Marshall's Bartel puts in extra work

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
By CHRIS ALLEN/Sports editor

Some key hits and defensive plays by third baseman Tara Bartel helped the Mid-Missouri Lady Renegades win three games during a tournament in Columbia.
(Photo contributed)
[Click to enlarge]

COLUMBIA -- She's a little older than most of her Marshall High softball teammates, so senior Tara Bartel isn't always part of the group when it comes to summer ball.

The Marshall Fury has an active summer schedule, but plays in the 16-and-under division of the Sedalia Girls' Softball League -- for which Bartel is ineligible. However, that doesn't mean she's sitting by idly.

Bartel is the lone member of the Lady Owls who is a member of the Mid-Missouri Lady Renegades, a traveling squad made up of players from Columbia, Warrensburg, Boonville and several nearby smaller towns. The third baseman took part over the weekend in the USSSA Show-Me Showdown tournament at Columbia, providing some key hits in the process.

A Bartel single helped the Lady Renegades defeat the Mid-Missouri Tigers of Belle, 8-1, during Saturday's opener. They then headed into bracket play, pulling out a 12-8 decision in extra innings against Macon.

The day finished with a pair of losses, though. The Peoria (Ill.) Big Dog Express downed Mid-Mo, 6-0, and the Kirksville Kays handed it a second setback, 3-2, Bartel again providing a single.

Sunday's lone game, during which the Renegades were down to nine players due to schedule conflicts, saw them lose a 4-2 rematch with the Tiger despite a pair of Bartel singles.

Bartel led Marshall (4-17) with a .300 batting average last season, scoring nine runs and driving in eight. She was a 2007 all-NCMC selection.

Comments

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I feel certain that the intention of this article was not to slight any of the other Lady Marshall Owls softball players. There are several other very talented girls who work equally as hard. They are all hoping to improve their game for the fall season. The Lady Bandits coach and the coach for the YES!Fanatics have the same opportunity to submit articles and photos about the Marshall girls who are playing on their teams.

Good luck to all girls playing.

-- Posted by ladyowlssoftball on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 8:33 AM

Eric,

Who wrote the article?

Bartel is eligible to play for all Marshall Fury competition including the Sedalia League.

I understand that the intent wasn't to slight other players but it would have been nice to get the facts straight. However that doesn't take from the fact that it's good to see that she has continued to try and improve her game.

For the record for those who read these comments for factual info: Emily Aldredge, Chelsey Andersen, Allie Bockstetter and Stephanie Stark also play for the Sedalia Lady Bandits in tournament play. Bockstetter and Stark also play for the Marshall 14-U team. Lauren Russell plays for one of the Warrensburg YES! Fanatics teams. The first four have played almost every weekend since school was out.

-- Posted by a realist on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 10:10 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

Thanks! I don't know who provided the information for the article. I'll ask. Good to see there are other girls getting playing time this summer.

Kudos to the Renegades coach for submitting this nice article and photo!

-- Posted by softballfan09 on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 9:45 AM

Great article on Tara! FYI, she's not the only Marshall Lady Owl Softball Player playing on other teams this summer. In order to get better you have to play a lot. Check out other area teams as well with Marshall girls playing! These girls are serious about softball and hope to have a lot of wins this fall.

-- Posted by SeekingInfo on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 6:34 AM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

Which other teams? Which players?

Thank you for a very nice article, but Tara is eligible for the 16U team, and plays with her Marshall team on Monday evenings in Sedalia, and any other tournament that does not conflict with the Renegades.

-- Posted by ladyowlssoftball on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 12:12 PM