Bernie drops softball quarterfinal to high-powered Kennett offense 16-1

Note: A photo gallery of the state quarterfinal is available at this link: View Photos Here

BERNIE, Mo. - The Kennett Indians entered Thursday afternoon's state quarterfinal softball contest determined to wait on their pitch after struggling to score in the early innings of their 10-0 state sectional victory against North Pemiscot Monday.

"Last game we jumped for the ball and hit on pitcher's counts," Kennett No. 3 hitter Kelsey Washburn said. "Today, we had the motto of waiting for our own pitch and that's what we did. We waited on the pitch we knew we could drive and capitalized on it."

The offensive strategy Washburn and her teammates adopted generated more than enough offense to move Kennett one step closer to its first state softball title in school history. Kennett tallied at least one run in every inning on its way to a 16-1 four-inning run-rule victory against the Bernie Mules.

"We like to swing the sticks and capitalize if teams give us extra outs," Kennett softball coach Kevin McCaig said. "Something that was hurting us at the beginning of the year was we were giving extra outs to good teams. We started capitalizing against other teams as the season went on and that's what it takes to be where you want to be at the end of the year."

The Mules gave themselves a chance for a good offensive start by drawing two walks in the first inning and another in the second. Bernie was unable to add a hit to go with the early walks, however.

"We wanted to get off to a fast start," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. "I thought maybe if we could get off to a fast start we would have a chance. We got runners on the first inning. We just didn't cash in. Then they had a decent first inning and it just kind of snowballed. We made a lot of mistakes in the field and I knew we would have to minimize that if we had a chance to beat a team like Kennett."

The Indians scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, four in the third and eight more in the fourth to reach its 16-run total.

Kennett leadoff hitter Anna Wheeler finished 4 for 4 with a pair of RBI singles.

"I don't know if you could say enough about the job Anna Wheeler has done," McCaig said. "She came in and learned how to put pressure on the defense by slap hitting and bunting. She's done it all year. I think she's got over a .600 on base percentage for the year and most of them don't go past 80 feet. For a freshman to come in and not be scared to go up against teams best pitchers says a lot about her."

Several other hitters also had productive days for the Indians.

Washburn finished 2 for 2 with three RBIs, cleanup hitter Hannah Criswell went 2 for 4 with five RBIs, Sarah Wheeler had a pinch hit two-RBI single in the fourth and No. 8 hitter Sydney Patton calculated an RBI on a fielder's choice in the fourth.

Bernie's best offensive inning was the top of the third when it loaded the bases on two hit batters and a single by Morgan Baker. Jordan Ellenburg drove home a runner from third base in the frame when she grounded out with the bases loaded for the second out. Kennett starting pitcher Shayla Jansson escaped the jam without additional damage when she struck out Tatum Stone with runners at second and third.

Jansson allowed just one hit in a complete-game four-inning performance in the circle.

"I was really tense," Jansson said of pitching. "I couldn't really pick out what was wrong. I had to have my girls support me and at the last moment I got loose and pitched."

Ellenburg, who missed all but a couple of weeks of her senior season because of back surgery, batted cleanup in her final game. She continued her end-of-the-season hot stretch by calculating the Mules' only RBI.

"It has been nerve-racking," Ellenburg said. "It was kind of iffy if I could come back and play, but I'm glad I did. We made a good run at the end of the season."

Bernie finishes its season with 14-8 record.

"We started five freshmen a lot," Botsch said. "Losing those three seniors is going to hurt because they are all three good players in softball and volleyball. It's going to be tough shoes to fill because they are great kids and we are going to miss them, but hopefully the experience of this season will carry over to some of the younger kids and we can compete for a district championship again."

Ellenburg, Stone and Tori Lowrey are seniors.

"It has been awesome," Lowrey said of her senior season. "We've never been this far. Hopefully, they can make it back this far or even farther next year. We'll come back, watch them and cheer them on, but it sucks this is our last game and we couldn't pull it out like we wanted to."

Kennett, which has won all four of its playoff games by at least 10 runs, passed out final four T-shirts shortly after securing Thursday's state quarterfinal victory.

"We are happy to wear them," McCaig said. "I guess some people had more confidence in us than we had in ourselves."

Kennett (23-2) will play Scott City (17-5) May 16 at 5 p.m. in a state semifinal at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Scott City beat West County 5-3 in its state quarterfinal Thursday at Scott City. Kennett beat Scott City 10-3 in a regular-season game Mar. 31.

"This is just a great day, especially for these seniors, and all girls in general who get an opportunity to play something they love regardless of if it is in the spring, fall or winter," McCaig said. "You can't take that away from girls who want a chance to compete. That's exactly where our girls are at right now. We've got an opportunity and want to make the most of it."

The winner of the Kennett-Scott City semifinal will play for the state title May 17 at 1 p.m. at Three Rivers.

"We've never had a chance to go to the final four," Washburn said. "It comes at a perfect time we make it my senior year. That's been our goal all year. We worked really hard to get there and it just feels awesome to say 'we finally made it.'"

Kennett 16, Bernie 1 (4 Innings)

Bernie 001 0 - 1 1 4

Kennett 314 8 - 16 12 0

WP - Shayla Jansson. LP - Blakely Bradshaw. 3B - Hannah Criswell (K). 2B - Criswell (K). Multiple hits - Kennett: Anna Wheeler 4-4, Kelsey Washburn 2-2, Criswell 2-4, Kelsey Lawrence 2-4.

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