Bristol Hicks, Rylee Scadden, Brianna Meyer Power Resurgent Bluejays

Brianna Meyer with her pitching arm and Bristol Hicks and Rylee Scadden with their bats have fueled a resurgent Northeast Nodaway softball squad this year. After a forgettable 11-0 loss to Albany to start the season, it looked like more of the same when they went down for the count against OSHS. But they came back and won that game 18-7. Against Maryville, the pitching arm of Brianna Meyer and the bat and muscles of Rylee Scadden powered the Bluejays past Maryville 17-2.

Two errors fueled the Wildcards in the first inning, and they began teeing off, with singles from Michelle Meek and Anna Ramey putting them up 3-0. Zoe Stawkowski popped out to catcher Paizlee Norman, and Autumn Manley grounded to second baseman Rylee Scadden, who tagged out Anna Ramey going to second to get the Bluejays out of the inning.

Rylee Scadden singled to center to start the Bluejay first. Maddy Faustlin reached on a bunt single, and the ball got away to score Scadden to cut the Bluejay deficit to 3-1 and put Faustlin on third. Brianna Meyer popped out, but Paizlee Norman was plunked to keep the inning alive. Hayley Yost doubled to center to score Kiley Yost (running for Norman) and Maddy Faustlin to tie it at 3-3. Bristol Hicks singled. Khloe Burns flied out to center. OSHS tried to double Hicks off first, but threw it away as Yost scored to make it 4-3.

With one out in the second, Scarlett Pirak walked. Laine Downs doubled her home to tie it at 4-4. Jaelin Hahn doubled to center; Downs, who held up to make sure the ball wasn’t caught, made it to third. That preserved the tie as pitcher Addi Thummel struck out Ady Prado and caught Michelle Meek’s pop fly.

Rylee Scadden singled to lead off the Bluejay second, but Maddy Faustlin forced her at second, Brianna Meyer flied out, and Paizlee Norman grounded out.

Anna Ramey reached on an error to start the Wildcard third, but Bluejay catcher Paizlee Norman gunned her down stealing to end the threat. 

With one out in the Bluejay third, Bristol Hicks reached on an error. Khloe Burns struck out, but Hicks stole second. Addi Thummel singled to score Hicks to put the Bluejays in front 5-4.

But the Wildcards started teeing off again in the fourth. Amiya Martens singled to center, and Scarlett Pirak reached on a bunt single. Laine Downs reached third on a dropped fly ball as two runs scored to put OSHS back in front 6-5. Jaelin Hahn laid down a bunt down the first base line. First baseman Hayley Yost recorded the out, but Laine Downs scored to make it 7-5.

Maddy Faustlin reached first on an error with one out in the Bluejay fourth. Brianna Meyer singled and Paizlee Norman was plunked for the second time that evening to load the bases. Hayley Yost flied out to left as Faustlin tagged up and scored, Brianna Meyer advanced to third, and Paizlee Norman advanced to second. Bristol Hicks singled to center to score Norman and Meyer as the Bluejays regained the lead at 8-7.

Northeast cleaned up their play, getting three outs and working around Amiya Martens’ two-out single. Third baseman Brianna Meyer threw out Zoe Stawkowski, Thummel struck out Autumn Marley, and second baseman Rylee Scadden threw out Scarlett Pirak.

Kiley Yost sparked the Bluejays off the bench by beating out an infield hit to start the fifth. Rylee Scadden singled to left to put Yost on second. Maddy Faustlin grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Scadden beat the force try and everyone was safe. Brianna Meyer doubled to center as Kiley Yost scored, Rylee Scadden scored, and Faustlin was out trying to go from first to third. 

But the Bluejays proceeded to score eight runs with two outs to put the game away. Paizlee Norman reached on an error as Meyer took third. A dropped pop fly turned into a run as Hayley Yost reached first, Norman took third, and Meyer scored to make it 11-7. Bristol Hicks singled to right as Norman scored to make it 12-7, Yost took third and Hicks second on the unsuccessful throw home. Aubrey Fetters beat out an infield hit as Bristol Hicks and Hayley Yost scored to make it 14-7. Addi Thummel walked, and Kiley Yost was plunked to load the bases. Rylee Scadden walked to force in Fetters to make it 15-7. Maddy Faustlin beat out an infield hit to score Thummel to make it 16-7. Brianna Meyer reached on a dropped fly ball as Kiley Yost and Rylee Scadden scored to allow the Bluejays to go home early.

Against Maryville, Jorden Engle reached first on an error to start the game. Mercedes Hall popped out, but Addisyn Jenson-Pleasance popped out to shortstop Maddy Faustlin, who doubled Engle off first to end the inning.

Seemingly demoralized by the previous play, Maryville committed two errors in NEN’s half of the first. Rylee Scadden reached first on an error, and Maddy Faustlin reached second on another as Scadden scored to make it 1-0. Paizlee Norman doubled to left to score Faustlin to make it 2-0. Norman stole third. Audrey Fetters reached on Maryville’s third error of the inning as Norman scored to make it 3-0.

