KELLY ONE WIN AWAY FROM RETURN TO STATE

Kelly High softball coach Rhonda Evans is confident of a return trip to the Class 2A Final Four -- but also realistic enough to know that getting there won't come easy.

The Lady Hawks will face Clopton at noon today in a sectional game at the Fountain Lake Softball Complex in Bellefountain Neighbors, which is near St. Louis. The winner earns a berth in next weekend's 2A Final Four.

Last season, Kelly made it all the way to the 2A state championship game before dropping a heartbreaking 5-4, eight-inning decision to Westran.

Armed with a host of returning regulars from a year ago, Evans is confident in her team.

"We're excited. We got that taste of state last year and the girls are really wanting to go back," she said. "I feel good about our chances, but I'm sure Clopton will be a good team. It's hard to make it to sectionals on luck."

Kelly, sporting a 14-4 record, is certainly used to sectional competition. The Lady Hawks have won 12 straight district titles, the past five with Evans as their coach.

"It's still nerve-wracking to go up there," Evans said. "But we've been up there so much, the girls are used to it. We know about the field and what to expect. I think that's an advantage. My seniors have been there all four years."

Kim Riley, Kelly's pitching ace all season, will get the starting nod today after putting together a 9-3 record this year.

"She's been a consistent pitcher for us," said Evans.

Evans said top hitters for the Lady Hawks have been Pam Essner, Ashley Beggs, Natalie Robert, Riley and freshman Marissa Essner. Pam Essner and Beggs earned all-state honors last season.

"We've had a very good hitting team, which I'm really proud of," said Evans. "This has been one of our better hitting years."

The Lady Hawks' defense has also been strong most of the season, although an uncharacteristic poor defensive performance almost cost Kelly this week during a 10-8 district final win over East Carter County.

"Our defense has been solid," Evans said. "We've had a couple of bad games, like in the district, but for the most part we've played good defense."

Evans said Clopton, which is located between St. Louis and Columbia, should present Kelly with quite a challenge.

"I know they have a pretty good pitcher who throws pretty hard, they're quick and they're a hitting team," she said. "It should be a good game."

Clopton, not nearly as playoff experienced as Kelly, enters today's game with a 24-3 record under second-year coach Jason Smith. The Lady Hawks, 11-9 last season, made their only other sectional appearance in 1987. They have never advanced to the final four.

"We expected to be good this year, but we didn't expect to be 24-3," said Smith. "The girls have done a really good job."

Jessica Robinson is Clopton's pitching ace with a 16-3 record. Smith said top hitters have been Heather Haake, Christy Haake and Melia McGloughlin.

"Jessica has pitched really well and we've got a pretty decent hitting team," Smith said. "We've heard a lot of about Kelly. We know they're a really good team. We're happy to be here and hopefully it will be a good game."