Advance softball squad remains thankful after 15-0 loss to Oran

ORAN, Mo. -- It's not too often after a 15-0 perfect game that both teams are in a thankful state of mind.

Oran coach Jim Eftink had just watched senior Tatum May strike out eight of the nine batters faced and two of his freshmen, Leah Cauble and Claire Ramsey, belt back-to-back home runs in a six-run first inning of a three-inning game Friday.

Oran sent 24 batters to the plate in the contest and had just one batter retired in the third inning when Hannah Scherer laced a single to left field to score Madison Graviett from third to enact the 15-run mercy rule.

These are plentiful times for Eftink, who had just 10 girls on his fall team last school year but has 14 on his roster in the team's first venture into spring softball.

"There will be years down the road where we'll only have 10, because that's the nature of being a small school," Eftink said. "It's tough, because you don't have the option of making any moves or anything. You've got what you've got. You have to play the cards that are dealt you, and if you've only got 10 players, then that's all that you've got. We've got some good cards right now, and we've got five that are eighth graders and really going to be good next year -- three of them for sure."

Oran's Claire Ramsey is congratulated by teammates after her solo home run against Advance during the first inning Friday, April 8, 2016 in Oran, Missouri.Fred Lynch

Seeing the situation in the other dugout, where pitcher Cooper Simpson, a junior at Delta High School, was still trying to get adjusted to wearing the name "Advance" on the front of her jersey, gave Eftink even more appreciation.

The Eagles had just defeated a team with a collective 12-player roster assembled from Advance High School and Delta High School, a situation created when neither of the schools had enough players to field a team this spring.

Cooper got touched for nine hits, walked six batters and was charged with all 15 runs, but she was still able to manage smiles after the contest as she stood beside first baseman Haleah Wallace, one of two seniors on the team from Advance.

The two spent their previous high school years about 12 miles apart but never crossed paths.

In fact, the Bobcats and Hornets normally find it hard to arrange games in girls sports.

Advance starter Cooper Simpson pitches to an Oran batter during the first inning Friday, April 8, 2016 in Oran, Missouri.Fred Lynch

Advance fields a volleyball team in the fall. Delta does not.

Delta fields a girls basketball team in the winter. Advance does not.

"We never play Advance, so we didn't know any of the Advance girls," Simpson said.

So the biggest adjustment?

"Names," Wallace suggested in a whispering voice to Simpson, who was searching for an answer when queried.

"Yeah, probably names, trying to remember everybody's names," said Simpson, eagerly running with Wallace's suggestion.

And what about not wearing blue, and having to wear "Advance" on her orange jersey.

"That's definitely weird, the orange," said Simpson, despite a color-coordinated bow in her hair seemingly denying her trouble with the adjustment.

Advance coach Advance coach Sarah Cundiff gave the pitcher a teasing compliment.

"It looks good on her, doesn't it?" Cundiff said. "She's got an orange bow."

It all had a bit of a strange look for Eftink, whose Eagles won for the second day in a row and improved to 2-4.

"I was surprised that neither one of those schools had enough girls to field a team," Eftink said. "I know in youth league, they both have a bunch of kids that play. Delta, in Babe Ruth League before high school and everything, Delta always seems to field a team that is pretty competitive and have enough girls. Advance, too, as far as I know."

Advance lost five seniors from last year's team that went 17-4 and handed the only regular-season loss to Leopold, which ended its season with a 16-2 record.

Delta did not field a team last year, but had reached the Class 1 final four in 2000 and won a district title as recently as 2006.

"We use to have some very successful teams just a few years ago, and it's just been the last few years I've seen the decline, and it just breaks my heart," said Jody Blattel, a Delta graduate who would have been the Bobcats' head coach this year if they head enough players.

Blattel is instead assisting Cundiff, who is in her second season as the Hornets' head coach and third with the program.

"We thought we were going to have a team, but some girls just had different priorities and we graduated a big class last year as far as softball players," Cundiff said. "We graduated five players that had all grown up playing softball together. So I knew numbers were going to be tight, I just didn't think this tight."

Before the season, Cundiff held practices for a week with the hope more players would show up. Meanwhile, Blattel, who has a daughter in the eighth grade in Delta, was holding open field practices that were not mandatory but were attended by a handful of hopeful players.

"I wanted to keep the girls that were interested, older than [my daughter], in it, so that whenever she comes over to the high school next year, she has someone to play with," Blattel said.

According to Cundiff, Advance athletic director James Hamlin even reported to the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) that Advance would not have a team.

"MSHSAA was the one that told him, 'Hey, Delta doesn't have enough for a team. If we allowed you all to combine schools, do you think your coaches and players would still be willing?'" Cundiff said. "That's kind of how it happened."

Under the agreement, practices were to held at Advance, which would supply uniforms, equipment, umpires and everything else necessary for play. Delta in turned agreed to wear the Advance colors.

When both schools agreed to the proposal, the players held about six practices together before opening their season against Dexter -- and winning 11-8.

"It happened really quickly, but I think the one thing that helps make this team blend so well together, is from the very beginning Coach Blattel and I have said, 'This is our team. This is not my team. It's our team," Cundiff said.

In addition to Simpson, freshman third baseman Macey Smith, freshman catcher Karlee Beggs and junior left fielder Carrie Waddle make the trek over from Delta.

They've joined forces with Wallace and senior Jordan Eaton, junior Alicia Sullinger, sophomores Claire Costello and Natalie Lorch and freshmen Addie Curtis, Katie Cook and Alli Johnson.

"I tried to be as open as possible because I didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable or left out," Wallace said about the arrival of the Delta contingent. "It's gotten a lot easier as we go because I've learned everyone's names and I have a lot of friendships with a lot of them."

The squad, which has seven games under its belt, will compete in the Stoddard County Conference Tournament and is eligible for the Class 1 District 4 tournament.

"I can remember that very first practice where the Delta girls and the coach came over and we all were kind of nervous -- we didn't know what to expect," Cundiff said. "I've just been amazed. I've been bragging to several people that I'm so amazed at how these two schools have just blended. Even Coach Blattel and I, we get along great and have somewhat the same sense of humor and make each other laugh. I know today we didn't see it as much, but every practice someone is almost crying we're laughing so hard. It's a real sweet moment to see both of these schools have this opportunity, not only to have this opportunity, but to enjoy it. It just means a lot."

Advance fell to 2-5 after Friday's loss. The record includes a 9-4 victory over Oak Ridge, but also a 21-0 no-hit loss to Scott City.

Eftink, noting the proximity of the schools as a factor in moving his team's season to the spring, is hopeful each school will be able to field a team next year.

"It's just a good rivalry to have Advance, a good rivalry to have Delta," Eftink said. "I hope they both have teams next year. And Delta has a heck of a facility, too. They've got a brand new ball field, and we played over there in the fall two years ago and I was impressed with how nice that facility was. It's a beautiful field and it's not being used, and that's a shame. I love playing over at Delta."

While that is the downside to the situation, the upside is the field in Advance is getting used -- to the delight of Wallace.

"I was upset because it was my senior year, but I'm just happy to be out there playing," Wallace said. "Win or lose, I like playing with Delta. It's something new and something no one's ever heard of."

Oran 15, Advance 0

Advance 000 -- 0 0 3

Oran 681 -- 15 10 0

WP -- Tatum May. LP -- Cooper Simpson. 2B -- May (O). 3B -- Leah Cauble (O). HR -- Cauble (O), Claire Ramsey (O). Multiple hits -- Oran: Cauble 2-2, May 2-2.