Brianna Meyer walked the first Maryville batter to start the second but recovered to strike out the next two and throw out Jayden Joe to get out of the inning.

Ashlynn Kennard singled to center to start Northeast Nodaway’s second. The ball got away, and she took second. Kennard took third on a passed ball and scored on Rylee Scadden’s single to make it 4-0. Maddy Faustlin was plunked. Brianna Meyer reached first on a dropped fly ball as Scadden scored to make it 5-0 and Faustlin advanced to second. Paizlee Norman flied out to center as Faustlin tagged up and advanced to third. Hayley Yost singled to left as Meyer scored all the way from first and Faustlin scored as well to make it 7-0. Yost took second on the throw home. Aubrey Fetters reached first on an error as Yost took third. Bristol Hicks got an infield hit as Yost scored to make it 8-0 and Fetters advanced to second. With two outs, Ashlynn Kennard reached first on an error to load the bases. Rylee Scadden singled to left as Fetters scored to make it 9-0. Maddy Faustlin reached second on an error as Ashlynn Kennard and Bristol Hicks scored and Scadden advanced to third to make it 11-0. Brianna Meyer hit a squib in front of the plate and was safe to load the bases. Paizlee Norman walked to force in a run to make it 12-0. Hayley Yost singled to left as Faustlin scored to make it 13-0. 

Maryville could not answer in the third as Mallory Culp singled, only to be forced out at second by center fielder Rylee Scadden after an apparent single to center by Haleigh Jackson.  

Khloe Burns and Piper Gray walked to start Northeast Nodaway’s third. Ashlynn Kennard popped out, but Addi Thummel singled to load the bases. Maddy Faustlin grounded into a force at third, but Khloe Burns scored to make it 14-0. 

Maryville finally answered to start the fourth as Addisyn Jenson-Pleasance doubled. Harper Poston reached first on an error, and Faye Hornickel walked to load the bases. Kamryn Spire was plunked to force in a run to make it 14-1. With the bases loaded and nobody out, anything could happen, but Brianna Meyer struck out Jayden Joe for the first out, battling back from a 3-0 count. Mallory Culp grounded into a force at home as Maddy Faustlin cut her down from short. Haleigh Jackson walked to force in a run to make it 14-2, but Jorden Engle grounded out to Faustlin to end the threat.

Paizlee Norman reached on a dropped pop fly to start Northeast Nodaway’s fourth. Kiley Yost singled to left and Emma Vicker walked to load the bases. Khloe Burns walked to force in a run to make it 15-2. Piper Gray singled in Kiley Yost to make it 16-2. Ashlynn Kennard grounded into a force at third. Khloe Burns was out, but Emma Vicker scored to end the game and send Northeast Nodaway home early. 

Blair Nelson Doubles Twice; Frantic Bluejay Rally Falls Short

Blair Nelson led a Bluejay charge that nearly brought them back against top-seeded DeKalb, but it fell short as NEN lost 8-5. 

Blair had two hits along with Paizlee Norman. Rylee Scadden, Mylee Wilmes, Addi Thummel, and Emma Vicker had one hit. The Bluejays cut down on their errors, only committing two after committing nine the game before.

Paizlee Norman beat out a pop fly single to start the Bluejay first. Rylee Scadden struck out, but Blair Nelson got a sac bunt and advanced Norman all the way to third. But Mylee Wilmes popped out to end the threat. 

Back-to-back doubles by Grace Downing and Rylie Burdette put DeKalb on top 1-0 in its half of the first. Two more walks forced in another run, and DeKalb led 2-0 after the first inning. Downing singled in two more in the second to make it 3-0 and an error made it 4-0. Ceci Sherlock grounded out to score Downing to make it 5-0. An error and a hit batter set up another big inning for DeKalb in the fourth as Kelsey Chatman grounded out to score Grace Downing, and Ceci Sherlock got down a sac bunt that scored Rylie Burdette to make it 7-0. A passed ball put DeKalb up 8-0 in the fifth.

But all of a sudden, Paizlee Norman singled to center to start the Bluejay sixth. Rylee Scadden struck out, but Blair Nelson walked, and Mylee Wilmes reached on an error to load the bases. Addi Thummel singled to center to score Nelson and Norman to put NEN on the board, down 8-2. 

When DeKalb couldn't score after starting off with runners on first and second with nobody out, the Bluejays still had some life left. With one out, Emma Vicker singled to right. Paizlee Norman struck out and the Bluejays were down to their final out. Rylee Scadden had struck out twice earlier in the game but beat out a bunt single to put runners on first and second and the Bluejays were still alive. With Blair Nelson up, the Bluejays were down to their final strike, but then Nelson crushed a double to score two runs and cut it to 8-4. Mylee Wilmes singled on a line drive to center as Nelson scored to make it 8-5 before Addi Thummel finally grounded out to end the game.

