Oakville junior Addie Frank (4) fields the ball during a softball game on September 25, 2024 at Summit High School.
Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
kAm~pz'x{{t — p55:6 uC2?< ?6G6C 7=:?4965]k^Am
kAm%96 ~2<G:==6 w:89 D6?:@C D@7E32== :?7:6=56C C6>6>36CD A=2J:?8 32D632== H:E9 @=56C 3C@E96C y@6J H96? D96 H2D :? D64@?5 8C256]k^Am
kAmy@6J[ 7:G6 J62CD @=56C[ H@F=5 5C:== 8C@F?5 32==D 2D 92C5 2D 96 4@F=5 E@ =:EE=6 D:D :? 2? 677@CE E@ D92CA6? 96C 7:6=5:?8 D<:==D]k^Am
kAm~?6 DF49 C@4<6E E@@< 2 H:4<65 9@A 2?5 D>24<65 p55:6 C:89E :? E96 9625[ 2?5 =:EE=6 p55:6 D:>A=J C6EC:6G65 E96 32== 2?5 4@?E:?F65 E96 AC24E:46 D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAmQs:5?VE 9FCE E92E 325[Q p55:6 C642==65] Q(6 ;FDE <6AE 8@:?8 2?5 96 <6AE 9:EE:?8 E96> 2E >6]Qk^Am
kAm%9@D6 D6DD:@?D 92G6 A2:5 5:G:56?5D]k^Am
kAmp55:6 uC2?< 92D 56G6=@A65 :?E@ @?6 @7 E96 E@A 76>2=6 32D632== A=2J6CD :? E96 |:5H6DE]k^Am
kAm*6D[ 32D632==]k^Am
Oakville High senior Addie Frank has been selected as one of 150 players to be eligible to play in the new Women's Professional Baseball League, a six-team league which is slated to begin play next year. She first will play her senior softball season this fall for Oakville.
kAmuC2?< H2D D6=64E65 2D @?6 @7 `d_ A=2J6CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ E@ 36 6=:8:3=6 E@ A=2J :? E96 ?6H (@>6?VD !C@76DD:@?2= q2D632== {628F6[ H9:49 :D D=2E65 E@ 368:? ?6IE DF>>6C] $96 2EE6?565 2 ECJ@FE 42>A @G6C E96 A2DE H66<6?5 2E }2E:@?2=D !2C< :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ H96C6 E96 8C@FA H2D H9:EE=65 5@H? 7C@> e__]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H:== 36 D:I E62>D[ 2?5 E96J H:== 9@=5 2 5C27E E9:D 72==] pC@F?5 h_ A=2J6CD H:== 36 49@D6? 2D E96 E62>D D92A6 E96:C C@DE6CD 7@C E96 :?:E:2= 42>A2:8?]k^Am
kAmuC2?<[ H9@ 92D 366? A=2J:?8 32D632== D:?46 8C256 D49@@=[ :D @? E96 4FDA @7 36:?8 D6=64E65 E@ 7:== @?6 @7 E96 C@DE6C DA@ED]k^Am
kAmQxV> 6I4:E65[Q uC2?< D2:5] QqFE E96C6VD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 =@E @7 4@>A6E:E:@?]Qk^Am
kAmuC2?< :D 2=D@ 2 DE2?5@FE @? E96 ~2<G:==6 D@7E32== E62>[ H9:49 A=2JD 9@DE E@ &CDF=:?6 2E ci`d A]>] %9FCD52J :? :ED D62D@? @A6?6C]k^Am
