The Perryville Pirates played their final regular season match of the season on May 1, topping Saxony Lutheran 166-172, and leaving coach Justin Dreyer with high hopes for postseason play.
“We shot our best score of the year as a team,” said Dreyer, whose team finished season with 9 victories and 2 losses — both to crosstown rival St. Vincent, who won the JCAA conference meet on Monday. Perryville finished fourth.
In conference play, Perryville was 7-1, tying them for first place with St. Vincent, which beat them out for the title thanks to those head-to-head losses.
Nevertheless, Dreyer said he was still pleased with his team’s performance.
“I thought we were going to have a good year,” Dreyer said. “The kids, from the first match on, just got better and better. We shot our worst score of the season as a team in our very first match and we shot our best score as a team in our very last match. It was good to see.”
Against Saxony, Derek Martin led the way with a 4-over-par 39, which left him in third place behind Saxony’s Wes Kiehne, who earned the No. 1 spot with a 2-over 37, and Bryce Goebler, who was a stroke back at 38.
Rounding out the list for Perryville were Jake Cissell and Logan Hudson, who each shot 42, And Wyatt Schremp, who had a 43. Nate Moll had 44, followed by Jeremy Reisenbichler with a 56.
For Saxony Lutheran, Tom Hasz had a 44, Alex Buerck had a 53 and Marvin Nash shot a 64.
Dreyer said he can’t wait to see what happens in the postseason.
“I’m excited to see,” Dreyer said. “I think if we play like we did [against Saxony Lutheran], I think we’ve got a chance winning the conference tournament, or getting second place. So I’m excited to hopefully see our kids perform well and see what we can do.”
On Monday, the Pirates teed off in the JCAA Conference Tournament at the Ste. Genevieve Golf Club, finishing fourth. St. Vincent won the tournament title.
Up next is the Class 3, District 1 tournament, which is scheduled to begin Friday at Crowne Point Golf Club in Farmington.
Dreyer said his team is familiar with the course.
“We played it a couple of times this year, and I feel like our kids are comfortable on it,” Dreyer said. “We had districts there last year, so they know what to expect, and we’re going to have a good week of practice next week, and hopefully be ready to go.”
Martin is expected to lead the way once more, Dreyer said, but emphasized that it would be a team effort.
“[Martin] has been our number one all year long,’ Dreyer said, “and kind of been the leader of the group all year. He’s been in the low 40s or the high 30s every match except our first match, so he’s really set the pace for our team as a whole. And then everybody else has just consistently got better.
“It’s been a team effort. Usually, Derek has been our low guy every match, but everybody else is pitching in and having good rounds.”
As for the more extended future, Dreyer has a lofty goal, but one he hopes will pan out.
“I think we’ve got a couple guys that if they can stay out of trouble and just keep plugging away and keep playing like they are,” he said, “they have a real shot at going to state this year.”
