MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Third-seeded College Heights (with McAuley) clinched its program’s first berth to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament after defeating top-seeded Mount Vernon 9-6 in the Class 2 District 6 title game on Thursday.
The Mountaineers (18-6) scored a run in the first before the Cougars (18-3) scored twice in each the third and fourth innings to take control, 4-2. College Heights and Mount Vernon traded single tallies in the fifth before CHC pushed across four runs in the top of the sixth for a 9-3 advantage. The Mountaineers rallied for three runs of the bottom of the seventh before CHC snuffed out the comeback bid.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said to SoMo Sports. “The challenges and adversities they’ve had to overcome this year, from injuries to key players getting very limited practice time together as a result of having to share athletes, they have stayed the course and have done what many people thought was impossible. It says so much about their character and focus on the task at hand.
“This was a very difficult district and none of the games were easy. I thought our girls found their confidence at the right time and rode that momentum to the end. I’m so happy for our kids and cannot wait to get started preparing for a state run.”
College Heights matches up with Diamond (19-2) on May 13 in the Cougars’ first trip to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. The site and time of first pitch are still to be determined.
IN THE CIRCLE
Maddy Colin earned the win after allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits, zero walks and eight strikeouts in a complete-game, seven-inning effort.
Harley Daniels took the complete-game loss after allowing nine runs, six earned, on 13 hits, no walks and nine strikeouts.
GAME ACTION
After Mount Vernon took a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout from Josey McChesney in the first inning, College Heights broke through for two runs in the third on a two-out, two-run single to left by Layne Jackson to score Sarah Painter, who doubled to lead off the inning, and Kloee Williamson to go up 2-1.
McChesney singled home a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game, but College Heights answered again with two runs in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, 4-2. Addie Lawrence led off with a single before coming around to score on an RBI double to left by Avery Good two batters later. Painter followed with a run-scoring single to plate Good and cap the scoring.
Williamson doubled to lead off the fourth and later scored on a double-steal, first-and-third play to make the score 5-3. Mount Vernon got a run back in the fifth on a CHC error.
After Lauren Ukena brought home a run on a fielder’s choice bunt in the sixth, Jayli Johnson essentially put the game out of reach with a two-run home run to left to make the score 8-3. Jackson drove home the fourth run of the inning with a sac fly to right field to plate Williamson.
Payge Evans singled home a run for Mount Vernon in the seventh, with two more runs scoring on a groundout to make the score 9-6 with the final out made moments later to end the game.
IN THE BOX
Jackson had a hit and a team-high three RBI for CHC. Williamson had three hits, including a double, and scored a team-high three runs. Lawrence had three hits and scored a run. Good and Painter both doubled and had two hits, with Good scoring twice and driving in one and Painter scoring once and driving in one. Johnson homered, scored a run and had two RBI.
Evans had two hits, scored twice and drove in one for the Mountaineers. McChesney had two hits and drove in a team-high two runs, tying with Hadley Cornell. Kennley Weaver and Allison Burk each had two hits and combined for three runs scored.
