Hot Kelly offense goes silent against stingy Blair Oaks

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- Kelly scored six runs in its sectional softball win Wednesday, but the Hawks managed only three total base runners Saturday in a 2-1 state quarterfinal loss to Blair Oaks at the Kirkwood Athletics Association Complex.

The loss denied Kelly its first final four appearance since 2000. The Hawks lost in the semifinals to Lawson that year 2-1. Blair Oaks will face Lawson in a Class 2 semifinal Friday.

Kelly (19-7) had two hits, both in the third inning, and had one runner reach on an error. Starter Megan Thomas struck out seven and walked none for the complete-game victory for Blair Oaks (17-5).

"When you come this far," Kelly coach Rhonda Evans said, "it's going to be pretty low scoring."

Although the Hawks' offense struggled to get runners on base, Kelly did score the game's first run. Michelle Collins opened the top of the third with a single to right. Collins was lifted for a pinch runner, and with two outs in the inning Amanda Essner got the Hawks on the board with a single to left.

"When we did have a runner on, the girls drove her around," Evans said.

Blair Oaks was held off the base paths until the fourth inning. Kelly starter Whitney Beggs walked Blair Oaks' No. 2 batter Tara Otto to give Blair Oaks its first base runner.

Abby Stuenkel followed with a single to give Blair Oaks runners on first and second with one out. Beggs got Thomas to hit the ball on the ground, but Kelly shortstop Essner couldn't handle the hard grounder, and that led to a tie score.

"We just had that one inning where we had first and second," Evans said. "It was a hard hit to the shortstop, she stood square and it just came up her arm."

Brittany Bax came up two batters later and got a two-out single for the game-winning run.

"When we were at sectionals we had those four errors, but everyone backed each other up," Evans said. "But you can't base the whole game on one error."

Neither team had a runner in scoring position the rest of the game. Kelly had a final base runner in the seventh, but after reaching on an error Ashley Rocket was thrown out trying to reach second.

"Sometimes these games are the toughest when you have that one run," Evans said.

Beggs finished the game with six strikeouts and one walk. She allowed three hits.

Blair Oaks earned its fourth straight trip to the final four with two second-place finishes and a fourth-place finish.

"Both teams played extremely well," Evans said, "and you can't take anything away from either team."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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