Oran follows plan, claims sectional win over Dora, 3-0

ORAN, Mo. -- Oran High School's sectional round softball game against Dora on Wednesday went almost exactly according to coach Jim Eftink's game plan.

"I told them we'd score in the first inning, we'd get [Addie] Kielhofner on, she'll steal second, we'll bunt her to third and then we'll bunt her home," Eftink said. "That's how we score runs, that's how we have all year, and that's just who we are and we can't change our spots now."

Oran did score in the first inning and good pitching and defense allowed the host Eagles to defeat Dora 3-0 to win the program's first sectional game since 2008.

"This is a great feeling," Eftink said. "I can't describe it because this program and these girls mean so much to me and to see them put up a victory like that and everything, it's just something special."

The Eagles defense got its nerves out of the way early before shutting down the Dora offense.

Oran started the game with an error, allowing the leadoff batter to reach. After a fielder's choice to get the lead runner, pitcher Anna Jones struck out the third batter. Jones then gave up a single to left field, but escaped the jam on an infield popup.

Jones said the team didn't know what to expect from the Falcons, who had won 25 games this season.

"[Eftink] didn't know if we were going to throw the changeup or what and I just started off with my curveball and it worked the rest of the time," Jones said. "It's a good thing it did work because otherwise I'm pretty sure they would've got centered on it and hit it good because most of them are home run hitters from what we've heard."

After that it was all Oran.

Kielhofner bunted to lead off the bottom of the first and made it all the way to third base when Dora third baseman Kelsey Land threw the ball past first baseman McKenzie Gardner.

Oran's Jamie Kern sacrifice bunts against Dora during the fifth inning of the Class 1 sectional softball game Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 in Oran, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

Taylor Nenninger bunted and instead of tossing the ball to the catcher at home, Land threw the ball to first and Gardner misplayed the ball, allowing Kielhofner to score with no outs recorded.

Chrissie Sauceda then singled to centerfield. Allie Cummins bunted, but Nenninger was tagged out at home. Tatum May and Jones each grounded out to end the inning.

The Eagles added another run in the third. With one out Nenninger walked and then Sauceda flied out to center. Nenninger reached second when the throw from the outfield went past the second baseman. Cummins doubled to left field, scoring Nenninger for a 2-0 lead. May flied out in the infield to end the inning.

"We play small ball, we don't have any home run hitters on this team -- we've hit one homerun all year -- and we will just nip and tuck a team to death like a little bumblebee," Eftink said.

Oran scored its final run in the sixth. Pinch-hitting for May, Allie Phillips hit a leadoff double to left field and Jones followed with an RBI double to left center.

Jones recorded her seventh shutout of the season, allowing four hits. She had six strikeouts and walked one batter.

"Part of that is Anna, but we've got eight players behind her that are really good defensively and we've stressed that from Day 1 -- that we're going to win with pitching and defense and that's how we do it," Eftink said.

Oran (13-4) travels to Walnut Grove to face the Tigers (14-8) in a state quarterfinal game on Saturday.

"Just as long as we keep defense strong like we have been and we keep hitting, I think we'll make it all the way to state," Jones said, "Just as long as we keep playing to our potential -- and I hope we do."

Dora 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

Oran 101 001 x -- 3 6 1

WP -- Anna Jones. LP -- Makayla Trail. Leading hitters -- Oran: Taylor Nenninger 2B; Jones 2B; Allie Cummins; Allie Phillips 2B. Records -- Dora 25-3, Oran 13-4.