kAm$96 9:E ]d_h =2DE D62D@? H:E9 2 E62>\9:89 `b 9@>6 CF?D] w6C D=F88:?8 A6C46?E286 @7 `]_cd H2D 2>@?8 E96 36DE :? E96 2C62[ 2?5 D96 H2D 2 7:CDE\E62> 2==\|6EC@ D6=64E:@? 7@C E96 D64@?5 D62D@? :? 2 C@H]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 96C @FE\@7\E9:D\H@C=5 D@7E32== ?F>36CD[ uC2?< 92D 2=H2JD =:<65 32D632== 36EE6Ck^Am
kAmQx ;FDE 564:565 E92E x 92G6 >@C6 7F? A=2J:?8 32D632==[Q uC2?< D2:5] QxVG6 2=H2JD 366? 23=6 E@ 9:E 32D632== A:E49:?8 H2J 36EE6C] |J DH:?8 <:?5 @7 92D >@C6 @7 2? FA\E9C@F89\E96\32== DH:?8] r@>:?8 7C@> 5@H?9:==[ x 86E 2 =@E >@C6 32CC6= @? E96 32==] x? D@7E32==[ x E6?5 E@ A@A FA >@C6]Qk^Am
kAmuC2?< =:<6D E@ 567=64E 4C65:E 7@C 96C D<:== 2?5 =@G6 @7 32D632== E@ @=56C 3C@E96CD y@6J 2?5 zFCE:D 2?5 96C 72E96C z2C=]k^Am
kAm%@86E96C[ D96 92D 62C?65 96C D9@E E@ >2<6 2? :>A24E @? E96 ?2E:@?2= =6G6=]k^Am
kAmQy@6J[ 96C >:55=6 3C@E96C[ H@F=5?VE >2<6 :E 62DJ @? 96C[Q z2C= D2:5] Q%96C6 H2D 2=H2JD 2 =:EE=6 4@>A6E:E:@? E96C6]Qk^Am
kAmvC@H:?8 FA[ p55:6 A=2J65 32D632== 82>6D @? E96 D2>6 7:6=5D H96C6 96C @=56C 3C@E96CD 2=D@ 4@>A6E65]k^Am
kAmQ$96 9:E >F=E: @G6C\E96\76?46 9@>6 CF?D 2?5 96C 3C@E96CD ?6G6C 5:5[Q z2C= D2:5]k^Am
Oakville High senior Addie Frank bats at Target Field in Minneapolis during the USA Baseball Women's National Team training camp.Â
kAmp55:6[ 2 =67E92?565 A:E496C 2?5 @FE7:6=56C[ A=2J65 :? E96 p==\p>6C:42? (@>6?VD q2D632== r=2DD:4 :? sFC92>[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9] $96 925 2 <6J EH@\CF? EC:A=6 E@ 96=A 96C E62>[ E96 q=F6 $@I[ E@ 2 c\` H:? :? @?6 @7 E96 82>6D]k^Am
kAmtG6C D:?46 uC2?< H2D `_ J62CD @=5[ D96 3682? A=2J:?8 7@C E96 &$p q2D632== AC@8C2>[ H9:49 7=6H 96C 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ E@ A=2J :? ?2E:@?2= 6G6?ED]k^Am
kAm$96 2=D@ DE@@5 @FE @? E96 ~2<G:==6 7C6D9>2? 2?5 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ 32D632== E62>D :? E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAmuC2?< D2:5 D96 :D =:<6=J 8@:?8 E@ 8:G6 FA D@7E32== 27E6C E9:D 72== D62D@? E@ 492D6 96C 32D632== 5C62>D]k^Am
kAm~2<G:==6 w:89 G6E6C2? D@7E32== 2?5 32D632== 4@249 #:49 $EFC> D2:5 uC2?< 4@F=5 36 DF446DD7F= 2E 6:E96C DA@CE]k^Am
kAmQ$96VD AFE 2== @7 96C 688D :? E96 32D632== 32D<6E[Q $EFC> D2:5] Qs@ x E9:?< D96 4@F=5 A=2J 4@==686 D@7E32==n ~?6\9F?5C65 A6C46?E] q2D632== :D ;FDE E96 2G6?F6 E92E D96 H2?ED E@ AFCDF6]Qk^Am
kAmuC2?< 9@A6D E@ 8@ @FE :? DEJ=6 @? E96 D@7E32== 5:2>@?5]k^Am
