DELTA, KELLY GIRLS TO PLAY QUARTERFINAL GAMES TODAY

By Marty Mishow

For the Kelly High School softball team, success is nothing new. The Lady Hawks have been to the state's final four in three of the last four seasons.

Delta, however, had never even fielded a softball team in the fall when Missouri holds its playoff season until this year.

But both those area squads find themselves just one victory away from the state semifinals as they enter quarterfinal games today.

Kelly (19-2) will take on Clopton (19-6) at 2 p.m. in a Class 2A contest at the Ballwin Athletic Complex in the St. Louis area. Delta (7-13) will face Fair Play (18-5) at noon in a Class 1A matchup in Ash Grove, Mo.

"We're excited about the game," said Kelly coach Melanie Heuring. "I don't know a whole lot about Clopton, but I know they have a fast pitcher with a good changeup. She's also a dominant hitter for them. She sounds good.

"I'm sure Clopton will be a good team. At this point, you expect all the teams left to be really good. I expect a tough game."

But Heuring is confident that the Lady Hawks stand a good chance of advancing to next weekend's final four in Columbia, Mo. And she has good reason to be. After all, Kelly is battle tested, having finished third in last year's state tournament.

"We're hitting the ball real well and the pitching has been very good," said Heuring, whose team rolled past East Carter County 7-0 in Wednesday's sectional round of the playoffs.

Marissa Essner, one of the state's premier pitchers who struck out 11 in six innings against East Carter County, will once again get the nod today.

"Marissa has pitched great all year," Heuring said. "We have a lot of confidence in her."

While Kelly has plenty of playoff experience, Delta is moving into uncharted territory. But the Lady Bobcats are relishing every moment of their first fall season.

"It's really an exciting time for the girls," said Delta coach Anne Trieb. "When we beat Bakersfield (5-4 in Wednesday's sectionals), the girls were going nuts."

Trieb really doesn't know what to expect from Fair Play, other than to figure the Hornets have a strong team.

"I'm sure they'll be good," she said. "For us, going to the quarterfinals in our first year, it's very exciting. I told the girls we've already done our major goal, which was winning districts in our first year. Everything else is icing on the cake."

Delta's ace hurler, Rebecca Cook, will start today. She was impressive against Bakersfield, allowing just one earned run while firing a complete-game four-hitter, with eight strikeouts.

"Rebecca really pitched well," Trieb said.