KELLY SOFTBALL RETURNS TO CLASS 2A FINAL FOUR

The Kelly Lady Hawk softball squad will be making its third appearance in four years at the Missouri Class 2A State Softball Championships this weekend in Columbia.

The Lady Hawks are making their third appearance in four years and fourth of the decade. Overall, it's their fifth trip.

Joining Kelly (23-3) is final four nemesis Westran (18-7) along with newcomers Russellville (24-0) and Mid-Buchanan (21-4).

For once, neither Kelly nor Westran, which is making its sixth consecutive trip, are the favorites.

That honor belongs to undefeated Russellville, Kelly's semifinal opponent. The two teams face off at 4 p.m. Friday. Westran and Mid-Buchanan will follow at 5.

The winners will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday in the championship game.

Kelly eliminated Linn 3-1 in a quarterfinal rematch to advance and is riding a four-game winning streak.

Ace Marissa Essner has an 11-2 record and 0.99 earned run average, while the No. 2 pitcher is southpaw Natalie Lewer, who's 9-1 with an 1.43 ERA.

Shortstop and cleanup batter Megan Beggs leads the offense with a .485 average. First baseman Audrey Burford bats third with a .451 average while freshman Dana Essner is third on the list with a .447 average and Alana Burford has a .423 average. Kelly is batting .368 as a team.

The Lady Hawks cruised through districts, defeating Notre Dame in the finals. Kelly then eliminated Twin Rivers in sectional play.

The Lady Hawks won the state championship in 1997 after finishing second in 1996.