It didn’t take Jennifer Mast long to realize her life ambition.

By the time she was playing as a sophomore first baseman for the Rock Bridge softball team in 1991, she had all but decided on a career.

“Growing up, I just really enjoyed the camaraderie I had with teammates and the impact my coaches had on my life,” Mast said. “By seventh grade I knew I wanted to be a coach.”

So in the spring of 1999, when then-Rock Bridge athletic director Jeff Moore offered her the head coaching position at her alma mater,Sevilla shirt, the decision to take the job was a no-brainer.

“I’m extremely loyal to Rock Bridge,Newcastle United shirt,” said Mast, who lettered three times as a catcher and first baseman for the Bruins. “I love the fact that the girls I coach are all Bruins. I mean, I wore the uniform, I played on the same fields, I got to play Hickman. It’s just real neat to think about stuff like that.”

Now in her sixth year as coach, Mast has used her background and approachable demeanor to develop into a favorite among players.

“The kids love her,” Rock Bridge athletic director Vicki Reimler said. “There’s just so much passion in her, because (softball) was part of her life as a player and now it continues on as a coach. I’d say she bleeds green and gold.”

This season, though, has tested Mast’s moxie. The Bruins, after starting the season 3-2, have sputtered recently, and enter today’s game against Hickman in the opening round of the Class 4 District 10 tournament with a 6-15 record.

The team returns one senior from last year’s team, and bothstarting pitchers, junior Kayla Turnbull and sophomore Kelsey Oerly, entered the season having never thrown a pitch in a varsity game.

“Sure,” Mast said, when asked if she finds it hard to stay motivated during a tough season. “There are definitely times when things aren’t going quite the way you’d like them to, but you just have to keep after it.”

What keeps her pressing for wins is the girls that show up day after day at practice with their trademark teenage optimism.

“The kids are just so good,” said Mast, who is also an assistant basketball coach. “They’re fun to be around and they like to be around each other, so you can’t stay frustrated for too long when you get to practice and see them.”

The Bruins have lost both games against the Kewpies this year.

Instead of dwelling on those statistics, though, Mast is trying to make the rest of the season, however long it might be, as enjoyable as possible for her players.

“We’ve only got two more days until that next game,” Mast said Monday. “And from there on out, you never know what’s going to happen. I just want to make sure the girls have fun. This is (the team’s only senior) Emily Lay’s last week of practice, I want to make it a good couple of days.”

This laid-back attitude has been a staple for most of the year. While players are quick to point out that she works them hard, they have appreciated the way Mast has alleviated the pressure to win.

“She takes things seriously,” Turnbull said. “But she doesn’t make things too stressful or make a situation bigger than it is. We’re always joking around at practice and games, making fun of each other. And that’s important. It’s important to have fun.”

In the world of high school athletics, Mast understands that people often get caught up in the importance of wins and losses.

“That’s how we measure success in sports,” Mast said. “And I’m not saying that’s wrong, but it’s pressure. I’d just rather take the pressure off and let the kids have a good experience than force them to worry about whether or not we’re winning every game.”

It is this philosophy that has also earned Mast the respect of the school’s athletic department,South Africa football shirt, including Reimler.

“She is truly a good person,” Reimler said. “She has the highest integrity, no matter what happens during the season, or what the situation is,Santos shirt, she’ll never take it out on the kids. She runs a very solid program.”

Mast hopes to take that program further next season, when the Bruins will return eight starters, all of whom have gained valuable varsity experience this fall.

While Mast isn’t sure exactly how long she would like to continue coaching, she says that, for the time being, it is something she is thoroughly enjoying.

“You know, I love it,” she said. “Seeing these kids develop and mature in the three or four years they spend in the program, that’s just a real rewarding experience.”

COLUMBIA The Hickman softball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4 state softball tournament Wednesday in chilly 50-degree temperatures with a 7-1 victory over Wentzville-Holt at Rock Bridge High School.

Despite the weather, the Kewpies (25-2) had hot bats in the second inning and handful of stolen bases throughout the seven innings.
Although they said they would have liked to play in warmer weather,Wales football shirt, Kewpies coach Courtney Haskell and pitcher Taylor Cowan agreed that it did not hinder the team’s performance.

“The kids were prepared,” Haskell said. “We haven’t practiced in that, but there’s not a whole lot you can do about it.”

The Kewpies opened up the game with two runs in the first inning and scored five in the second. The Indians only run came in the bottom of the second inning.

“We came out and hit the ball well, we were hitting it hard,” Cowan said.

Although the scoring ended early, Hickman’s numerous stolen bases kept the audience engaged. Kewpies runners stole bases in six innings.

“When you see girls throwing a a lot of change-ups that gives you a little more time to get through on the bases, especially when your kids can pick that up, it helps a lot,” Haskell said.

Wentzville (16-8) relied on a trick play at the top of the fifth to get its first out of the inning. Catcher Aubri Perez threw the ball high into the air towards first base, successfully tricking base runner Whitney Grathwohl,Celtic shirt, into believing hitter Kaylin Britt had hit a pop up. Grathwohl, who was on her way to second, returned to first, but was tagged before she reached the plate.

“They got an out out of it,Manchester City shirt, which I’m sure was their goal,” Haskell said.

Haskell said that she was proud of her team’s victory, calling it a team effort.

“Honestly up and down the lineup they put the ball in play,” she said, “and defensively they took care of business.”

