By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD, MO – If you’re a fan of pitching duels and adverse conditions, Tuesday’s Class 2 semifinal hit all the high notes in a thrilling matchup between Class 2 No. 1 Warsaw and unranked Ava that remained scoreless through five innings.
Elizabeth Winters’ sixth-inning RBI single in the rain drove in Brylee Brewster for the go-ahead run as Warsaw pulled away late for a 5-0 victory.
Brewster, a Missouri State signee, was sensational in the circle.
The senior left-hander allowed one hit, two walks and a pair of hit batters in the contest, while ringing up a gaudy 17 strikeouts.
“It was a close game for a while,” Brewster said. “But I had confidence in our team that we could get it done – and we did.
On the other side of the field, Ava pitcher Hunter Strunk was doing her part to keep the Bears right in the mix.
Strunk allowed ten hits, three walks and one hit batter in the matchup with a pair of strikeouts.
The junior right-hander was able to minimize the Warsaw bats through five innings – stranding eight baserunners; however, the Tigers finally broke through in the sixth.
After reaching base on a single, a wild pitch allowed Brewster to move into scoring position.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Enter Winters.
The sophomore first baseman sent a first-pitch line drive into left center to score Brewster and give Warsaw its first lead of the game.
“It was so crazy,” Winters said. “My coach told me right before that at-bat that I needed to lock in and get a good at-bat, and that’s what I did.”
For Warsaw head coach Kelli Eierman, it was just a matter of time before her team’s patience paid off in the tight battle.
“We’re just telling them to keep getting in there and battling, doing the best they can with each at bat,” Eierman said. “And we knew that it would happen – stay up the whole game.”
As the rain picked up the pace in the seventh inning, Warsaw’s bats followed suit.
After Brewster’s 2-RBI single scored Madyson Reimund and Adison Sherrill, Winters followed up with a 2-RBI triple to plate Haylee Cobb and Brewster.
Whether challenged by rain or the pesky Ava lineup, Eierman remained confident in her team’s ability to persevere and overcome whatever obstacles presented themselves in the matchup.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
“It doesn’t surprise me, because I’ve watched these girls show up for each other every single day, on and off the field,” Eierman said. “They truly are the definition of family and showing up for each other. So, I truly believe they could get it done.”
Warsaw (23-2) will face Diamond – the 2024 state champion – for the Class 2 title Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats won a rain-halted contest 8-7 against Kennett.
“Nothing really changes,” Eierman said. “We’re going to go out and give them the best we have.”
