James plate five runs and escape OHS with an 8-7 victory.

Similar to their varsity counterparts, Owensville’s JV Dutchgirls turned eight walks and three errors into their seven runs.

Thompson scored twice while Kinley Troncin drew a team-best two walks.

Also scoring once for the JV Dutchgirls were Hadlee Ketcherside, Addison Stranghoener, Jill Blankenship, Dare and Troncin.

Taking the tough-luck loss, Thompson pitched an inning and two-thirds allowing eight runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts.

Hosting St. Clair’s Lady Bulldogs last night (Tuesday) to end the September portion of their schedule, Owensville will open October softball tomorrow (Thursday) with road test in Phelps County against Rolla’s Lady Bulldogs.

Action both nights will have a 4:30 p.m., first pitch.