Central wins battle of Tigers in sectional

It only took four years, but Central senior Megan McDonald and the Tigers finally picked up a sectional softball win.

Wednesday night at Jackson City Park the Tigers beat Oakville 1-0 to move on to the Class 4 state quarterfinals Saturday at the Kirkwood Athletic Association.

"This has been the biggest monkey on our backs," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "Anything beyond this is icing on the cake."

Central avenged a 6-0 loss to Oakville earlier this month and a 2-1 sectional loss to Oakville in 2001. In the previous meeting between the two teams Central, without catcher Jessie Snell, committed four errors.

"I really think that they underestimated us," McDonald said.

Unlike their previous meeting, McDonald and a strong defense were the story on Wednesday. Oakville managed only three hits off McDonald, and besides a throwing error in the second inning Central's defense came up big all night.

"Oakville did not expect to be shut out," Blattel said. "They got seven hits off McDonald the last time we played them."

The first three innings saw little offense. McDonald struck out five batters through three and only one Oakville batter advanced beyond first base. Meanwhile, Oakville starter Alyssa Kernen held the Tigers to one single.

It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that either team had a strong scoring chance. Central loaded the bases on a McDonald hit, an error and a walk. Kernen got Erica Schabbing to pop out and struck out the next batter to escape the jam.

Blattel said she was happy to see the offense making things happen early on.

"Megan McDonald's hitting the ball and the top of our lineup is coming through," she said.

After McDonald sent Oakville down in order in the fifth, the offense went back to work. With one out Jami Dement was issued a walk but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Snell.

Central finally put together a couple of two-out hits. Shana Wadlington followed a single and McDonald came through with a bloop single to center to score Snell. Oakville's center fielder nearly made the play but had to trap the ball.

"The ball was clearly on the ground and both umpires were right on top of it," Blattel said.

McDonald, Central's top hitter with a .351 batting average heading into the playoffs, was 2-for-4 in the game.

"I'm just glad I finally hit the ball," McDonald said of her game-winning single.

With the score still at 1-0 after six innings, Oakville added a little drama. Leading off the top of the seventh Allyson Stanton stroked a double, Oakville's first hit since the third inning.

McDonald did not let the double get to her as she struck out the next batter, who attempted to sacrifice the runner over.

"The big thing was coming back after that and getting the out," Blattel said. "That was a huge out."

Oakville's next two batters grounded out to end the game. McDonald allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked one.

"There's nothing we haven't been through," McDonald said. "There's no situation we can't handle."

The shutout was McDonald's second straight. Both of Central's last two games have been 1-0 victories.

"We know all we need to do is get one run across the plate and our defense will do the rest," McDonald said.

Central will face Lindbergh on Saturday in the quarterfinals. Lindbergh defeated Cor Jesu 3-2 in nine innings on Wednesday.

"We're going into territory unknown for us," Blattel said. "We've been talking about going to the big dance."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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