Tobias Ten: Softball in Swing - Saint Louis Sports Today

Rock M’s photo editor provides his favorite softball shots of the week

1. Taylor made

Taylor Pannell showed out well Tuesday, earning a six-inning win. The junior struck out eight Cougars and only allowed one run off of two hits.

2. Bring the Boom

Madison Uptegrove had a great game too, going 3-for-4 (in a six-inning game!) This included this home run (above) which also scored Stefania Abruscato.

3. Crenshaw Clash

Julia Crenshaw, too, had a great game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a double. Here she is, basically executing a perfect swinging bunt.

4. Caught Looking

With a runner on first, there is always a force out at second. But sometimes, a grounder to the second baseman forces them to apply an actual tag, like it did here to Claire Cahalan. And I’m thankful for this, because tag outs always make better pictures than forces.

5. Shadow/Light

“I’m doubtful, doubtful that there are better places to spend summer afternoons than ballparks,” said great baseball writer Tom Boswell. And I am thankful for these afternoons because we get lovely light like this, illuminating Taylor Pannell. (If you line it up exactly with the sun, it looks like a flash! I’ll try that next game.)

6. CC-Fense

The Mizzou infield showed some great infield defense Friday, with CC Harrison making a great heads-up play here. With the bases loaded and one out, Harrison received the ball on a grounder and threw to catcher Julia Crenshaw, who got the force out at home then looked to gun other runners down elsewhere. This good thinking saved a run, although the game did end 9-1.

7. Jump! Jump!

This Texas A&M shortstop had to strike an interesting pose as she got Julia Crenshaw (right) out on the force and then gunned down Stefania Abruscato at first base. Crenshaw’s attempt to break it up was foiled by the aerial maneuver.

8. CC, ACE

Cierra Harrison also pitched about half of a gem against the Aggies, throwing three innings of one-run ball before being relieved for Marissa McCann, who finished off the back three and earned the win.

9. Walk it Like I Talk It

Madison Walker has emerged as a big star on this Mizzou team, with 17 home runs on the season. One of those, seen here, led off the third inning. The shot raised Walker’s average to .231.

10. Close But…

Mizzou’s infield defense was great all day Friday. But the outfield defense had something left to be desired, with right fielder Nevaeh Watkins dropping this Aggie line drive.

11. Winners’ Circle

Stefania Abruscato was the hero of the TAMU game, singling in the fifth inning and scoring Nevaeh Watkins to run-rule the Aggies. Here, Abruscato can be seen surrounded by a mass of pink-clad Tigers.