Kern's bunt decides extra-inning battle

~ The Hawks defeated Crystal City 3-2 on a suicide squeeze.

PERRYVILLE -- Kelly cleanup hitter Casey Kern had a chance to break a tie and send her team home a winner with one solid swing.

She stood in the batter's box during the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday against Crystal City with runners on second and third base and one out.

After taking the first pitch, she waited for the second offering from Crystal City hurler Alex Perry. And when it came, instead of swinging away, the power-hitting first baseman bunted.

"I was just hoping it was not going to be a [low pitch] because I can't really bunt those," Kern said. "She gave me a pretty good pitch to squeeze. It was more up and outside. I think that's the second time I've bunted all year."

Kern made contact, tapping it perfectly to the right side of the mound. Perry snagged it and threw off balance to home plate, trying to cut down Kelly's Londyn Backfisch. But Backfisch, running full speed from third, slid in safely with the game-winning run.

The Hawks' 3-2 win at Perryville City Park earned them the District 2 Class 2 title and a trip to the sectional round. The Hawks made it to the final four at the state tournament last year before being eliminated in an extra-inning semifinal game.

Kern, a junior, said she did not see Backfisch score, but was distracted on her way to first base by the Kelly cheering section.

"I wasn't quite to first yet because I'm pretty slow, but I heard everyone screaming so I knew something happened," Kern said.

Hawks coach Rhonda Ratledge said Kern is a strong hitter, but she felt more comfortable with her laying down a bunt in the situation.

Kelly second baseman Londyn Backfisch watched a grounder into her glove Saturday.

"We had a runner at third and one out and I could not take the chance of her pop flying to the infield," Ratledge said. "I knew [Backfisch] was in. I had the best situation right there. I had my best runner on third.

"I [had Kern] let the first pitch go by because in case they knew we were going to bunt, I didn't want her throwing any junk and having a foul tip or something like that. And then I let her squeeze on that second pitch."

Kern has played an important role on the Hawks the past couple years. She was one of the Hawks' two pitchers last year, but because of offseason shoulder surgery May 18, she has been restricted from pitching this season.

"I like playing first, but they are completely different positions," she said. "You're always in every play when you're pitching and I like that kind of thrill. But playing first, I get a lot of action there, too. It's kind of a shame I don't get to pitch, but I can't do anything about it."

Kelly got off to a slow start both offensively and defensively, falling behind 2-0 after three innings. Two costly errors accounted for both Crystal City runs.

Kelly senior Sarah Ruff bunted for a single during the eighth inning Saturday.

In the first, Kelly's left fielder dropped a routine fly ball to begin the game. Later that inning, Gina Melton knocked home the Crystal City baserunner who had reached with a double to right-center.

In the third inning, Kern made an error when she went to her right to catch a dribbler, but the ball bounced off her glove. The runner reached and later scored when Melton again came to the plate and knocked a single to right-center.

Kelly plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kern reached on an error to start the inning and Brittany Brantley walked. Both Heather Beggs and Ashley Flahardy followed with RBI singles to make it 2-2.

The eighth-inning rally to win it got started by Backfisch, who led off with an infield single, sliding into first on a close play.

"I've never slid [into first] before, so I was kind of nervous," Backfisch said. "I'm glad I did."

Sarah Ruff then laid down a bunt and hustled down to first for another infield single. Katee Moore then sacrificed the two runners into scoring position for Kern, who won it with the bunt.

"I really wanted to redeem myself [for the error]," she said. "But I was just trying to keep things focused on the ball at the moment and let it go. It was in the past."

Crystal City 101 000 00 -- 2 3 1

Kelly 000 200 01 -- 3 8 2

Kelly shortstop Katee Moore knowingly smiled before tagging out Crystal City baserunner Gina Melton during their Class 2 District 2 championship game Saturday in Perryville. (Kit Doyle)

WP -- Jessica Riley. LP -- Alex Perry. 2B -- Gina Melton (C). Multiple hits -- Kelly, Ashley Flahardy, 2-3, Lana Whitworth, 2-3; Crystal City: Melton 2-3.f