Walk-off HR sends Portageville over Saxony in district semifinal

PUXICO, Mo. -- With one out and a one-run lead in the seventh inning of a Class 2 District 1 semifinal, it appeared Saxony was headed to its second district championship in three years.

However, Portageville center fielder Alexis Glidewell had other plans in mind.

The sophomore worked a 2-1 count before belting a walk-off, two-run home run over the right field fence to secure a 2-1 victory for Portageville on Wednesday at Puxico High School.

Portageville (20-6) will play Kelly in the district championship at 1 p.m. today.

Despite the loss, Saxony coach Tali Beaudean said her team played great.

"Our mindset before today's game was to lay it all on the line, and we did," Beaudean said. "We played our hearts out and did everything right all the way to the end, but unfortunately for us, they had a nice timely hit that forced us to go home and send our seniors out in a very sad and heartbreaking way."

Portageville coach Ashlie Patton said Glidewell's home run was the offensive boost the Bulldogs have been looking for all season.

"She stepped up for us today and hit a big one for us," Patton said. "We've kind of needed that spark offensively all year, and she's come through with hits. But none were like that. It was definitely a surprise."

Glidewell said she wasn't looking for any particular pitch, just one that she could drive.

"She was throwing different things at me in every at-bat, so it was hard to tell what to look for," Glidewell said. "It was definitely a fastball for a strike, so my approach was to just get a bat on it and see where it would go. I've never been in that kind of spot, so it's pretty exciting."

Saxony (17-9) will lose four seniors to graduation, including starting pitcher Ashley Steck.

The senior took the loss in the circle but worked her way out of trouble early in the game.

Portageville had plenty of chances to score early in the game, including a two-on, no-out situation in the first inning.

Steck walked the first two batters she faced but bounced back with a strike out and two pop outs to end the inning.

"She did everything she wanted to do to perfection up until that last pitch," Beaudean said. "She hit her spots and had great speed on the fastball all throughout the game. It's unfortunate that she gives up a late hit like that, but I'm not one to say that she should've thrown a different pitch or anything like that. She was confident in her stuff. She just missed her spot."

Steck only allowed four hits, struck out three and walked three in the loss.

The Crusaders' defense was strong behind Steck.

With two outs in the third, Portageville left fielder Kelsi Miller hit a deep fly ball to center field. The hit had home-run distance and appeared to be going over the fence, but Saxony senior Abby Hadler tracked the ball down with the sun in her eyes, reached over the fence and made a catch to rob Miller and the Bulldogs of a one-run lead.

In the fifth inning, Saxony turned a double play, which Beaudean said was the team's first all season.

Portageville had a runner on first with no outs in the inning. Destiney Crossno hit a hard line drive at Saxony third baseman Grace Mirly, who made the catch and fired the ball to first just in time for the force out.

Portageville starting pitcher Taylor Tiffany kept Saxony off-balance at the plate for most of the game.

The junior struck out the first six batters she faced and didn't allow the Crusaders a hit until the third inning.

"She came in on top of her game," Patton said about Tiffany. "Her fastball was really what carried her, and it has been all year. But as they changed around what she was throwing, she adjusted, too."

Tiffany only allowed two hits but did give up a run to Saxony in the sixth, thanks to a pair of errors by the Bulldogs' defense.

Logan Meyr reached base on an error to start the sixth for Saxony. Logan Welker followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Meyr to second. During the next at-bat, Ashlynn Collier worked a full count before walking to put runners on first and second. Two batters later with two outs in the inning, Hadler hit a routine fly ball to right field. The ball appeared to be in the glove of Portageville's right fielder but somehow managed to slip out, allowing Meyr to score from second and give Saxony a 1-0 lead.

However, the Crusaders' lead and celebration quickly vanished as Portageville's Jill Kellams doubled to set up Glidwell's game-winning home run.

"You have to learn from that, and I think we will," Beaudean said. "This loss is hard to take, but we have girls who are going to be back next year and some who are young and ready to step up."

Saxony 000 001 0 -- 1 2 0

Portageville 000 000 2 -- 2 4 2

WP -- Taylor Tiffany. LP -- Ashley Steck. HR -- Alexis Glidwell (P). 2B -- Jill Kellams (P). Multiple hits -- Portageville: Glidwell 2-3. Records -- Saxony 17-9, Portageville 20-6.

Kelly 12, Puxico 1

The top-seeded Kelly Hawks advanced to their third straight Class 2 District 1 championship with a 12-1 win over district host Puxico in five innings on Wednesday.

Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge said it was nice to see her team bounce back offensively after a 10-3 loss to Jackson in the SEMO Conference championship on Monday in Benton, Missouri.

"It's always good to have that one loss to put it all in perspective," Ratledge said. "And if it's going to happen, it's better to do it before districts."

Shanda Reed hit a three-run home run in the second inning to put Kelly (22-4) ahead 8-0.

Morgan Ledure and Hailey Noon each went 2 for 2 with a double apiece, while Alexis Dock went 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.

"We worked it all up and down that lineup today," Ratledge said. "Whether it was a hit or a bunt, we looked good at the plate and had everybody contributing."

Dock and Anna Hughes combined to throw a two-hitter in the win.

Dock lasted three innings and only gave up one hit, while Hughes went two innings and struck out three.

Ratledge said Dock will be Kelly's starting pitcher in the championship game against Portageville.

Puxico 000 01 -- 1 2 4

Kelly 543 0x -- 12 8 2

WP -- Alexis Dock. HR -- Shanda Reed (K). 2B -- Alexis Dock (K), Morgan LeDure (K), Hailey Noon (K). Multiple hits -- Team: Kelly LeDure 2-2, Noon, 2-2, Dock 3-3.