Hickman moves on to face the winner of Thursday’s sectional game between Ozark (23-5) and Webb City (26-3). the game was postponed Wednesday because of wet weather. The Kewpies are set to play the winners on Saturday in Jefferson City.

“For Saturday, we need to come out, hit like we’ve been hitting and work on our defense and we’ll be good,Santos shirt,” Cowan said.

Haskell echoed the sentiments saying the team would prepare the same way they had all season.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Ryan Shealy’s favorite thing about Kansas City is its location — about 500 miles away from Todd Helton.

It’s nothing personal. The All-star first baseman of the Colorado Rockies is a good friend and Shealy’s mentor, as well as a career .333 hitter and the Rockies’ greatest player. Helton even took Shealy out to dinner when the Rockies and Royals played recently.

But as long as Shealy and Helton were in Colorado at the same time, Shealy was never going to play more than a few games.

“Every year I was in Colorado,Celtic shirt, I took something away from playing next to him,” Shealy said. “But at the same time,Sevilla shirt, it was frustrating.”

So Shealy was elated when the Royals and Rockies worked out a four-player trade last summer that sent him to Kansas City, giving him an opportunity.

In response, he hit .280 in 51 games and provided better defense at his position than the Royals have had in more than a decade.

Just 27, he’s been one of the most consistent hitters this spring.

“As a player, all you can ask for is an opportunity,Lyon shirt,” Shealy said. “And the Royals gave me an opportunity last year by trading for me.

“I feel good. My body feels good. I’ve been comfortable here with the guys in this clubhouse. I was real fortunate to come here and play the last two months of last season. The staff and the guys have been great, very welcoming. I’m very excited.”

The Royals are excited to have him. Mike Sweeney, perhaps the best right-handed hitter in Kansas City history, tried his best to play first base but finally proved he’s destined to be a designated hitter. The Royals’ need for a solid defensive first baseman who also supplies some power went unanswered until the deal was worked out with Colorado.

“He showed us a lot last year, that he has a knack for driving in runs. He really understands how to hit, and he plays so very well at first base,” said manager Buddy Bell.

“When people talk about our young team, Shealy’s name doesn’t come up as much as it should. He’s a guy we’re counting on for a long time.”

Shealy had 10 doubles, a triple and seven home runs in his first extended big league action last tear. One of the things the Royals like best is that he does not try to hit a five-run home run every at-bat.

“He just has a knack for understanding the situation and what he needs to do. He doesn’t overswing,” Bell said. “Usually big guys like that have a tendency to overswing.”

It’s not that he can’t hit the long ball. His best power season in four-plus years in the minor leagues was a league-leading 29 home runs for Tulsa in 2004, when he also led the league with 99 RBIs.

But not swinging for the fences every at-bat may be one of his best traits.

“I try to pride myself on being able to do whatever the situation calls for,” Shealy said. “If that means shortening up and just a getting a single to drive in a run, so be it. If it means hitting the ball out of the park, so be it. Whatever the situation calls for,Inter Milan shirt, I want to be able to do it.”

In the meantime, the Royals got good news Sunday on the injury front. Third baseman Alex Gordon’s sore shoulder was much improved and he told Bell he was ready to go after sitting out a few games. And right-hander Brian Bannister seemed to have no ill-effects after taking a shot to the back of his left knee during a “B” game against the Texas Rangers.

COLUMBIA — Senior linebacker Van Alexander has been through this before.

It was announced Thursday that the injury to Alexander’s right knee during Tuesday’s practice was not a sprain,Ajax shirt, as was initially thought,Italy football shirt, but a torn ACL. The injury is one of several Alexander has suffered over the course of his career with the Missouri football team. Alexander suffered a sprained foot in the spring before his freshman season that required surgery and a groin injury which hampered him throughout his sophomore campaign.

“I really feel bad for him because he’s been through it,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “But he’s tough. He’s a tough guy and it’s going to take a great deal of rehab but he’s good enough to do it and the good news is he can be 100 percent by Illinois, 100 percent by the opening game and he will be.”

Pinkel said Alexander will have surgery on Monday.

The injury is a blow to a linebacking corps already severely lacking depth. Junior Sean Weatherspoon and senior Brock Christopher are the only linebackers remaining that have started more than one game.

“It hurts us a lot,” Weatherspoon said. “It really hurts the chemistry of the defense.”

But like his coach, Weatherspoon remained confident in Alexander’s work ethic.

“I’m pretty sure Van’s going to put in the work with rehab and everything to get back on the field at least by the second week of the season and maybe by the first week,l.a.galaxy shirt,” Weatherspoon said. “It does kind of mix up the chemistry, but it does give (sophomore linebacker) Luke Lambert an opportunity to step up,Juventus shirt, so he can feel comfortable with the No. 1 defense.”

Weatherspoon said he also thinks Alexander’s positive outlook will benefit his recovery.

“If you know Van he’s a crazy guy,” Weatherspoon said. “He’s always cracking jokes and making people laugh, and I didn’t see any change in him today. He’s always here for the team.”

WIDE RECEIVERS IMPROVING: The Missouri offense lost several key contributors from last season including tight end Martin Rucker and wide receivers Will Franklin, Jason Ray and Greg Bracey, who all saw significant playing time.

But quarterback Chase Daniel has been impressed with the new group’s performance thus far this spring.

“You look at Jeremy Maclin and he’s obviously getting a whole lot better,” Daniel said. “And Forrest Shock has really stood out too. Tommy (Saunders) has really made some plays, and Jared Perry especially when you look at him and what he’s been able to do, and we got a pretty good receiving corps.”