While the softball success of Columbia and Waterloo has been documented in recent weeks, one team flying under the radar is Valmeyer. 

The Pirates won 13-0 over Dupo on Monday to improve to 8-4 on the season. Junior pitcher/shortstop Aspen Schmidt threw a one-hitter and freshman Brooke Miller homered for Valmeyer in the victory.

Maddie Ehrhard had the lone hit for the Tigers (1-7).

Following a loss to Marissa on Tuesday, Valmeyer won 5-2 at home against New Athens on senior night.

Last Thursday, Valmeyer ran into a tough Lebanon squad, falling 3-1 at home. The Pirates mustered only two hits, both in the fourth inning. Schmidt tripled and scored on a single by Tinleigh Jakimauskas. 

Last Tuesday, Valmeyer won 15-0 over Dupo.

Schmidt is hitting .462 with seven doubles and 14 runs to lead Valmeyer’s offense, followed by Miller at .435 with 17 runs. Jakimauskas is hitting .395 with eight doubles and 14 RBIs.

As a pitcher, Miller has four wins and a 2.40 ERA and Schmidt has three wins with a 1.53 ERA.

Columbia (12-8) had its four-game winning streak come to an end Monday. The Eagles lost 15-0 at home to Freeburg, collecting only five hits in the game while striking out nine times.

On Wednesday, Columbia lost 6-2 at Salem. Karsen Jany went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

On Thursday, the Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh after Okawville plated three in the top of the inning to post an 8-7 victory at home. Ella Riley went 4-for-5 with two RBIs in the win.

Columbia plays Friday at Mascoutah.

Last Friday, Columbia won 8-5 over O’Fallon. Kylie Cleveland went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Julie Foster went 3-for-3. Ava Khoury pitched six and two-thirds innings for the victory.

On Thursday, the Eagles posted an 11-6 win over Civic Memorial. Khoury went 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs. Jany added three hits and three RBIs, and Taylor Holten also homered.

Last Wednesday, Columbia won 10-3 over Wesclin. Cleveland went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple. Sydney Sanderson went 2-for-3 with two runs and a triple.

Khoury is hitting .385 with 21 RBIs and Cleveland is hitting .384 with 21 runs to lead Columbia’s offense.

Waterloo (11-8) won 15-2 over Civic Memorial on Wednesday, which was senior night. Taylor Wilson and Maddie Davis both went 3-for-4 and Jane Kaniecki went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Waterloo battled unbeaten Highland for 14 innings Monday, eventually falling 2-0. Waterloo was held to four hits, two of them by Maddie Davis, and struck out 20 times. Mia Miller struck out 11 for Waterloo.

Last Saturday, the Bulldogs lost 7-4 to Breese Central. Kaniecki went 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Last Wednesday, Waterloo won 15-0 over Mascoutah. Kaniecki went 3-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs. Kyleigh Hecht had a hit and three RBIs. Miller struck out nine in four innings.

Kaniecki leads the ‘Dogs at .580 with five home runs, 33 RBIs, 32 runs, nine doubles and seven triples. Davis is hitting .460 with 18 runs and Wilson is hitting .414 with 28 runs.

Waterloo hosts Red Bud on Friday.

Gibault (0-7) lost 12-2 to Marquette on Thursday and lost 7-0 at Wesclin last Thursday. The Hawks were held to just five hits. 

Dupo (1-7) lost 15-0 at Chester last Thursday and 19-5 to Red Bud last Tuesday.

Kyann Prater leads the Tigers in hitting at .381 with seven RBIs.

Dupo hosts Gillespie on Wednesday.