Windsor opened the season pounding Eldon 15-1 in the Sullivan Tournament.
Since then it’s been peaks and valleys, including a 4-3 walk-off victory over 2020 Class 3 state champion Sullivan on Sept. 1, powered by senior Bailey Davis’ game-tying home run and junior Logan Veselske’s game-winning blast. That dramatic win came in the middle of a three-game winning streak. Then the Owls hit the skids, losing six of seven to sink to 6-9.
Coach Wayne Montgomery’s squad rebounded to win four straight, outscoring their opponents 62-2. That should burnish their credentials for the upcoming Class 4 District 2 tournament, hosted by Windsor and featuring Cor Jesu Academy, Hillsboro, Pacific, Rockwood Summit, Union, Webster Groves and defending Class 4 state champion Washington.
“The bottom of the lineup has caught on,” Montgomery said of the 62-2 blitz. “Earlier we were struggling a little bit there. We’ve had quality at-bats most of the year and I’m not surprised by (the scoring spree) because I know what we’re capable of.”
The Owls dismantled host De Soto 19-0 on Sept. 22, winning by the mercy rule after four innings. Veselske had a ground-rule double and home run and was hit by a pitch twice. She’s the younger sister of Windsor 2019 graduate Jessica Veselske, who hit .539 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in as an Owl senior.
Logan supplies Windsor with superb defense at third base and snapped off several throws to first for assists against the Dragons.
“Defensively she’s probably our MVP,” Montgomery said of Logan. “We’ve won some close games because she’s made some great plays. Nobody fields the bunt better than her and she’s really emerged as one of our best defensive players.”
Logan said Jessica, who is five years older, got her into playing softball and has always been the person she’s looked up to.
“I still do, even though she doesn’t play (at Southeast Missouri State),” Logan said after scoring four runs in four plate appearances against De Soto. “She’s got such a high IQ for the game and is so talented. I’ve always wanted to play like her.”
Montgomery called the younger Veselske’s homer against Sullivan one of the highlights of the year.
“It was one of the coolest things I’ve seen because the (Sullivan outfielder) tried saving it and the ball tipped off her glove, hit the fence and bounced over. It was very dramatic,” Montgomery said. “It was Logan’s first home run and was a great experience for her and the team. It was one of those things that gets a team going.”
Junior pitcher Riley Fendler has all 10 of Windsor’s wins. In 82 innings pitched, Fendler has an earned run average of 2.48 with 65 strikeouts. She’s second to Veselske in hitting (.490 to .500) and has three triples and 28 RBIs. Fendler was four-for-four with four runs scored and pitched three of the four innings against the Dragons, allowing one hit and fanning four.
Fendler had a simple philosophy about her at-bats against De Soto.
“Wait on a pitch and let it rip,” she said, also lamenting not getting more opportunities.
“It stinks when you’re on deck, and the last out is made and you’re trying to go up there and get another hit,” Fendler said.
As the runs have piled up, the enjoyment of playing has increased.
“You have to be a team and if you’re not, things go downhill,” Fendler said. “It’s a good win to add stats and runs, but you take it and say, ‘good game.’”
Junior Abby Holland started at first base for Windsor and relieved Fendler for the fourth inning against the Dragons, giving up a hit and striking out one. Holland also drew a walk, had two hits and scored twice.
“We know Abby can get the job done (in the circle) if need be,” Montgomery said. “We’ve relied on Riley and she’s really hitting her spots better than past years and cut down on the walks. (Her) velocity is up and she’s pitched some quality games.”
In a 14-1 win over Herculaneum on Sept. 20, Veselske and Madison Williams each had three hits, Williams and Davis tripled, and Williams drove in four runs. Fendler fanned seven in five innings in the mercy-rule win.
Windsor has two games left in the regular season, both against Jefferson County Activities Association rivals. They visit Hillsboro (16-7, 3-0) on Oct. 3 and host Festus (7-14, 2-2) on Oct. 6. Windsor leads the JCAA standings with a perfect mark of 5-0.