Rylee Scadden’s Dash Home Keeps Bluejay Season Alive

Rylee Scadden’s dash to the plate brought a sudden end to Northeast Nodaway’s game with OSHS and the Bluejays lived to fight another day after getting a 14-13 win. It was their fourth win of the year and their third against OSHS. All of them were wild, high-scoring games.

Mylee Wilmes had three hits for the Bluejays, which had 12 hits Thursday. Paizlee Norman, Rylee Scadden, and Blair Nelson had two while Addi Thummel, Piper Gray, and Aubrey Fetters had one.

Aubrey Fetters, Blair Nelson, Paizlee Norma, and Rylee Scadden all had doubles. Emma Vicker and Piper Gray each had two steals.

Stewartsville/Osborn jumped out to a 1-0 lead after two singles and a groundout put them in front in the first. But like each of the last two games, Northeast fought back; this time, Paizlee Norman doubled to start off the Bluejay half of the first. Rylee Scadden tried to bunt, but popped out. Blair Nelson grounded out to advance Norman to third. Mylee Wilmes grounded out to score her to tie it up.

A double and two Bluejay errors put the Wildcards back in front 3-1 in the second. In the Bluejay second, Piper Gray stole second and third; on the throw down to third, the ball got away and Piper scored to make it 3-2. Paizlee Norman singled in Emma Vicker to tie it at 3-3.

After a walk and a hit batter to start the OSHS third, the Wildcards started teeing off on Paizlee Norman, hitting a pair of doubles and building up a 6-3 lead. That lead stood up until the Bluejay fourth, when Emma Vicker reached on an error and stole second. Paizlee Norman reached on another error as Vicker took third. Norman took second on defensive indifference and Rylee Scadden doubled two runs home to make it 6-5. Blair Nelson beat out a throw from third base as Scadden took third. Mylee Wilmes singled home Scadden to tie it at 6-6 as Nelson took second. Addi Thummel singled to load the bases and then Bristol Hicks reached second on an error as Wilmes and Nelson scored and Thummel took third to give the Bluejays the lead for the first time at 8-6. All five Bluejay runs scored with two outs, and seven Bluejays reached safely before OSHS could get out of the inning.

A walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a dropped line drive loaded the bases for the Wildcards, and a walk forced in a run to cut the Bluejay lead to 8-7. A groundout tied it up, then an error and a double put them up 11-8 before an offensive interference call killed the rally.

Aubrey Fetters led off the Bluejay fifth with a double and later came around to score on an error. Two walks from Paizlee Norman and Rylee Scadden brought up Blair Nelson, who reached on a pair of errors as both runners came home to tie it at 11-11. Mylee Wilmes singled Nelson home to put the Bluejays back up 12-11.

A single, a passed ball, a sac fly, and a pair of errors put the Wildcards right back in front 13-12 in the seventh. But that only made things more interesting for the Bluejays. Paizlee Norman reached second on an error and Rylee Scadden beat out an infield hit to put Norman on third. Blair Nelson doubled to left to score Norman to tie it up and put Scadden on third. Mylee Wilmes popped out to third for the first out. Addi Thummel popped out to shortstop for the second out. But on the second out, Rylee Scadden tagged up from third and made a dash home, scoring the winning run to walk off the Bluejays.

 

Mylee Wilmes Honored at Senior Night

Mylee Wilmes was honored at Northeast Nodaway’s Senior Night Tuesday, October 7th and the Bluejay softball team dropped two hard-fought games last week.

There was no rest for the weary as the Bluejays had to face two teams that are surprising a lot of people this year. Against LeBlond, the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Northeast Nodaway fought back to score one in the first and four in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. But LeBlond scored five in the sixth and one in the seventh to secure the 8-5 win.

Bristol Hicks was a bright spot in the Bluejay lineup, getting three hits. Mylee Wilmes had two, as did Blair Nelson. Paizlee Norman and Aubrey Fetters had 1 each. Blair Nelson and Paizlee Norman had two doubles.

Against East Harrison, the Bluejays pitched Sloane McClain as well as anyone,  holding her hitless, but walked too many batters (9) in a 9-7 loss.

The Bluejays jumped on East Harrison with two in the top of the first, only for the Bobcats to respond with four in the bottom of the first. The Bluejays tied it up with two in the fourth, only for the Bobcats to score four in the bottom half to lead 8-4. The Bluejays fought back with two in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it 8-7, only for the Bobcats to get an insurance run to make it 9-7.

Blair Nelson had three hits for the Bluejays. Paizlee Norman, Rylee Scadden, Addi Thummel, Bristol Hicks, and Emma Vicker had one hit each.

Paizlee Norman had a double. Norman had two steals while Blair Nelson, Emma Vicker, and Rylee Scadden had one.

 

Bexlie Busby Triples as Junior High Bluejays Drop Bulldogs 10-3

Bexlie Busby got a key triple to salt the game away as Northeast Nodaway's junior high overcame an early deficit and beat East Buchanan 10-3 Monday. 

