CROWN QUEST: KELLY BACK TO CLASS 2A TITLE GAME

COLUMBIA -- Consider what Kelly High faced in its Class 2A semifinal softball game:

Its opponent, Putnam County, had outscored opponents 44-0 in its last five games. It's pitcher, senior Lory Mothersbaugh, entered the game with an 18-0 record and an ERA near 0.30.

And the Lady Midgets were 22-2-1, including wins over three Final Four qualifiers: 2A Westran, 3A Excelsior Springs and 4A Raytown South.

When the Lady Midgets faced Kelly's defense, all those glorious numbers were shown to be what they truly are -- just numbers.

Kelly scored three runs in the fifth inning, played superior defense and nipped Putnam County of Unionville 3-2 Friday afternoon at Rainbow Softball Center in Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area despite gaining just three hits.

Kelly (17-4) will play Westran, a 4-0 winner against Marion C. Early in the other semifinal game, today at 4 p.m. for the state championship. Westran beat Kelly 5-4 in eight innings in last year's title game.

"Our defense was just outstanding today; I couldn't have asked for a better defense," said Kelly coach Rhonda Evans. "That's what I've been saying all season. I've got a defense behind my pitcher, and when they hit her she doesn't get rattled because she knows that she's got girls behind her."

Kelly's only blemish in the field, an error by left fielder Audrey Burford on a well-hit ball that she almost made a great catch on, allowed Putnam County to score in the third.

The Lady Hawks finally began to adjust to Mothersbaugh in the fifth inning.

Entering the fifth, Kelly's only hit was a bunt single in the fourth by Pam Essner.

Tiffany Glastetter led off the fifth with a single to center. The next batter, Andrea Heisserer, bunted the ball to Mothersbaugh, who threw it down the right-field line, allowing Glastetter to take third and Heisserer to advance to second. The error with no outs may have cost Putnam County the game.

"When (Lory) turned to throw, we weren't at first yet," said Putnam County coach Max Mothersbaugh, Lory's father. "So there was a little pause, and in that situation you really need to replace your feet. She didn't replace her feet, slung it across there and it hurt, obviously."

Brandi Hamm grounded out to second, scoring Glastetter. With one out, Audrey Burford hit a ground ball to shortstop Kelly Olmstead, who threw home late, allowing Heisserer to score.

With two outs, Essner singled to center, scoring Burford, who had stolen second.

Essner said she was scared at first because they were told that Mothersbaugh threw hard and worked the ball.

"We he had to adjust to her," Essner said. "It was a meat pitch, and I got a hold of it."

Putnam County scored once in the sixth on Gretchen Osterholz's double. In the bottom of the seventh, with the Lady Hawks leading 3-2, Kelly pitcher Kim Riley coaxed a fly out to left, a strikeout -- her first and only of the game -- and a fly out to right to retire the Lady Midgets in order and end the game.

The game's pitchers displayed two contrasting styles.

Mothersbaugh, who threw considerably harder than Riley, provided the flash: In seven innings, she struck out nine, walked none and allowed just three hits.

"Our hitting could have been a little stronger, but we made contact with the ball," Evans said.

Riley showed excellent control and Putnam County consistently put the ball in play with hard shots. Riley walked none in seven innings while permitting six hits and striking out one.

"(Shortstop) Jennifer McNiell told me to let them hit it to her, she was ready for some defense, so I let them hit it," Riley said. "Our defense did awesome. I didn't pitch my best, but I did all right."

"We can't hit the ball much harder than we hit it today," said Max Mothersbaugh. "I don't know how many shots were right at people. And (Kelly) made every play. They deserve to go on and I hope they win tomorrow."

So does Evans.

"We're facing Westran again; it feels like deja vu. Our defense is going to have to be as tough as what it was today, and we're going to have to hit and put the ball in play a little better."