By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Senior pitcher Gabriela Groomer reached a career milestone and the Purdy softball team overcame some early inning jitters to earn a 3-1 victory over Crane on Tuesday in the Class 1 District 5 championship game hosted by the Eagles.
Purdy (16-8) advances to next week’s quarterfinal round where it will seek to avenge a 3-2 loss to Lockwood (21-4) earlier in the season.
“This one was a little stressful today,” said Purdy coach Lori Videmschek. “We weren’t swinging the bats very well at the beginning and we could tell they were a little tight. Then we made some adjustments and kids got some key hits and put the ball in play. We knew it’d come, we just needed to relax a little bit.”
“We had a lot of pressure on us and our pitcher only needed four strikeouts to get 1,000 and I think she was a little nervous about that and the kids wanted it for her and you could just tell we played tight,” she said. “Once we got that out of the way it seemed we loosened up a little bit and started playing better.”
Groomer reached the milestone in the second inning and went on to record 14 strikeouts in the game. But the top-seeded Eagles had to come from behind to avoid a second loss to the Pirates this season.
Second-seeded Crane put pressure on in the first with a two-out double by Raegan Jackson and then took a 1-0 lead in the second when Destiny Kerr singled and scored following a single by Abrey Elingsworth and a defensive miscue. The visitors threatened again in the third when Peyton Cutbirth doubled with one out but she was stranded at second.
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Purdy, meanwhile, didn’t record a hit until the fourth inning and only had one baserunner in the first three innings––Groomer coaxed a two-out walk in the bottom of the first. But with two outs in the fourth and pinch runner Lauren Lamp on first base after another Groomer walk, Andelynn Vineyard singled to right field and an error allowed Lamp to score and tie the game.
The Eagles then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Shelbie Patterson led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Allison Lopez. Patterson scored on a two-out triple to the right field corner by Chloe Prock.
And Purdy made it 3-1 in the sixth when Groomer reached on a throwing error and pinch runner Lamp scored on a line-drive double to center by Lauren Brooks.
“We started making some adjustments at the plate which we needed to,” Videmschek said. “Andi got a big hit, single and an error to score a run and then Chloe hit the triple and we were able to score some runs. That was big for us today to do that, getting a two-run cushion lead.”
Just as Purdy’s offense came alive, Groomer and the defense clamped down. Groomer retired eight straight batters––seven of them on strikeouts––before allowing a two-out single in the sixth.
Crane didn’t go down easy in the seventh, though. Cammie Hayes walked and then Graclin Ramey beat the throw to first for an infield single with two outs. That put the tying run on first base, but Groomer came back to get a strikeout looking to end the game.
“I didn’t want that (Raegan) Jackson girl to come back up and she was on the on deck circle,” Videmschek said. “She’s as good a hitter I’ve faced all four years and she’s tough. Our girls played well, they never quit and they just kept working on it. Super proud of this group of kids. Crane is always tough no matter what sport. They’re going to punch you in the mouth if you’re not ready so you’ve got to be ready for anything they can throw at you.”
“I was super proud of our girls and their effort all season,” Crane coach Mike Morelock said. “Purdy is an incredible program with an incredible coaching staff. It’s what every program strives to be like. I can’t tell you how many district titles they’ve won but we gave them everything they wanted tonight.”
The Pirates (12-9) were seeking their first district title since 2021.
“We feel for our seniors and it’s always tough when it’s win or go home come district time,” Morelock said. “Our seniors worked really hard and so it was tough. Everyone said we overachieved this year, but I think we did exactly what we expected to do. We had a shot at the district championship and that was our goal. We’re proud that we got there. We didn’t quite get it done but season to season that’s what happens.”
The Pirates totaled six hits with Destiny Kerr singling twice and also reaching on an error. Cutbirth and Jackson each had doubles.
Groomer was the only Eagle to reach base multiple times after drawing two walks and reaching on an error. Prock (3B) and Brooks (2B) earned extra-base hits.
Crane starter Jackson struck out seven in five innings, and Cutbirth logged one strikeout in an inning of work.
