Oran takes liking to fall ball, reaches final

~ The Eagles defeated Delta 3-1 in the semifinals of the Class 1 District 1 tourney.

ORAN -- Senior Cassie Graviett loves her first taste of district play.

Graviett and her Oran teammates are playing in the district softball tournament for the first time after the Eagles switched this year from playing in the spring to playing in the fall, when the Missouri State High School Activities Association holds its tournament.

Graviett delivered a two-run single to lift the Eagles past Delta 3-1 in a Class 1 District 1 semifinal Friday.

"This is our first time being in district, being in anything," Graviett said. "We don't have anything to lose and they do. So we just put that behind us and said we have to win.

Jackson baserunner Clarissa Smith slid back to first base to avoid being doubled off as Seckman's Jen Dotle covered during their Class 4 District 1 championship game Friday at Jackson City Park. An errant throw allowed Smith to advance to second. (Kit Doyle)

"I loved spring ball. It was so much fun. But this is something to play for. There's a future out there."

Oran faces Naylor, a 4-3 winner over Neelyville, in today's district championship game, which starts at 1:45 p.m. in Oran.

The Eagles enjoyed success during the spring season, going 17-1, but Graviett said that doesn't compare to the emotions and pressure of playing in the fall tournament.

"In spring ball, there wasn't a lot of competition," she said. "We were good and everything, and sure, we'd win a couple games. But it was just play for fun. This, there's a lot of competition. There's so many varieties of teams. You're just enthusiastic every time."

Graviett made sure Oran's season didn't end Friday. With the bases loaded, two outs and the score tied 1-1 in the fifth, Graviett ripped a single to left field that scored two runs to give her team its first lead of the game.

Oran sophomore Claire Seyer connected with a pitch during the Class 1 District 1 semifinals Friday in Oran. (Kit Doyle)

"I was trying to get on base, basically," she said. "I knew what coach wanted me to do, so I just made sure I did it. I just made sure it was perfect and I would stroke it."

The Eagles tied the game earlier in the inning. Claire Seyer reached on an error then Jodi Urhahn crushed a triple that one-hopped the wall in center field. She smacked the extra-base hit on a pitch that was up around her head.

"I just wanted to hit the ball and advance the runners," Urhahn said. "I just knew it was going to go a little bit of distance. It felt good. It came off the bat real good."

It seemed like it might be Delta's day earlier in the game, especially after a sensational double play in the first inning. Urhahn singled to center then tried to score when Taylor Irwin laced a single to center. But Delta center fielder Sarah Blattel came up throwing. Bobcats pitcher Kendra Burnett tagged Urhahn at the plate for one out then fired a strike to second to get Irwin before she could slide into second. It went from looking like Oran would take an early lead to two outs and no one on base.

"It was a fantastic way to start," Delta coach Laura Brown said. "They were just absolutely on their game. It was just a fine way to start off a good defensive game."

Delta opened the scoring in the second when Amanda Seabaugh reached and went to second on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored when Taylor Keys delivered a two-out single to center.

Burnett, who struck out nine and walked five a day after walking nine, kept the Eagles at bay until the decisive fifth inning. All three runs she allowed were unearned.

"Of course I wanted a little bit more insurance just to breathe a little bit easier, but it was in the back of my head -- defense is good, Kendra is hitting spots and this could very well be a 1-0 ballgame," Brown said.

Delta 010 000 0 -- 1 8 2

Oran 000 030 x -- 3 6 0

WP -- Callie Kielhofner. LP -- Kendra Burnett. 3B -- Jodi Urhahn (O). 2B -- Amanda Drew (D); Urhahn (O). Multiple hits -- Delta, Katie Brucker 2-3; Oran, Jodi Urhahn 3-4, Cassie Graviett 2-3. Records -- Delta 13-9.