It looked like a long day after one of the Bulldogs circled the bases to start the game after a single got away and rolled to the wall. But Bluejay pitcher Audrie Villegas got out of the inning and the Bluejays started working the pitch count, getting on at will in the first two innings. Emma Wilmes walked, and Maddie Faustlin was plunked. A wild pitch was thrown around, allowing both to score and putting the Bluejays up 2-1. Ellie Jackson and Kiley Yost singled and Bexlie Busby crushed a triple down the left field line, scoring both and making it 4-1. Audrie Villegas walked, and Aubrey Wilmes hit a pop fly between the mound and third that dropped in. Bexlie Busby, showing the same sort of daredevil skills as her older sister Baylie, made a dash home and was safe to make it 5-1. For the Bluejays, three of their hits came with two strikes, including Busby's blast.

Josie Jago grounded out to score Jeanie Houghton to cut it to 5-2 for the Bulldogs in the second.

Two more two-strike hits set up the Bluejay second. Eryn O'Connell beat out an infield hit and Khloe Burns grounded out to move her to second. Emma Wilmes hit a pop fly that dropped in between second and right field to score O'Connell to make it 6-2. Maddie Faustlin caught hold of her first pitch and crushed one off the left fielder's glove for a base hit as Wilmes took second. Ellie Jackson caught hold of another first pitch and reached on an error when the shortstop held the ball. Kiley Yost reached on an error when the Bulldogs tried to get a force at third, but the third baseman's foot was off the bag. A run scored on the play to make it 7-2. Bexlie Busby was plunked in the foot to force in a run to make it 8-2 and Aubrey Wilmes grounded one into center. East Buchanan got the force at second, but two runs scored to make it 10-2.

Northeast subbed freely in the third, getting some new players some looks. East Buchanan pulled off a successful double steal of second and home in the fourth to cut it to 10-3, but Bexlie Busby successfully started a rundown to get out of the inning.

Emma Vicker Circles Bases to Spark NEN; Bluejays End Skid With 16-6 Win

Northeast Nodaway's softball team had gone through a brutal week after their 9-8 win over OSHS, completing a sweep over them. The week-long layoff after that killed any momentum they might have had, and they fell flat against Stanberry 10-0. The Bulldogs scored at least one run in every inning before ending the game early. 

Blair Nelson was a bright spot during that stretch. She went two for two in the Stanberry game including a triple. Mylee Wilmes and Ashlynn Kennard also had hits. 

After committing seven errors in the Stanberry game, the scoreboard didn't show it, but they showed improvement as they cut their errors down to one in their 16-1 loss to Hamilton to start the North Andrew Tournament Saturday. Hamilton teed off on Northeast, getting 16 hits in the win. Mylee Wilmes had 3 hits that game, with Paizlee Norman, Rylee Scadden, and Ashlynn Kennard getting one. 

They did better against North Andrew than the last time but fell 10-2 against the Cards in the third-place game of the North Andrew Tournament Saturday. They got some good swings against Teigan Miller, but couldn't cash in. Blair Nelson had another two-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a double. Rylee Scadden, Mylee Wilmes, and Ashlynn Kennard also had hits. 

The East Buchanan game Monday featured two teams desperate for a win, with the Bluejays having two so far and the Bulldogs with one. Paizlee Norman and Aubrey Fetters got hard hits, but right at people in the early innings while the lone run in the first two innings came when Bristol Hicks walked, stole second, stole third, and came home on a throwing error in the second to put Northeast up 1-0.

After hacking at the first pitch too much in the first two innings and having no hits to show for it, they showed a lot more plate discipline the rest of the way. With two outs, Paizlee Norman and Rylee Scadden worked walks and Blair Nelson singled Norman home to make it 2-0. Scadden took third and Nelson second on the throw home. Mylee Wilmes followed with a single to left center to score two more to make it 4-0.

Pitcher Addie Thummel gave up only one hit and only needed five pitches to get through the fourth, but disaster struck in the fifth as East Buchanan suddenly started teeing off. Rylee Hill doubled, and Makayla Roe singled to get home the first run. Leah Herpel forced Roe at second for the first out, but then a throwing error put runners on second and third and Herpel scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. Thummel, who had rarely gotten this deep in a game before, started fighting the strike zone and walked Makenzie McDowell. McDowell was thrown out stealing second by catcher Paizlee Norman, but Ember Sparks scored on the play to make it 4-3. Madelyn McCoy beat out a slow roller, Isabelle Steeby walked, and East Buchanan continued to tee off, with Ava Hall hitting a double and Lindsey Herpel hitting a single to put the Bulldogs up 6-4 before Northeast finally got out of the inning.

