WARDSVILLE - The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons have very few off days from mid-September through the beginning of October.
The way they're playing, perhaps playing every day is for the best.
"Our pitchers and catchers have been doing a good job keeping opponents off-balance, not allowing a lot of runs on the board," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said after Wednesday's 11-1 win in six innings against the Jefferson City Lady Jays at the Falcon Athletic Complex. "That's a credit to them, as well as our defense. That's something we take pride in."
Wednesday's contest was Blair Oaks' seventh game in six days, dating back to the start of the Lady Jays Classic on Friday. The Lady Falcons are 6-1 during that stretch, outscoring opponents 48-11 with three shutout wins.
"Offensively, we have been scoring runs," Buschjost said. "That combination makes for quite a few wins."
It helped Wednesday when the first seven Blair Oaks batters reached base against Jefferson City. Bailey Rissmiller had an RBI double, while Alexis Findley and Madi Boessen each had an RBI single to put the Lady Falcons ahead 5-0.
Jessica Shanks started in the pitcher's circle for the Lady Jays, but Kara Daly came on in relief six batters into the contest to help limit the damage.
It has been a trying past six games for the Lady Jays, who have been scrambling with a mix of pitchers and catchers with Avrey Reynolds and Lydia Hudson temporarily out of the lineup.
"These girls haven't thrown in back-to-back days for a long time. Some of them haven't thrown at all in high school," Lady Jays coach Zac Miller said. "We're just trying to muddle through."
Kenzie Libbert's sacrifice fly in the second inning pushed the Blair Oaks lead to 6-0. The Lady Falcons added four more runs in the fourth, capped by a two-RBI infield single from Lauren Strange with two outs.
"With two outs and the runner going (on contact), we've been doing a better job of continuing the runner (from second) on home to score on a base hit," Buschjost said. "That was fun to see that play out."
Jefferson City scored its lone run in the top of the third. Addison Morgan reached on a fielder's choice, stole second base on a strike three pitch and then came all the way around to score on a throwing error into the outfield.
"We definitely look for opportunities to try and steal," Miller said. "It was a 1-2 count and I felt like we might get something out of that situation. Addison got a good jump, slid in there, the ball got by and she's fast enough to score."
Morgan was the only Lady Jay to reach third base against Findley, who struck out 13 of the 23 batters she faced.
Findley and Andi Siebeneck have alternated starts in the circle for Blair Oaks this season. Findley is 6-1 with 54 strikeouts and a 0.70 ERA, while Siebeneck is 5-1 with 60 strikeouts and a 0.78 ERA.
"We came in with a clean slate for both of them," Buschjost said. "We told them to earn it, and they both have.
"You can co-exist and you can be very successful with that combination. Andi and Alexis have been doing an outstanding job for us this season."
Daly's fielding in the pitcher's circle was impressive, recording six assists on ground balls - many of them tough plays - during her four innings of relief. She moved back to shortstop in the fifth inning and was a few steps from turning a triple play on a line drive in the sixth, but she settled for a still impressive double play.
"She has a great mind for the game," Miller said of Daly. "You can really see her working there, fielding her spots. She feels comfortable when the balls are getting hit to her. She can be athletic and go make a play."
Daly and Amaya Ford each had one single for the Lady Jays' two hits off Findley.
Findley and Strange each had a pair of singles to lead the Blair Oaks hitting attack. Strange drove in three runs and Boessen had two RBI.
Jefferson City (5-8) is off until next Tuesday, when it hosts Battle.
Blair Oaks (11-2) has a rare day off today, but the Lady Falcons will begin the UCM Tournament on Friday in Warrensburg with pool play games against Raymore-Peculiar at noon and Holden at 1:45 p.m., followed by as many as three games Saturday in bracket play.
"I reminded the girls quickly that we had a day off from games tomorrow, but not from practice," Buschjost said. " Hopefully we will be playing five games and we'll be in the championship game."
In the JV game, Blair Oaks defeated Jefferson City 14-0 in three innings to improve to 7-2.
Delaney Skinner had four RBI for the Lady Falcons, including a bases-clearing triple, while Morgan Luebbering had two singles and Kenadi Braun had two RBI.
Luebbering struck out four batters in three innings and allowed just one hit to get the win for Blair Oaks.