St. Peters Mustangs Stay On Championship Run With 12-5 Win Over MO Force

WOODLANDS SPORTS PARK – After a huge weekend in Kansas City, in which the team won the USSSA 18 and-under “C” Division World Series, the St. Peters Mustangs returned to St. Peters Athletic Association league play on Monday, expecting a heavyweight fight with the Missouri Force, the league’s top-ranked team.

The Force had only lost one game in five weeks of SPAA league play, and were also a top-10 finisher at the “C” World Series last weekend.

But instead of the knockdown, drag-out bout everyone was expecting, the Mustangs delivered a first-round knockout of sorts, scoring seven runs in the top of the first, to cruise to a convincing 12-5 win over the Force.

“Right now, we’re playing really well,” Mustangs head coach Dan Cattron said. “Last time we played them, they beat us 3-1. This time, we just came out and got 'em.”

The Mustangs did it on Monday without star shortstop Monica Cattron, who’s at church youth camp in Georgia, but was named tournament MVP in Kansas City.

“She played great out there,” Cattron said. “And Heather Gump got the Most Outstanding Pitcher award for the tournament. And the team got the Sportsmanship award, which to me was huge. It was a great time for sure.”

Monday was Fort Zumwalt East senior-to-be Angie Meyer’s turn to be the star. And she must’ve known it, because Meyer asked to pitch against the first-place Force, even though Cattron had her scheduled to pitch in St. Peters’ first game of the night against the Grinders.

“She said she wanted to pitch against the Force,” Cattron said. “I guess she knew something. She made the right choice tonight. She was on tonight.”

Indeed she was. And in all phases she was.

On the mound, Meyer pitched all five innings, and allowed the five Force runs on only five hits.

And at the plate, the 2011 GAC All-Academic Team selection, had three hits, drove in a run, and scored two runs to lead the Mustangs’ scoring barrage.

Teammates Danielle Cimmarusti (Francis Howell),  Hannah Slater (St. Charles), Emily Wright each had two hits as well, with Slater and Wright leading the team with three RBIs and two RBIs respectively.

For the Force (10-2), who retained their hold on first place despite the loss, third baseman Sydney Weatherren had two hits and scored three runs, while catcher Caitlin Fitzgerald had a hit and two RBIs in the losing effort.

St. Peters (11-3) will finish out play in the SPAA League this Sunday, with a doubleheader at Woodlands Park, against Mark’s Misfits and the STL Slammers.

The Force have two doubleheaders left in the summer season.

On Tuesday, they’ll play the Benchwarmers and the Pride at 6 and 7:30 p.m., at Shady Springs Park. Then on Friday, the Force will take on the North Knights and the STL Slammers at 6 and 7:30 p.m., at Woodlands Park.