At that point, they could have easily folded, but when East Buchanan threw away Emma Vicker's routine grounder, allowing her to circle the bases, the floodgates opened for the Bluejays. Vicker, out for the first time this year as a junior, is the unofficial mascot of the team with the loudest voice and the most creative huddle breaks, and that play got the whole team going again. Paizlee Norman singled and stole second; the throw got away, and she came in to score to make it 6-6. Rylee Scadden singled to center, stole second, and took third on a throwing error. Blair Nelson singled her home to make it 7-6. Mylee Wilmes walked. Bristol Hicks grounded into a force at third, but a dropped throw got away as Wilmes scored to make it 8-6, Hicks took third, and Addie Thummel second. 

Aubrey Fetters showed a newfound ability to bunt and got one down perfectly. Hicks broke for the plate and scored as Fetters reached first and Thummel third to make it 9-6. Fetters stole second. Piper Gray singled to center as Thummel scored to make it 10-6 and Fetters took third. Gray stole second. Emma Vickers reached on a dropped third strike as Gray took third. Fetters was out at the plate breaking for home on the play, but Gray scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-6.

East Buchanan tried to get back in the game in the sixth. With one out, Ember Sparks hit a pop fly into no-man's land between the mound and shortstop, and Makenzie McDowell beat out a grounder to third to put runners on first and second. But Madelyn McCoy hit a grounder to Blair Nelson, who stepped on third and threw to first for a double play to get out of the inning.

A dropped throw and a dropped fly ball put Blair Nelson and Mylee Wilmes on first and second. Bristol Hicks forced Nelson at third but beat out the double play try to first as Wilmes went first to third on the play. That opened the floodgates after Hicks stole second. Addie Thummel singled to left to score two to make it 13-6 and took second on the throw home. Aubrey Fetters, who had been robbed of extra bases earlier in the game, crushed a double down the left field line to score Thummel to make it 14-6. She took third on a passed ball. Piper Gray reached on a dropped third strike and the throw to first got away as Gray reached third and Fetters scored to make it 15-6. Gray came home on a wild pitch and the Bluejays, staring at defeat at one point, got to go home early. 

Rylee Scadden Gets Three Hits, Swipes Two as Bluejays Sweep OSHS

Northeast Nodaway held off a frantic OSHS rally to win 9-8 Thursday to complete a sweep of the Wildcards. Rylee Scadden, only a freshman, went three for three, stealing two bases and hitting a double. Bristol Hicks had two hits and Paizlee Norman, Blair Nelson, Addi Thummel, Aubrey Fetters, and Ashlynn Kennard had one each. Besides Scadden, Bristol Hicks and Mylee Wilmes swiped bases. 

Addi Thummel got the win, finishing the game and only walking two batters. 

Northeast Nodaway took advantage of 11 errors by the Wildcards. They made six, but made enough outstanding plays to preserve the victory.

At first, it looked like OSHS would run the Bluejays right out of the field, taking advantage of three Bluejay errors to go up 1-0 after one. The Wildcards teed off on Thummel in the second, getting four hits, and taking advantage of another error to make it 4-0. 

But then Northeast scored eight runs in its half of the second, all with two outs. Rylee Scadden scored on an error after getting on with a bunt hit, but it looked like the Wildcards would get out of the inning up 4-1. But then Ashlyn Kennard got the biggest hit of her life and singled to keep the inning going, turning it over to the top of the inning. Paizlee Norman and Blair Nelson singled to load the bases and Mylee Wilmes reached on an error as Norman and Kennard scored to make it 4-3. Bristol Hicks singled in Blair Nelson to tie it at 4-4. Mylee Wilmes scored on a passed ball to make it 5-4 and Addi Thummel singled in Hicks to make it 6-4. Thummel went to second on a passed ball and Aubrey Fetters' pop fly. OSHS attempted to cut down Thummel, but the ball got away from the catcher and Fetters took second. Rylee Scadden showed her muscle as she doubled in Fetters to make it 8-4. 

The Wildcards started chipping away, getting a run in the third on a passed ball to cut it to 8-5. 

Northeast got a run in the fourth, once again with two outs. Rylee Scadden walked to keep the inning going after getting to 2-2. Scadden stole second and third and Piper Gray reached on an error to score Scadden to make it 9-5. 

In the Wildcard fifth, they scored three runs with two outs as they got two doubles, a single, and an error to make it 9-8 and Northeast was clinging by their fingernails the rest of the way.

Northeast ran its way out of a potential big inning in the sixth, but then the Wildcards ran their way out of a big inning in the seventh and came away emptyhanded. First of all, they led off with a walk and took second on a wild pitch, only for Bluejay shortstop Paizlee Norman to double her off after snaring a line drive. Then, the Wildcards had a runner called out for offensive interference to end the game. 

Paizlee Norman Rare Bright Spot in Bluejay Loss

Paizlee Norman was a rare bright spot for Northeast Nodaway’s softball team Monday night as the Bluejays fell hard 11-1 to North Andrew.

Northeast has been searching for consistency this year, lighting up the scoreboard against OSHS and Platte Valley but struggling in their other two games.

