Final four-bound Hawks specialize in one-run wins

The Kelly Hawks have played 30 games this season.

Fourteen have been one-run nail-biters.

The Hawks (19-11) head into a Class 2 semifinal game against Warsaw at 2 p.m. Friday in Springfield, Mo., hoping those kind of pressure-packed games pay huge dividends.

"I think they'll help us for close games," Kelly pitching ace Kristen Powell said. "We are used to close games, and we know what you have to do to get runs. Somehow we manage to get that one run."

The Hawks have won 10 of the 14 one-run games, including three of their four postseason games.

Kelly's Haley Glastetter slides safely into third base as Notre Dame's Summer Burger fields the throw in a game earlier this season. (Laura Simon)

Kelly defeated Crystal City 3-2 in the semifinals of district play, then used a sixth-inning rally to beat St. Pius X 4-3 to win the Class 2 District 2 crown.

The Hawks kept the trend alive in the sectional round with a 2-1 victory against East Carter, then pounded Hartville 13-2 in the quarterfinals.

"I've labeled this team my comeback girls," Kelly coach Melanie Heuring said. "They've never given up, even if the other teams pounce first. We may not score until the sixth or seventh, or even sometimes the eighth, but it helps for the postseason."

Kelly has performed well in the close games, due in large part to their never-say-die mentality and their ability to manufacture runs.

"This team has a lot of heart," Heuring said. "They always give me 100 percent. I think a lot of people didn't expect us to have this kind of success this year, and these girls want to prove people wrong and prove it to themselves."

Kelly's Jade Rampley shows the ball to the umpire after tagging out Perryville's Morgan Baer during a game last month in Benton, Mo. (Kristin Eberts)

The Hawks are finding ways to score runs through small ball.

"We try to, if we get a runner on, to do whatever it takes to get that runner in," Powell said. "Whether it's bunting, or squeezing, or stealing a base, just get that runner in."

Heuring said bunting is a regular part of practice, while the squeeze play is worked on often.

If the Hawks aren't hitting the ball well into the late innings, Heuring likes to change game plans and make the defense work extra.

"A lot of teams don't squeeze," Heuring said. "But we work on it, and we bunt every day in practice. If our hitters only have four hits by the sixth inning, we need to do something different. We try and put the pressure on the defense by bunting."

Kelly's Haley Glastetter slides safely into third base as Notre Dame's Summer Burger fields the throw in a game earlier this season. (Laura Simon)

"Our bunting has really helped us a lot," said Emily Grojean, the Hawks' fleet-footed center fielder. "We do a lot of bunting and squeezing. It's how we are here."

Powell appreciates the Hawks' ability to execute the strategy. The ace knows if she can keep her team close, the Hawks more than likely will pull through.

"It's nice to know that I have a team that backs me up," Powell said. "It really helps, especially as a pitcher."

Grojean doesn't have an explanation for the Hawks' ability to pull through in close games, but she's not complaining.

"I have no idea where it comes from," Grojean said. "But I'm glad we have the ability to do it. Everybody is cheering in the dugout, it always keeps us going. Everybody gets up and we find a way to comeback and win."