South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Flyers softball playing for state crown

Don’t ever tell the girls’ softball team at Lindbergh High School that the word “can’t” actually exists in the dictionary.

The Flyers (21-10, 4-2 Suburban West) started off the 2003 season on a sour note with a mark of 1-6 in their first seven games. Lindbergh also finished the year in a tie for second in the Suburban West Conference regular season standings.

But something special happened in the final weeks of the season for the Flyers as they won 17 of their last 18 games and rode a seven-game winning streak into the state championship game last Monday — after the Call went to press.

“The girls have just really played with a lot of confidence and are on a roll,” Lindbergh head coach Darin Scott told the Call. “They’re just going out there and doing what they need to do to win.”

Lindbergh advanced to the championship game of the state tournament with a 4-0 win over Lee’s Summit in the semifinal.

The Flyers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning as senior second baseman Morgan Erhard laid down a sacrifice bunt which was the beginning of a huge rally that led Lindbergh to the win.

Flyers starting pitcher Sarah Dooley drove in Erhard and junior outfielder Claire Niehoff, while throwing a no-hitter through six innings of play. Dooley, who’s a junior at Lindbergh, ended up giving up just one hit in seven innings pitched. She also struck out six batters, while walking just three in the winning effort.

“Sarah’s just a dominate type of athlete,” Scott said. “She ended up getting the game-winning RBI in the third inning for us.”

The Flyers attacked again in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run home run shot by senior catcher Ashli Meyer. The home run was Meyer’s first of the season.

“Ashli comes up big whenever we’ve needed her to,” Scott said. “Her play has also been very good behind the plate.”

Lindbergh’s win over Lee’s Summit advanced the Flyers to the championship game against Jefferson City Helias at the Rainbow Sports Complex in Columbia.

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