Norman hit a triple to lead off the game and Blair Nelson singled her home to put the Bluejays up 1-0 in the first. The rest of the game belonged to the Cardinals as Teigan Miller struck out 11 Bluejays and didn’t allow another baserunner.

The Bluejays made five errors and gave up four in the first and six in the second. Norman came on in the third to pitch and stopped the bleeding, striking out four. But the Cards pushed across a run in the fifth to end the game.

 

Aubery Fetters Triples; Bluejays Throw Scare Into Platte Valley Before Falling 10-8

Northeast Nodaway's softball team has been on a roller coaster of a season this year. First, they started off on top of the world as they hung 23 runs on Stewartsville/Osborn and won 23-13. Then, they played a forgettable game against Albany, walked a ton of batters, and lost 16-4. It looked like more of the same when Platte Valley roared out to a 7-0 lead after three innings on Tuesday, September 9th. But Northeast spent the rest of the game chipping away, scoring one in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth before coming up two runs short. 

Aubrey Fetters provided the big blow, a triple, and went two for four at the plate. She showed promise last year, getting a key pinch hit against North Platte, and justified it in Tuesday's game, driving in two runs. Mylee Wilmes was two for four with a double. Blair Nelson had a triple, while Rylee Scadden, a freshman, got a hit. Scadden showed some speed on the basepaths, swiping two.

With the graduation of Hadley DeFreece and Lindsey Jackson, the Bluejays have been searching for answers at pitcher, and have been using three. Addie Thummel, Bristol Hicks, and Paizlee Norman all pitched in the game and they cut down on their walks, only walking one batter, giving them a chance to get back in the game after they fell behind. 

Worth County Approves Option of Emergency Softball Coop with Northeast Nodaway

The Worth County Board of Education approved the option of an emergency softball coop agreement with Northeast Nodaway for high school softball if the Bluejays do not field 10 players. Both teams played the numbers game this summer, with Northeast Nodaway down to 9-10 players during town ball and Worth County having to recruit two junior high players during their 14-13 win over Platte Valley at one point. The vote was unanimous. The first day that fall practices can begin is August 11th. The potential agreement only applies to high school. Both teams will still field separate junior high teams.

The board authorized Superintendent Chris Healy to pursue a technology grant from the state. The school is seeking a camera, eight iPads, and a Chromebox for its business program for a total of $11,500. If approved, the state would reimburse the school $5,750.

The board made appointments to committees for the upcoming school year. The following appointments were made:

Career Tech Education Advisory Committee: Amber Monticue, Josh Fletchall.

District Facilities Committee: Josh Fletchall, Michael Mullock, Patricia Warner.

District Policy Committee: Patricia Warner, Brad Maudlin.

Partnership Library Board: Amber Monticue, Patricia Warner.

Worth County Education Foundation: Michael Mullock.

District Wellness Committee: Brad Maudlin, Adam Downing.

District Parent and Community Engagement: Amanda Gilland.

District Finance Committee: Amanda Gilland, Amber Monticue, Patricia Warner, Chris Healy.

Board Legislative Committee: Patricia Warner, Chris Healy.

Additional staff and community members will be added to these committees in the coming months.

The board voted to declare some items as surplus property. They declared 43 lightly used air purifiers as well as a set of gymnastics parallel bars as surplus. Bids for these items are due on August 8th.

The board approved participation in the Teacher Baseline Salary Grant. The school will receive $115,000 to help pay the $40,000 minimum teacher salary and $46,000 minimum for teachers with a masters degree and 10 years experience.

The board voted to accept a donation from All Good Women of Worth County to purchase playground equipment for the Pre-K. It is unknown at this time how many donations they will receive. The Board Manual states that it is up to the board to accept donations.

The board approved Warner Bros. Contracting as their trash service provider and Green Valley Pest Control as their pest control company.

Work on the Ag hallway and the high school entry foyer is progressing, and both are expected to be completed around the start of the new school year.

The board hired Brooke Claypool as a paraprofessional and Dakota Hess as a custodian.

The next meeting will be August 20th at 6 pm. This will also be the date for the tax rate hearing.

 

Kinsley Yost Fans Nine in Bluejay U11 Win

Kinsley Yost fanned nine Stanberry batters Thursday night and walked only two, never allowing the game to coach-pitch mode and the Northeast Nodaway U11 softball team broke through in the third inning to beat Stanberry 5-2. After struggling with a big strike zone in the first two innings, Casey O'Connell's single opened the floodgates as she drove in the first Bluejay run. Cambry Allen and Ella Wilmes later added singles of their own.

Yost pitched the first two innings and then came back in after Stanberry had loaded the bases in the third and had the winning run at the plate. But Yost restored order by striking out all three Stanberry batters she faced in the inning to preserve the win.

Bexlie Busby Homers in Bluejay U14 Win

Bexlie Busby continued where she left off at lower levels, crushing a home run to dead center field in Northeast Nodaway's U14 11-1 win over Hopkins Thursday. Audrie Villegas and Ellie Jackson combined on a no-hitter to shut down the Mustangs. 

