On Wednesday Oct. 8, the varsity softball team played in districts at the Saint Charles Community College. Districts are a single elimination tournament that determined whether  North would advance in the playoffs to go to state or if the team’s season is over. The Knights took on FZS.  Head Coach Bob Donahue started his ace freshman, Elizabeth Davis. Coach Donahue also switched up a few players around in the field. For example center fielder, Austine Pauley,was in the infield playing shortstop while infielder, Audrey Baker, was moved to centerfield.

“Austine is a very strong player. She is very useful in the infield as well as her normal position,” Baker said. “I was moved to center because I play there for my select team.”

The defensive position changes and strong pitching from Davis proved throughout the game proved to be a huge success. The Knights won 9-4 and advanced to the second round of districts.

“Our plan to beat them (FZS) was to score more than them each inning and to limit defensive mistakes,” Pauley said. “We had a higher momentum the whole game.”

The second game against FZN was postponed until the following Saturday Oct. 11, due to severe weather and heavy downpours in the area. According to the players the outfield was horrendous. The amount of rain made the outfield like a sponge. When the players would walk around the outfield they would  find their feet in puddles.

“Our coach had us (outfielders) walk the outfield before the game so we were aware of how the field conditions were when we were playing,” right fielder, Haley Holman said.

Unfortunately FZN had a tough pitcher who had a lot of movement and a really change up. The girls couldn’t find their groove and but the bat on the ball. The Knights lost 10-0 and the 2014 season came to an end.

“(Fort Zumwalt) Norths pitcher was really talented. We had a hard time trying to get any hits off of her,” Pauley said. “We just have to prepare more if we want to go farther next season.”

Photo by(abby temper)