Softball Design

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St. Louis, led by two home runs, takes its third game over Chicago. Page 2B

SECTION B, Friday & Saturday, May 22-23, 2009

MU Softball

The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carl Pavano collects himself after loading the bases during the third inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday in Kansas City.

Pitching carries Cleveland over K.C. By DOUG TUCKER

Missourian File Photo

MU senior Andee Allen goes to bat during the sixth inning of the Regional NCAA softball championship against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Allen sets an example

Coach says second baseman’s professionalism and hard work set a tone for her fellow players. By JEFFREY STOFFEY

[email protected] Playing Wiffle Ball with her father as a young child is a memory Andee Allen will never forget. Steve Allen would repeatedly pitch the ball to his daughter in the front yard of their home, while Andee Allen often showed the potential of one day becoming a softball star. However, even if she didn’t get the best of her father’s pitch, she would still count it as a hit — drawing no objections from her father. “I’d still run around and touch all of the bases, and act like it was a hit,” Andee Allen said. “But I didn’t necessarily touch all of the bases at the same time. He thought it was funny.” Andee Allen, who has been an important player the past four years on the Missouri softball team, is looking forward to what could be her final week as a Tiger. Missouri plays No. 2 ranked UCLA on Saturday in an NCAA Super Regional best-ofthree series. The winner advances to the College World Series of Softball from May 28 to June 3 in Oklahoma City. As she got older, both of her parents were influential in her development as a softball player. Andee Allen described her father as more of a “supporter,”

while her mother, Debbie Allen, was the “encourager” to do things. Neither pushed or forced anything upon her. Her parents would play catch with her, but as she got stronger and threw harder, they were tired of catching her hard throws. “Both of my parents were great. Hitting ground balls and playing catch,” Andee Allen said. “But after a while, they’d make me throw the ball into the fence.” Throughout her athletic career, Andee Allen’s parents were mainstays at most of her events. No matter what, they would be there. However, in December of 2007, all of that changed. After battling Leukemia and a number of other complications, Steve Allen died. Debbie and Andee Allen were struck with grief. But they at least had each other. “I was fortunate enough to have my mom there for me,” Andee Allen said. “We kinda leaned on each other.” Even before succumbing to Leukemia, Steve Allen continued to go to his daughter’s games when the conditions weren’t exactly perfect for his health. Sometimes when there is inclement weather, the Tigers play indoors at Devine Pavilion, where conditions are far from sterile. But even that didn’t stop him from attending his daughter’s games. Although, it might have caused him to get a staph infection, Andee Allen said. “He was too proud to wear a mask,” Andee Allen

Baseball

Missourian File Photo

MU senior Andee Allen lost her father to Please see ALLEN, page 2B leukemia in December 2007.

Softball team ready, Columbia couple take confident for series ‘fan’ to new level The team plays UCLA this weekend in Los Angeles in a superregional series. By BRITTANY DARWELL

[email protected] If recent Missouri graduate Andee Allen didn’t have softball, she doesn’t know what she would do with herself. “I don’t have to worry about homework,” she said. “Ever.” With classes over, Allen and the other members of the No. 11 ranked Missouri softball team can focus on how to beat No. 2 UCLA in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional series this weekend in Los Angeles. A win over DePaul on Sunday put the Tigers (48-9) in what is essentially the Sweet 16 of college softball. The winner of the matchup this weekend will advance to the NCAA College World Series of Softball. “We’re very excited to be at this point,” Allen said. “It’s a huge opportunity for us, the university, everybody. We know we can do this.” Part of Missouri’s confidence

Softball NCAA Super regional series No. 11 Missouri (48-9) vs. No. 2 UCLA (44-9) When: Game 1, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Game 2, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Game 3 (if needed), Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Where: Los Angeles TV: ESPNU Live Gametracker: www.mutigers.com comes from the team’s last meeting with UCLA. In March the Tigers were in position to win until the Bruins scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning. “All throughout we had them beat,” freshman pitcher Chelsea Thomas said. “We are ready to face them again.”

Please see SOFTBALL, page 2B

Steven and Charlotte Meiners have logged more than 15,000 miles driving to softball games. By ANDREW DENNEY

[email protected] When the Missouri softball team takes on UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday for a shot at the NCAA World Series of Softball, a Columbia couple will be part of the crowd, rooting them on as they have for nearly 116 straight games. No matter where the team plays, in sunshine or rain, Steven and Charlotte Meiners are in the stands to show their support. They don’t have a daughter or anyone else in the family on the team, yet the couple has spent the past two seasons traveling to games across the country, from San Diego to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Atlanta. “This is our retirement,” Charlotte Meiners said. “We decide where we’re going and when.” Following the softball team has given them a chance to make new friends, the Meiners say. For years

The Associated Press KANSAS CITY — In a battle of bullpens, fate favored the guys with all the blown saves. Cleveland’s Luis Vizcaino, Matt Herges and Rafael Betancourt kept Kansas City at bay Thursday after Royals ace Zack Greinke departed with a onerun lead. Victor Martinez had three RBIs and the Indians pulled away for an 8-3 victory. Indians 8 “We faced Royals 3 a pitcher who’s at the top of his game every time out and we wore him out, I think,” said Cleveland starter Carl Pavano (4-4), who matched his more celebrated opponent nearly pitch for pitch. “It looked like he was kind of laboring and we got him out of there and were able to get to the bullpen.” Greinke’s record stayed at 7-1 with his first no-decision in nine starts. He went six innings, gave up a season-high eight hits and left with a 3-2 edge. His major league-leading ERA crept up to 0.82 from 0.60. The Indians tied it 2-all with two run in the third and loaded the bases before Greinke escaped by striking out Mark DeRosa and Ben Francisco. “I just wasn’t real crisp. It was really stupid pitching for that whole inning probably,” Greinke said. “I started throwing twoseamers to get ground balls and it’s not really how I pitch. I got behind on everyone because I was throwing the two-seamer. It was just stupid, really stupid.” Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and two RBIs as Cleveland beat the same opponent two times in a row for the first time this season. It was the first time they beat the same team two straight. Pavano went six innings, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out eight. “We made (Greinke) work hard and they made Carl work hard,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. Coming in, the Cleveland bullpen was a mess, with nine blown saves in 17 opportunities. Closer Kerry Wood, after working the past two nights, was not available. “It was left up to the bullpen and our guys really stepped up. It should be a big boost for them,” Wedge said. Betancourt came in with the bases loaded and none out in the ninth and got a popup and a double-play grounder for his first save in three chances. Shin-Soo Choo had three hits and two RBIs. He said he thought Greinke’s fastball was better than the last time he faced him. “It was still 96-97 (mph) but everything was moving,” he said. “There was no straight fastball today.” Greinke handed a 3-2 lead to

they worked nights in Columbia, which limited their ability to socialize. Steven Meiners said he finds the sport entertaining, and Charlotte Meiners said she likes the sense of teamwork the players display. But both agree that the sense of camaraderie and community they find hanging out with players’ parents draws them to the games. “We just enjoy each other, and when it’s time for the parents to be with their kids, we get out of there,” Steven Meiners said. In addition to air miles, the couple’s vehicle logged 15,000 road miles during the past season, according to a new GPS system they picked up in December. “But don’t tell my insurance company,” Steven Meiners said. The team schedule has also taken them to offbeat places they wouldn’t ordinary visit. They made a side trip to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Fla., for example, when the Tigers were at a tournament in Boca Raton. The Meiners’ devotion has earned

Please see FANs, page 2B

Please see Royals, page 2B