The first-game jitters got to Villegas at first as she hit a batter to force in a run in the Mustang first, but she got out of the inning with a called strikeout to limit the damage.

Maddie Faustlin started off the Bluejay first by crushing a triple to left and coming home when the cutoff throw got away to tie it at 1-1. North Nodaway should have been out of the inning, but after Audrie Villegas reached on an error to keep it alive, Bexlie Busby crushed her shot to give the Bluejays the lead for good. Kylie Yost stole second and came around on a throwing error to make it 4-1.

After Villegas got out of the second with a pair of called strikeouts, Khloe Burns crushed a shot down the right field line that sliced away from everyone for a triple and she came home on a wild pitch. Jordann Doty walked and Maddie Faustlin laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line. A wild pitch and a throwing error scored Doty and put Faustlin on third and another wild pitch scored Faustlin to make it 7-1. Eryn O'Connell walked, Kinsley Yost reached on an error, and Audrie Villegas doubled them home to make it 9-1. Bexlie Busby singled Villegas to third and they pulled off a successful double steal of second and home to make it 10-1. Everything went right for the Bluejays in that inning, except umpire Baylie Busby calling her own sister out at the plate. Kiley Yost scored on a wild pitch to cap off the rally.

Ellie Jackson came on and worked two scoreless innings to preserve the win for the Bluejays.

Paislee Norman Starts NEN Varsity Career With First Pitch Homerun on First At Bat

The Northeast Nodaway Bluejays got a leadoff home run from Paislee Norman and took it from there, adding a 24-run second inning to rout Hopkins 28-2 in a game that lasted just three innings. 

The team headed into the summer with a lot of question marks following the graduation of many of the key players who made up their four-year run of winning seasons. But a freshman, Paislee Norman, stepped up and hit a home run on her first varsity pitch in her first at-bat, circling the bases after hitting it to the wall Thursday. Blair Nelson followed with another and then Brianna Meyer followed with a bad-hop double. Hayley Yost was plunked by a pitch and they took second and third on a wild pitch. Mylee Wilmes hit a pop fly that dropped in no-man's land between first and second to score one and then Bristol Hicks struck out, but as Hopkins was throwing her out at first, Mylee Wilmes came home to make it 4-1.

In its first game without four-year battery Hadley DeFreece and Baylie Busby along with several other key cogs, Adie Thummel started pitching and Paislee Norman caught in the first inning. Thummel, following some big footsteps, got the first-game jitters, walking one and hitting two to load the bases, but got a groundout and a pop-up to end the inning with just one run crossing the plate.

Bristol Hicks pitched the second inning with Hayley Yost, who caught for the Bluejays two years ago while Busby was down, catching for her. North Nodaway threatened to get right back in the game after two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases. But after North Nodaway ran itself out of a big inning, with second baseman Blair Nelson tagging out a runner between first and second and then gunning down a runner at the plate, Northeast opened the floodgates and took advantage of a ton of walks, hits, and errors. They scored 21 of their 24 runs in the inning after two were out.

Brianna Meyer and Hayley Yost hit home runs during the avalanche. Brianna Meyer and Rylee Scadden hit doubles, and Brianna Meyer, Mylee Wilmes, and Adie Thummel had singled during the inning. 

Hopkins got a pair of hits from Piper Smith and Rylin Strayer to get a run home in the third, but Bluejay right fielder Emma Vickers showed that she has an arm as she gunned down a runner at the plate to shorten the inning. 

Editorial -- Excessive Discipline at Northeast Nodaway

Normally, we let schools, including the board and administration, do their jobs. We recognize that it is a hard job and that they can’t please everyone. We believe in law and order and in discipline in schools. But every once in a while, a situation comes along in which the punishment is excessive and does not fit the act in question.

Last spring, NEN student Hadley DeFreece was suspended out of school for two days for being in possession of a vaping device. If the school had left it at that, we wouldn’t be writing this editorial. But then, the school proceeded to kick DeFreece off the Missouri A+ Program. Then, in fall of this year, the school proceeded to suspend her from the softball team for three games.

The parents appealed Hadley’s removal, and the school sent a denial email, which they never got. So they didn’t find out until this month. They appealed to the school board, which upheld the dismissal at their board meeting December 17th.

The Missouri A+ Program allows students at A+ Schools, of which Northeast Nodaway is a participant, to get substantial financial aid to high school graduates who attend participating public community colleges, vo-tech schools, or certain private two year vo-tech schools in Missouri in return for fulfilling certain requirements. We get that the program has (and should have) a Good Citizenship clause. But the school has discretion in how it can enforce it, given that there are two layers of appeal involved.

The act in question did not warrant a three game suspension from playing softball. The act not only served to punish Hadley, but the rest of the team as well. The softball team was clearly in shock at the act, starting off at 1-2 and barely won the third game. They were not themselves. After Hadley came back, the team went on to have a successful regular season, but got an early exit from the districts. The district the Bluejays played in was loaded, and any one of four other teams could have won that district. Stanberry, which won that district, finished third at state. But it didn’t help.

