Team Info

Pressure does funny things to athletes. Knees knock. Palms sweat. Guts get turned inside out.

The release of pressure, however, is freeing. It can turn a five seed into a district champion.

Nerinx Hall was that five seed. A two-time defending district champion, the Markers entered the district tournament at Kirkwood Athletic Association with a 7-13 record and few expectations.

"No one expected us to win," junior shortstop Erin Beezley said. "There was no pressure on us."

The Markers marched through all comers at the district tournament. They sent top-seed Webster Groves home in the semifinals after opening the tournament with a 5-2 win over a stout Ursuline.

Last Monday the Markers were in a dogfight with Lindbergh for the district championship.

In the top of the fifth, the 5-foot-6 Beezley stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and broke the game open. She reached out and poked the ball out of the ball park for a grand slam. Beezley knew she'd hit it well but didn't immediately know she got all of it.

"When I rounded first I was like 'Oh my God, I just hit a grand slam,'" she said.

The Markers would win their third consecutive district title with the 8-2 victory. For her efforts Beezley, 16, is the Journal Athlete of the Week.

The Markers, 10-14, were eliminated from the postseason in the sectional round Friday by Summit.

If pressure strips away an athlete's confidence, experience is what builds it back up. The Markers had a handful of holdovers from their previous district title teams. Those girls were able to lead the younger players through the playoff ringer and into the sectional.

"It's really nerve wracking your first time out there (in the playoffs)," Beezley said. "We were used to it and knew how to handle it. You just take it one play at a time. Don't try to get ahead of yourself."

Helping Nerinx was it had those seasoned players at important positions. Beezley was at shortstop. Senior Kate Sellenriek was the winning pitcher, and classmate Darcy Smith was behind the plate . Senior Danielle LaVenture was at third, junior Molly Burns was in center field. Junior Lauren Ramspot was in right field. Having that kind of experience on the field was key for the Markers success.

"When you've been there before, when you've done it once you know you can do it again," Nerinx Hall Coach Emily Werner said. "It's good to have that experience."

Part of the reason Beezley loves playing shortstop is she's constantly involved in the game.

"You get to be a part of almost every play," she said. "You have to do all kinds of stuff."

"Defensively she's probably the best shortstop I've ever seen," Werner said.

It's a pressure packed position that requires cool and calm on a good day. In the playoffs those attributes are magnified. Beezley and her teammates kept their cool and played without pressure throughout the district tournament.

It's why they brought home the first-place plaque.