Kelly wins Class 2 District 2 softball championship

~ A squeeze play in the sixth inning plated two runs for the Hawks

CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. -- It was do-or-die.

All or nothing.

Swing momentum in a big way or possibly lose it all.

Kelly went for it.

Kelly's Emily Grojean slides safely into third under St. Pius infielder Ashley Marks during the sixth inning.

The result? A Class 2 District 2 championship.

Kelly coach Melanie Heuring called for a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the sixth inning trailing by a run, and the Hawks delivered in a big way Friday afternoon.

With runners on second and third with one out, Sydney Vinyard squeezed to the pitcher, whose throw home got past the catcher allowing not only the tying run to score but also the go-ahead run to cross the plate from second base.

"Easy decision," Heuring said. "It's worked for us all year long. That's how we score a lot of our runs, bunting and squeezing. It's do-or-die, but our girls know how to do it and they've been successful. A lot of coaches don't like it because it's very risky, but it seems to work for Kelly."

The Hawks' 4-3 victory over St. Pius was reminiscent of the 2007 Class 2 District 2 title game against Crystal City when Casey Kern laid down a squeeze bunt to plate the winning run in the eighth inning.

Kelly's Haley Glastetter slides safely into home as St. Pius infielder Melissa Collins covers the plate during the sixth inning of the Class 2 District 2 title game Friday in Crystal City, Mo. Glastetter's run proved the game-winner.KRISTIN EBERTS keberts@semissourian.com

The Hawks' (17-11) spirits immediately were bolstered after the huge momentum swing Friday.

"That was very nerve-racking," Kelly pitcher Kristen Powell said. "That's how we've won most of our games. It was the perfect squeeze."

The Hawks' speed came through in a big way on a big night, wreaking havoc on the base paths and eventually winning the game.

It wasn't all smiles for the Hawks until the end since they played catch-up for the majority of the game.

Rachel Skaggs singled and Jackie Skaggs roped a double to drive her in for the 1-0 lead after two innings.

Kelly's Kaitlin Glastetter slides into first base as St. Pius infielder Melissa Collins fields the throw during the sixth inning of Friday's game. Glastetter was out on the play.

The Lancers added another run in the third when Katheryn Chamberlain reached on an error and came around to score on an Ashley Marks ground out.

Emily Grojean cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half of the third when the lightning-fast center fielder lined a triple to the fence and scored on a throwing error.

"That's been my key since freshman year," Grojean said. "I love my speed. I took advantage of it tonight."

St. Pius responded with a two-out rally in the fifth.

Marks ripped a triple down the left-field line, and Caroline Basler drove her in with a bloop single to right to push the Lancers' lead back to 3-1.

Grojean answered once again.

The junior singled to right, stole second and third, then scored on a passed ball to bring the Hawks within a run.

"Speed is key," Heuring said. "A lot of times in district championships it's hard to steal because the catcher has an arm. But we knew we could steal with this catcher."

Powell retired the Lancers in the sixth, setting up the Hawks for the dramatic squeeze play.

"We told her to make sure she hit her corners and kept it low," Heuring said of Powell. "Those last couple of innings she settled down and started throwing hard."

The Lancers made things interesting in the seventh.

Chamberlain doubled with one out and Haley Martin grounded out, advancing Chamberlain to third with two outs.

Marks hit a bullet at second baseman Kaitlin Glastetter, who quickly reached up and snagged the ball, preserving the win.

Kelly will face East Carter, a 4-3 winner over Twin Rivers, in the sectional round Wednesday.

St. Pius 011 010 0 -- 3 8 2

Kelly 001 012 0 -- 4 5 1

WP -- Kristen Powell. LP -- Holly Magre. 3B -- Emily Grojean (K), Ashley Marks (SP). 2B -- Jackie Skaggs (SP), Katheryn Chamberlain (SP). Multiple hits -- Kelly; Grojean 2-3, Powell 2-3; St. Pius; Rachel Skaggs 2-3, Chamberlain 2-3.