Woodland softball wins big over Advance to reach district semifinals

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Before her team went to bat in the bottom of the third inning, Woodland softball coach Andrea Arnold urged her team, "We have got to get it kicked into high gear."

The fourth-seeded Cardinals were having no trouble getting runners on in the first two innings, but had only one run to show for it against the fifth-seeded Advance Hornets in a Class 1 District 4 quarterfinal.

Senior first baseman Mara Grindstaff stepped up to the plate and launched a 1-2 pitch to the fence in right field, and as the outfielder slowly collected the ball and got it back into the infield she raced home for an inside-the-park home run.

The leadoff homer sparked a four-run third for Woodland and the Cardinals' offense erupted for 10 runs in the fourth to enact the mercy rule and defeat Advance 15-0 in four innings at Woodland High School.

"Mara's the kind of kid that she's going to take charge," Arnold said. "She's got that senior attitude to where she's going to get it done, and she said, 'Coach, I got this,' and she did. Getting that kickstart and getting the crowd and the kids riled up really helped."

The Cardinals recorded 13 hits in the contest.

Freshman shortstop Hope Green led off the home half of the first with a bloop single to shallow center. She then stole second and the throw from the catcher went into the outfield and past the center fielder, allowing Green to score on the two-base error to give Woodland the only run it would need.

Arnold wanted a bit more offense from her team, though, as the Cardinals had eked out a 16-14 victory over the Hornets on March 21.

She didn't need to worry as her decision to start Krista Rhodes in the circle paid off. Rhodes, who'd earned the win in relief after allowing only four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in the first meeting, allowed three singles and walked only one in her shutout victory.

"'You made the difference in the game that time, you've earned your spot this game,'" Arnold said she told Rhodes before the start. "Starting her definitely helped."

The Cardinals stranded two in the first and second innings before breaking out in the final two.

Kelsie Long followed Grindstaff's home run with a triple to left center and scored on a single by Madison Cover.

Rhodes reached on an error that allowed Cover to score. The pitcher stole second and reached third on a wild pitch before Whitney Lincoln drove her in with a single to right to put Woodland up 5-0 after three.

"We stuck by each other's side," Grindstaff said. "Hitting is contagious. We just got going."

Kandyce Mifflin and Grindstaff were hit by pitches to start the bottom of the fourth, and Cover drew a one-out walk to load the bases for designated player Brooke Miles.

Miles hit a two-run single to right to make it 7-0.

Mackenzie Altenthal followed with an RBI single to right center that was misplayed by the right fielder and went to second on the error.

Miles and Altenthal both scored when Rhodes tripled to right center to give the Cardinals a 10-run lead.

Green singled, Mifflin was hit by a pitch for the second time in the frame and Grindstaff singled to short to plate Rhodes.

Long was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score a run, and Cover ended the game with a three-run double to left center.

"Their confidence today was outstanding," Arnold said. "They just wanted to win. They knew that coming out here and they very much knew what they had to do, and they were playing for the seniors." Advance's season ended with a record of 4-12.

The Cardinals (12-7) will face top-seeded and defending district champion Scott City at 3:15 p.m. today in a semifinal at Woodland.

The Rams beat Woodland 10-0 in five innings April 13.

"It wasn't a horrible game," Arnold said, noting the Rams never had a big inning. "...They didn't dominate us. Our pitching was a concern that game, so I'm going to go a different direction and see if that helps, try to play some small ball.

"But the girls are confident because they know, 'They only got us two runs here, one run there,' and they've seen the pitcher, so hopefully they'll get some confidence after just smashing the ball today and carry that into tomorrow.."

Advance 000 0 -- 0 3 5

Woodland 104 10 -- 15 13 2

WP -- Krista Rhodes. LP -- Alli Johnson. 2B -- Madison Cover (W). 3B -- Kelsie Long (W), Rhodes (W). HR -- Mara Grindstaff (W). Multiple hits -- Woodland: Hope Green 2-4, Grindstaff 2-2, Cover 2-3, Rhodes 2-3.