kAmQx 6IA64E E9:D D62D@? E@ 36 C62==J 7F?[Q uC2?< D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 %:86CD C6EFC? D6G6C2= <6J A=2J6CD 7C@> =2DE J62CVD E62>[ H9:49 4@>A:=65 2 ab\h C64@C5 2?5 =@DE E@ y24<D@? :? 5:DEC:4E A=2J] $@A9@>@C6 A:E496C {@=2 $62H6= H:== 96=A =625 E96 492C86] $96 A@DE65 2 `a\a C64@C5 H:E9 `ah DEC:<6@FED :? g`\A=FD :??:?8D[ 2? 2G6C286 @7 `` H9:77D A6C 82>6]k^Am
Lafayette junior Riley Mulligan (13) hugs Lafayette junior Addison Long (4) during the Class 5 softball state championship game on November 1, 2024 at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Paul Halfacre
k9am{272J6EE6 @FE E@ 5676?5 DE2E6 E:E=6k^9am
kAm{272J6EE6 H:== ECJ E@ 5676?5 :ED r=2DD d DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A :? 2 ?6H >2??6C E9:D D62D@?]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D J62C :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 5:776C6?E A:E49:?8 D:EF2E:@? 7@C FD[Q {272J6EE6 4@249 w@A6 $H2?6J D2:5] Q(6VC6 ?@E A=2J:?8 E96 DEC:<6@FE 82>6[ H6VC6 A=2J:?8 E96 >2<6 E96 @FE 82>6] ~FC 5676?D6 :D DEC@?8[ 2?5 H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ H@C< E@ 62C? 6G6CJ @FE]QÂ Â k^Am
kAm%96 {2?46CD 8C25F2E65 DE2?5@FE A:E496C 2?5 9:EE6C p33J r2CC[ =2DE D62D@?VD p==\|6EC@ A=2J6C @7 E96 J62C H9@ 4@>A:=65 2 ab\_ C64@C5 H:E9 2? ]ac t#p] $96 72??65 b_c 32EE6CD :? ``c :??:?8D] $96 D:8?65 H:E9 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD@FC:]k^Am
kAm$H2?6J D2:5 D96 6IA64ED E@ FD6 2D >2?J 2D E9C66 A:E496CD :? 2 82>6 2?5 =:<6=J H:== 92G6 FA E@ 7:G6 2C>D 2G2:=23=6 2E 2?J E:>6]k^Am
kAm$6?:@C #:=6J |F==:82? C6EFC?D] |F==:82? 9:E 2 E9C66\CF? H2=<\@77 9@>6C E@ 8:G6 96C E62> 2 b\_ H:? @G6C #@4< qC:586 :? E96 r=2DD d E:E=6 4@?E6DE =2DE 72==] $6?:@C $J5?6J q6C86C[ H9@ :D 3@F?5 7@C $E] {@F:D &?:G6CD:EJ[ 255D >@C6 @776?D:G6 56AE9]k^Am
kAmyF?:@C $:5?6J '@8E 2?5 D6?:@C p55:D@? {@?8 2C6 324< 27E6C A=2J:?8 <6J C@=6D @? E96 E:E=6 E62>]k^Am
kAmuC6D9>2? z2E9CJ? r2CC[ p33JVD D:DE6C[ :D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 2 7@C46 :? E96 >:55=6 :?7:6=5]Â k^Am
kAmQ(6 92G6 2== E96 AFKK=6 A:646D[Q $H2?6J D2:5] Q}@H[ H6VG6 ;FDE 8@E E@ D66 H9@ 7:ED H96C6]Qk^Am
k9am~A6?:?8 E@FC?2>6?EDÂ k^9am
