If you’re wondering what’s behind Purdy’s 17-0 record, the Eagles gave a pretty good demonstration in Thursday’s game at Mt. Vernon.
Highlight-worthy defense? Check. Solid pitch? Check. Steady (and smart) hitting? Plenty of it.
Sound in all three phases of the game, Purdy cruised to an 8-1 win over the Mountaineers to remain undefeated.
“We did some things very well all over the place today,” said Purdy coach Lori Videmschek.
It was a rare competitive, seven-inning game for the Eagles, who had beaten opposing teams by 10 or more runs 12 times entering Thursday.
Purdy returned nearly its entire lineup this season after finishing 23-4 overall a year ago. The Eagles’ 2015 campaign ended on their home field with a heartbreaking 4-1 loss to Stockton in the quarterfinal round, one win shy of a trip to state.
“We talk about (that loss) some. It’s obviously fuel for our fire,” said Purdy senior first baseman Andrea Humphrey. “We want to go far this year. We’ve been working hard in practice and I think it’s showing right now. We just need to keep on doing what we’re doing.”
Purdy scored multiple runs in three separate innings, including a three-run fifth that broke the game open. Behind four singles, including RBIs from Casey Ellison and pitcher Breanna Keeler, Purdy pushed a five-run lead up to 8-0.
“We’re doing some things in critical situations. When we have a runner at second base and we need to hit a ball on the right side of the field, we’re doing that,” Videmschek said. “We’re moving the runner over then getting that sacrifice fly. We’re doing better with situation hitting.”
Seven of Purdy’s nine hits in the game were singles. The Eagles had a pair of sac-fly RBIs and finished with three unearned runs against a Mt. Vernon defense that’s in a slump.
“All year long, for some reason, we’ve had a problem with defense,” said Mt. Vernon coach Matt Schubert. “It’s not what I expected coming into the season. I thought (defense) would be a strong suit. It has been except for some small stretches here and there. This week, it’s cost us twice.”
Purdy DH Hallie Henderson was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs. Centerfielder Rion Boyd had an RBI triple and added a highlight defensive play in the sixth inning when she made a diving catch in the right-center gap to rob Mt. Vernon of an extra-base hit.
Keeler threw all seven innings for Purdy and allowed seven hits, no walks and struck out two. At the plate, she was 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run.
“Our defense played outstanding today behind our pitcher,” Videmschek said. “(Keeler) was hitting her spots. Mt. Vernon’s a great team and they’re going to put the ball in play, but we had to come up defensively and make some plays. We did that.”
Purdy scored two runs in the first inning, on a sac-fly RBI and a wild pitch. Boid’s RBI triple in the third made it 3-0. In the fourth, Purdy added two more runs on a Mt. Vernon error and a sac-fly RBI by leadoff hitter Zoe Brown.
Mt. Vernon’s Maddi Brown pitched all seven innings for the Mountaineers and was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Callie Christiansen was 2-for-3 with a double.
The outcome marked Mt. Vernon’s third loss in as many days. The Mountaineers (12-5 overall) blew a late lead in Tuesday’s 10-7 loss at Sarcoxie, then fell 7-1 to Strafford on Wednesday night in a makeup game for the Marionville Invitational championship.
Schubert said injuries have nagged Mt. Vernon all season. A trio of players were injured against Strafford, with two playing through the pain Thursday against Purdy and another starter having to sit out.
“Just when we get someone back, someone else gets hurt,” Schubert said.
Purdy also beat Mt. Vernon 8-3 on March 24 in the Mt. Vernon Tournament semifinals.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier in the next two days as Mt. Vernon faces Mountain Grove, Purdy and Crest Ridge in a round-robin event. Friday’s games will be played at Evangel’s softball field in Springfield, with Saturday’s action taking place in Mt. Vernon.
Crest Ridge, Purdy and Mountain Grove won district championships last season. Crest Ridge was spring state runner-up in 2014 and place 3rd in the state last season.
“We did the schedule this way because we knew we had some ability and we wanted to challenge (ourselves) to get ready for districts and hopefully a run in the state tournament,” Schubert said.
