The smack of the catcher’s mitt and crack of the bat could be heard on area diamonds as the local high school softball season commenced last week. 

Valmeyer opened at home against Monroe County rival Gibault last Tuesday, pulling off a 5-2 win. 

The Hawks plated two runs in the first inning, but the Pirates were able to score in the fourth, fifth and sixth to emerge victorious. 

Brooke Miller struck out nine in a complete game pitching effort for Valmeyer. Mia McSchooler went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, RBI and two runs to pace the Pirates offense. 

Gibault followed that loss with a 14-7 defeat to Roxana last Wednesday and a 17-3 loss to New Athens on Monday. On Tuesday, the Hawks lost 22-3 at Civic Memorial.

On Wednesday, Valmeyer dropped a 7-6 contest to Okawville despite a 3-for-4 day by Brooke Miller, who homered for the Pirates. Valmeyer hosts Trico on Friday.

Waterloo is off to a 3-1 start.

The Bulldogs blasted Steeleville last Saturday, 20-0. Mia Miller struck out 14 and allowed just one hit in five innings pitched. She also went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.

Raelyn Melching went 2-for-3 with a homer and five RBIs, Samantha Juelfs added three hits and three RBIs, and Aidan Dintelman collected two hits while driving in four runs. 

On Monday, Waterloo lost 1-0 to Belleville East in a pitching duel between Miller and Olivia Hemmerle. Miller struck out 11, walked one and allowed an unearned run. The Bulldogs struck out 12 times and collected only four hits.

Waterloo hosted O’Fallon on Wednesday, winning 8-5 behind three hits and a complete game pitching effort with 10 strikeouts from Aidan Dintelman.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs won 6-1 over Red Bud as Mia Miller struck out 12 and surrendered no earned runs in a complete game pitching gem.

Waterloo hosts Wood River on Friday before playing Monday at Dupo.

Columbia is off to a 5-0 start.

On Thursday, the Eagles won 7-6 over Mascoutah. Elle van Breusegen went 4-for-4 and Paige Webb struck out 12 in a complete game pitching performance.

On Wednesday, Columbia won 11-0 at Mater Dei, getting three hits each from van Breusegen, Jaylyn Brister and Paige Froess, who allowed just two hits in the pitching circle.

On Tuesday, Columbia won 15-5 over Belleville West. Froess was one of five Eagles hitters with two hits. She drove in four runs.

The Eagles won 8-1 last Friday over Civic Memorial. Webb struck out 10 in a complete game and Columbia got two hits each from Sam Augustine and Reagan Jarrard.

Last Tuesday, Columbia picked up a 7-5 win at Jerseyville. Froess pitched a complete game and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate, van Breusegen went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs, and Brister went 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs.

Columbia travels Saturday to Marion and Tuesday to Wood River.

Dupo opened its 2024 campaign Monday with a 7-3 loss to Metro East Lutheran. 

The Tigers played Wednesday at Staunton, falling 11-1, and lost 13-1 to Sparta on Thursday. Dupo hosts Waterloo on Monday and Marissa on Tuesday.