The St. Dominic softball team of 2014 was excellent. The girls went 22-3, beating powerhouse public schools such as Francis Howell Central, Holt and Timberland, and reached the district final. However, the St. Dominic softball team of 2015 may be even better. Currently 11-3, the girls in blue have once again beaten Holt, who dropped from first to third in large school rankings after St. Dominic’s victory. The team is on a three-game win streak with five players batting over .350.

“We don’t give up. We always continue to fight,” said junior first baseman Katy Kruse.

The team’s resilience has helped them win games this season, especially against softball powerhouse Holt. The Crusaders have played Holt twice this year, losing the first game 6-3. Playing them again required endurance, courage and a fighting spirit.

“Beating Holt was a great experience,” said Coach Duncan. “That was a fantastic win for us. Any time you can beat a quality opponent like Holt, it’s an important win for the season and the team.”

This team is built around a solid foundation. It is not a big roster when it comes to the amount of players, but every athlete plays an important role.

“We have a very solid core. The entire infield has played for me for three or four years,” said Coach Duncan.

The strong infield is comprised of Kruse at first, Chaney Pollard and Jenna Wilmes in the middle infield and Megan Schellert at third. Three of those four players are batting .375 or better and have six or more doubles, and all of them are fielding well. Kruse and Pollard have zero errors and Wilmes has made 66 outs. In addition, Kruse has 4 home runs and 36 RBI, while Schellert is batting .617, putting her among the top leaders in the St. Louis area.

However, the talent does not stop there. The pitching is strong from the Crusaders. Although only two pitchers are featured in the rotation, both produce when they are called upon. Senior Anna Hermann, the primary starter, is 8-3 with 3.34 ERA, 34 Ks and a save. Carly Bloomfield, a freshman, is 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

“We have high expectations when it comes to playoffs this year. We expect to do good things come postseason,” said Coach Duncan.

With the way the team is playing, a playoff push looks like it may be in the cards. The team has what it takes. Warrenton will be the toughest early playoff competition, which the team looks forward to playing. Avenging the loss from last year is on the minds of the players and coaches, and the team is prepared to do what it takes to win the district title back. The future of the season looks bright for the girls in blue.