FHN Pitcher Shuts Out Duchesne

ST. CHARLES - Admittedly, junior right-hander Victoria Miller isn't the fastest pitcher around. She won't overpower or outmuscle the opposition.     

But Miller does possess pin-point control and a wide variety of deadly off-speed pitches.     

The Pioneers found that out the hard way Wednesday afternoon.     

Miller tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out nine batters to lead the Knights to a 7-0 win in a non-league affair at .     

Miller posted her third shutout of the season in helping North improve to 5-2.     

"She's a finesse girl, not a shut down girl," said Francis Howell North coach Bob Dunahue. "To be effective, she's got to hit her spots."     

Miller hit her spots on all corners of the plate against the youthful Pioneers, who fell to 0-6. Four of her strikeouts were of the called variety. She retired 13 successive batters in the middle of the contest and was in control from start to finish.    

"It was really fun," Miller said. "My fastball, change and screwball - they were all working."    

Miller, who improved to 4-2 with 1.51 ERA, also posted shutouts against Ritenour and Hazelwood West earlier in the season.    

"She's been really good," North senior infielder Brandi Kiel said. "She throws strikes and we try to make the plays for her."    

Kiel helped make life easy for Miller by reaching base three times. The sparkplug of the Knights' attack from the leadoff spot, Kiel also drove in a run.    

But the afternoon belonged to Miller, who did not walk a batter in the 98-minute contest.    

"Give her credit, she did a good job," Dunahue said. "She's always forcing the hitters to make a decision and that was the key today."   

Francis Howell North scored three times in the opening inning. Casey Goettel drilled a two-run homer to left field to highlight the early blitz. Kiel started the uprising with a leadoff walk. She promptly stole second and came around to score on a single by Paige Pauley. Goettel followed with her drive to push the lead to 3-0.    

Jess Moceri made it 4-0 with a run-scoring single in the second. Ami Francis, the No. 9 hitter in the order, got the ball rolling with a leadoff single.    

Francis also hit a two-run triple in the fifth to pump the lead to 6-0. Kiel then added the final tally with a base hit to left.    

"We did what we were supposed to do," Kiel said. "But we could have done better."    

The Knights stranded 11 runners and left the bases loaded in the seventh.    

"It was hot, but all in all, I'm happy with the results," Dunahue said. "I like the way the team is going."     

All 14 players on the Francis Howell North roster got into the contest, which was played in temperatures in the upper 90's. Duchesne turned in one of its best efforts of the season, according to coach Tom Pryor. The Pioneers have been outscored 62-5 so far.    

"We're young and we haven't been hitting the ball," Pryor said. "But we're going to get better as the season goes along. By the end of the year, I'm hoping we'll be pretty competitive."    

Anna Schmidt had a first-inning single for the Pioneers. Pitcher Annie Krietler wriggled her way out of several jams.    

Duchesne has only two varsity players back from last season.