Oran's run ends at hands of power pitcher

~ Miller's Hendricks struck out 16 as she threw a two-hitter.

ORAN, Mo. -- Oran senior Callie Kielhofner tried to spark an offensive rally for her team a couple years ago by chanting "Rattle the Bats."

But instead, she accidentally said, "Battle the Rats."

All her teammates got a good laugh at Kielhofner's slip of the tongue. The phrase has become a popular saying among the team whenever the offense is struggling and in need of a rally. And members of the Eagles team used the phrase more than once in Wednesday's Class 1 sectional game against Miller.

Still, the Oran girls could not rattle or battle out a single run.

Oran first baseman Cassie Graviett caught a fly ball down the first-base line to retire Miller's Crystal Davidson during the fifth inning Wednesday in Oran. (Fred Lynch)

Miller all-state pitcher Hailee Hendricks kept the Oran bats silent, tossing a complete-game shutout while striking out 16 and allowing just two hits and one walk in a 6-0 victory over the Eagles.

"She [Hendricks] is a really good pitcher and we expected her to be good," Oran senior Alyson Seyer said. "She's got a good rise ball and drop ball and she's really fast.

"We knew she was real good and I wish luck for her."

Miller (25-2) advanced to the state quarterfinals with the victory. The loss ended the season for an Oran squad (14-3) that played its first season of softball in the fall after playing during the spring.

Oran coach Sara Heisserer said Monday -- two days before the game -- that her team had been struggling offensively, her biggest concern going into the sectional contest. The majority of Oran's recent practices have centered on hitting drills.

"They didn't adjust well," Heisserer said of her hitters. "They've got it made up that they're swinging no matter what the pitch is. It's frustrating for me definitely."

Hendricks, a three-year varsity starter with a 22-2 record so far this year, overpowered the Oran batters all evening. And she also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Miller coach Matt Walters said Hendricks typically throws about 58 mph and sometimes hits 60 on the gun. He thought she was throwing faster than usual Wednesday because she got a few extra days rest this week.

"Everything felt great today," Hendricks said. "I was just ready to come out and play. I was just ready for the next batter."

Oran struggled defensively, too.

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the third, but that is when Miller was able to jump out to a 4-0 lead on a rally highlighted by three Oran errors.

"Defense hadn't been a problem at all, and if anything in the district, that is what carried us because our bat was so silent," Heisserer said. "These girls have never been in this situation and just mentally and instinctively knowing what to do there they buckled under the pressure."

Miller scored its other two runs in the fourth inning.

Oran managed only two hits off Hendricks: A triple by Jodi Urhahn in the top of the fourth and an infield single by Cassie Graviett in the seventh.

After the game, Heisserer huddled her disappointed team in left field for one final time this fall.

"I told them to keep their heads up because they did great," Heisserer said. "First year, a lot of people had it in their head 'Oh, we're going to state already.' And I just told them that a first-year program, being in the district, we did great and that I was proud of them. It's a steppingstone and a building process and we're just going to have to build from this year."

Oran 000 000 0 -- 0 2 4

Miller 004 200 x -- 6 6 1

WP -- Hailee Hendricks (22-2). LP -- Callie Kielhofner (12-3). 3B -- Jodi Urhahn (O). Multiple hits -- Miller, Hendricks 2-3. Records -- Oran 14-3; Miller 25-2.