Like the A+ program, the MSHSAA Official Handbook has a Citizenship Clause. But it only covers acts which are charged or may be charged by law enforcement. The act in question is an infraction under Missouri Law, and authorities never saw fit to charge it. If charges are not filed, eligibility is contingent on school policies. The school had discretion in enforcing the citizenship policy. The punishments are excessive considering that the act in question is an infraction under Missouri law and only served to punish the rest of the team given that Hadley has always been in good standing with her teammates and coaches throughout her junior high and high school career.

But we are just talking sports. Far more important is the effect the school’s decision will have on Hadley DeFreece’s career. It will be a lot harder for her to pay for her college, graduate from school with manageable or no debt, and find a job which will allow her to live a higher standard of living that her parents.

If it had been a matter of using hard drugs such as methamphetamine or fentanyl, that would be different. Most Possession of Controlled Substance offenses are felonies, require monetary and/or surety bonds in the thousands, can result in imprisonment, and constitutes an automatic firing offense for most employers. But most employers don’t screen employees or prospective employees for smoking or vaping, both of which are legal for adults in Missouri. Why kick a student out of a program for something which most employers don’t care about when screening potential applicants?

If it had been a matter of repeated violations of school policy, that would be different. Like we said at the top of this piece, we are not against school discipline; we are against excessive discipline. Hadley DeFreece had never been in trouble at school for anything.

We are not encouraging anyone to start vaping. It is just as harmful as tobacco, with addiction, reduced lung function, decreased exercise capacity, and heart and respiratory issues. But our society does not view vaping or tobacco use in the same way as, say, hard drugs. School discipline policies should reflect that.

Many of the schools we cover are having trouble getting people to participate in sports this year. In basketball alone, Worth County is down to seven players on the girls side, tying a record low. Northeast Nodaway only has nine boys out for basketball. North Nodaway only has eight girls out for basketball. North Harrison only has six girls out for basketball. Two years ago, Northeast Nodaway would not have had a baseball team if Worth County had not joined it to form a baseball cooperative. It is hard enough for schools to get players to come out for sports and other school activities without excessively punishing those who do come out and who are willing to put in the time and effort to be the best they can possibly be.

NEN Board Rescinds Resignation of Brenda Dougan

     The Northeast Nodaway School Board, at their regular meeting November 25th, rescinded the resignation of Superintendent Brenda Dougan.

Marcy Sobotka reported on the activities happening in the first grade and the elementary. There will be a Polar Express day on December 20th, with activities and snacks throughout the day and it will end with the watching of the Polar Express movie. Sobotka also reported about recent CTA events. Their goals are to provide scholarships for NEN seniors and sonic drinks and a birthday cart for CTA members. The CTA Holiday Party will be January 11th at Bearcat Lanes in Maryville.

The board voted to approve the audit bid from John W. Gillum, CPA, LLC for services for the next three years. The 2025 bid will be for $7,590. The 2026 bid will be for $8,045. The 2027 bid will be for $8,525.

The board chose Lindsey Jackson to be representative for the Belcher Scholarship. She will now compete at the regional level for the scholarship. She will also receive a $200 scholarship from the NEN Education Foundation.

Dougan presented a proposal from Parent Square for district, school, and classroom level communication. There is a one time setup fee for $3,375 and an annual cost of $4,400.

The board will request bids for banking services. Bids will be presented for approval at the February board meeting. The school is required to request bids for banking services every five years.

Filing dates for the April 8th election will be from December 10th to December 31st.

The Department of Elementary & Secondary Education is creating an educator job board. It will launch in January 2025.

The new Continuous Improvement Implementation Review will start for 2025-26 for the school.

The Halloween Parade was well attended, with 20 stops on the elementary Halloween Parade. The PAT had a Trunk or Treat and there was a Family Reading Night and an FCCLA sponsored dance.

The school conducted interviews with four senior education students at Northwest. One of them was selected to student teach next year with Mrs. Grotewiel.

A basketball family reading night was held at the school, with junior high basketball players reading to kids before a home basketball game.

A Veterans Day assembly was held on November 11th. Mr. Jenkins was the guest speaker.

Mrs. Groomer and a group of 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students went to Jefferson to attend the Vive 18 event. They came up with a plan to promote student pride and participation in winter basketball events.

A mock election was held in the elementary.

The school has expanded DARE this year to include first through fifth grade after having it for sixth grade. Topics covered include stranger danger, safe foods and household items, calling 911, saying no to peer pressure, conflict resolution, and cybersafety.

Postseason honorees for the softball team included Baylie Busby (All-275, 1st Team All District, 2nd Team All-Region), Blair Nelson (All-275), Brianna Meyer (All-275, 2nd Team All-District), Hadley DeFreece (All-275, 1st Team All-District, 2nd Team All-State), and Lindsey Jackson (All-275, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Region).