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Sports

High School Sports Wrap: West Volleyball Off to a Slow Start

Hazelwood West takes off in soccer, while McCluer North softball gets off to a winning start.

It didn't take long for the squad to form an identity for the 2011 season.

"So far, they've decided they want to be a come-from-behind team," coach Patrick Dougherty said. "They just don't give up."

, which is off to a 4-2 start, has recorded a pair of thrilling, last-second victories. The Stars scored four times in the seventh innning to knock off DeSoto, 9-8. They also rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to beat Villa Duchesne, 5-4, last Wednesday.

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Senior pitcher Rachel Franck struck out 15 batters in the win over Villa Duchesne.

That effort surprised even Dougherty, who has seen his pitcher pull off several amazing feats over the past three seasons.

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"She was consistent," Dougherty said. "But I didn't think she had that many (strikeouts) until we checked."

Senior Monica Vanhook has led the Stars offensively with 11 hits. She is batting .611. Shannon Murphy tops the club with five runs batted in.

Hazelwood West softball is off to a 3-4 start, including an impressive 8-0 win over rival Hazelwood Central. Danielle Drone led the way with a 3-for-4 performance against Central. She also drove in three runs.

softball is struggling offensively during an 0-3 start. The Hawks have been outscored 18-2 and have managed just nine hits. Ajah Doughlas has four of those hits.

Pattonville softball is 2-3, but has a 1-0 win over Lutheran South under its belt. Mikala McGhee, who is also a basketball standout, drove in the lone run in that contest.

softball is 0-5, and has been outscored 66-3. The Comets have been shut out four times.

Soccer: Rolling Along

The following a season-opening loss to South Boone.

Seniors Nick Ehlers and Matt Leinberger combined for the clean sheets. Senior Jeff Cameron leads the attack with five goals.

West has outscored its opponents 11-3.

McCluer North, which is off to a 1-2 start, posted an impressive 1-0 triumph over Collinsville in its season opener. Junior , scored the goal.

The Stars lost to Troy and Farmington.

(1-2) lost its first two matches before rebounding to beat Barat Academy behind goals from Jordan Pratte, Nate Holtz and Aaron Roybal.

Pattonville dropped its season-opener to Lafayette, 3-2.

McCluer is 0-2 and has been outscored 10-1 in losses to Fort Zumwalt East and Bayless.

Volleyball: Season Set to Hit Full Sride

Hazelwood West, the defending Suburban North Conference champ, . The Wildcats won the league with a perfect 7-0 record last season.

Pattonville and McCluer North each lost their season-opening matches.

The season begins in earnest this week.

Golf: Pattonville Girls Lose

The Pirates dropped a 217-205 decision to Incarnate Word Academy.

Nikki Callahan paced the Pirates.

Patch Suburban North Athlete of the Week

Rachel Franck improved to 4-2 with her 15-strikeout win over Villa Duchesne. She has fanned 41 batters in 31 innings.

Franck, a righthander, is 50-19 in three-plus seasons at McCluer North.

Upcoming Games to Watch

Hazelwood Central plays host to Pattonville in a Suburban North softball match on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

McCluer North will face St. Charles in a nonconference softball game on Wednesday.

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