kAm%96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= EH@\52J E@FC?2>6?ED :?G@=G:?8 2C62 E62>D E9:D H66<6?5[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2ED]DE=9:89D49@@=DA@CED]4@>^DA@CED^D@7E32==72==^DE2ED^E@FC?2>6?ED4965F=6]A9AnDlhddU2>AjEl`cdcdQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm`gE9 %C@J qF492?2? r=2DD:4[k^2m E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2ED]DE=9:89D49@@=DA@CED]4@>^DA@CED^D@7E32==72==^DE2ED^E@FC?2>6?ED4965F=6]A9AnDlhddU2>AjEl`cdchQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$F==:G2? q24< E@ $49@@= r=2DD:4[k^2m E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2ED]DE=9:89D49@@=DA@CED]4@>^DA@CED^D@7E32==72==^DE2ED^E@FC?2>6?ED4965F=6]A9AnDlhddU2>AjEl`cdceQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmb`DE &?:@? %@FC?2>6?Ek^2m 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE2ED]DE=9:89D49@@=DA@CED]4@>^DA@CED^D@7E32==72==^DE2ED^E@FC?2>6?ED4965F=6]A9AnDlhddU2>AjEl`cdd`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmy24<D@? x?G:E2E:@?2=]k^2mk^Am
kAms676?5:?8 r=2DD d DE2E6 492>A:@? {272J6EE6 Wb_\d =2DE D62D@?X :D A=2J:?8 2E E96 `a\E62> %C@J 6G6?E[ H9:49 2=D@ :?4=F56D E96 9@DE %C@;2?D Waa\fX[ 5676?5:?8 r=2DD a 492>A:@? w:89=2?5 Waf\eX[ u@CE +F>H2=E (6DE Wad\fX[ (:?7:6=5 Waa\eX 2?5 %:>36C=2?5 W`d\`aX]k^Am
kAm%96 E:E=6 82>6 :? %C@J :D D4965F=65 7@C b A]>] $2EFC52J]k^Am
kAm%96 $F==:G2? E@FC?2>6?E 92D D9:7E65 E@ 2 8F2C2?E665 7:G6\82>6 7@C>2E] %96 9@DE t28=6D Wa_\`dX 2C6 4@>:?8 @77 2 E9:C5\A=246 r=2DD b DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E 7:?:D9 2 D62D@? 28@ 2?5 H:== 36 ;@:?65 3J 5676?5:?8 r=2DD c DE2E6 492>A %@=E@?[ r=2DD b DE2E6 D6>:7:?2=:DE q=2:C ~2<D[ r=2DD a DE2E6 D6>:7:?2=:DE {:??[ a_ac r=2DD c DE2E6 492>A (2D9:?8E@?[ {:36CEJ[ }@CE9H6DE r652C w:==[ !24:7:4[ (63DE6C vC@G6D 2?5 (:?5D@C]k^Am
kAm&?:@?VD E@FC?2>6?E[ H9:49 HC2AD FA H:E9 E96 E:E=6 82>6 2E `` 2]>] $2EFC52J 2E '6E6C2?D |6>@C:2= !2C<[ :?4=F56D u6DEFD 27E6C 2 a_\H:? 42>A2:8? =2DE D62D@?[ 5676?5:?8 r=2DD ` DE2E6 492>A $E] t=:K236E9 #\x' 2?5 r=2DD a DE2E6 BF2CE6C7:?2=:DE t=D36CCJ]k^Am
kAmy24<D@? 92D 2 `e\E62> 3C24<6E H:== :D D4965F=65 E@ 4@?4=F56 2E ``icd 2]>] $2EFC52J] r@C y6DF[ H9:49 C624965 E96 r=2DD c DE2E6 D6>:7:?2=D =2DE D62D@?[ :D :? E96 7:6=5[ 2D :D x?42C?2E6 (@C5[ 4@>:?8 @77 2 r=2DD c DE2E6 BF2CE6C7:?2= 2AA62C2?46] !2C<H2J $@FE9[ H9:49 92D?VE 925 2 DF3]\d__ D62D@? D:?46 a__c[ 2=D@ :D 2E y24<D@?]k^Am
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!