Tigers falter in final

POPLAR BLUFF — Hillsboro scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and walked away with a 2-1 win over Central in the Class 4 District 1 championship game at Bacon Park.

"They put the ball in play when they had to put the ball in play," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "I thought our girls played a very good game."

Central got its lone run in the third inning. Victoria Schabbing singled, and after a walk moved her to second, Amanda Nichols hit an RBI single.

Nichols pitched nearly 18 innings Saturday as she pitched the 11-inning, 6-5 semifinal win over Poplar Bluff as well.

The Tigers were one out away from advancing in the semifinal game in just seven innings, but the Mules rallied to tie the game 2-2 to send it into extra innings. The Mules scored three runs in the top of the ninth, but Central rallied.

Jennifer Willett reached on an error and Tori Ourth singled to left field to start the comeback. After a fielder's choice, Emily Myers singled off the third baseman's glove to load the bases. Schabbing followed with a double that plated two to make it 5-4, and Nichols singled with two outs to tie the game 5-5.

After Central held Poplar Bluff in the top of the 11th, the Tigers ended the game in their half.

Schabbing, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning, scored on a single by Nichols.

"I thought [Nichols] pitched two fantastic games today," Blattel said. "I couldn't ask for much more out of her coming in."

The Tigers kept Poplar Bluff off the board for six innings in the semifinal, and did the same against Hillsboro, which rallied to beat Sikeston in the other semifinal, 11-7.

"[The defense] was solid," Blattel said. "The game before this, we had a few errors, but came back offensively. This is a team that has been doing that all year long."

Even though Central fell short by the slimmest of margins, Blattel liked the way her team battled throughout the day.

"I am very proud of the girls," Blattel said. "They worked hard all year and they played well today."