SPRINGFIELD, Mo. • The Troy softball team defeated Blue Springs 4-1 Saturday to win the Class 4 state championship at the Killian Sports Complex.
Troy built a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning and held on for its first state title. Liz Wiegand threw a complete game for Troy to pick up the win.
The Trojans (29-4, No. 5 in the STLhighschoolsports.com large-schools rankings) closed the season on a 14-game winning streak.
Here is an inning-by-inning run-down on the championship.
11:40 - Headed to the bottom of the seventh, Troy leads 4-1.
11:32 - After a relatively easy sixth inning, the Troy softball team sits just three outs from the Class 4 state championship headed into the seventh inning with the 4-1 lead.
11:23 - Crane laced a run-scoring single to right-center field to score Mackenzie Lawson and boost the Troy lead to 4-1 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning.
11:18 - Troy catcher Morgan Oliver cut down a Blue Springs runner in a pick-off attempt to second baseman Savana Grover to help keep the Trojans' 3-1 lead after five innings.
11:11 - After getting runners on second and third with none out, Troy's offense stalled with three consecutive outs to keep the score 3-1 Trojans.
11:02 - Blue Springs loaded the bases with none out, but was able to score just one run. Wiegand got out of the jam by getting two force outs at home and a grounder to shortstop Crane to end the fourth inning.
10:49 - Troy scores two runs on back-to-back squeeze bunts by Lawson and Rachel Sullivan to lead 3-0 after three and one-half innings.
10:42 - Much like Troy, Blue Springs got runners on second and third with one out. Wiegand struck out the next two batters, though, and the game remains 1-0 Trojans after three innings.
10:32 - Troy breaks out on top 1-0 in the top of the third inning. With runners on second and third and two out, Oliver chopped a hit to the shortstop. The shortstop went deep into the hole, allowing Sullivan to score. Crane also tried to score on the play, but was thrown out to end the inning.
10:24 - Three straight pop-ups and Blue Springs goes in order to end the second inning. The game is still scoreless.
10:19 - With a runner on second and two out, Ashley Murphy hits a sinking line drive to center field. Blue Springs' centerfielder Alexis Koop goes down to one knee to make the catch to keep the game scoreless after one and one-half innings.
10:11 - Blue Springs gets one hit, but Wiegand strands the runner with two strikeouts. No score after one inning.
10:05 - Oliver strikes out to end the top of the first. Troy goes down 1-2-3.
10:00 - The game begins with Troy's Crane flying out to right field.
The starting lineups for the Class 4 championship game as part of the 37th annual MSHSAA softball championships at Killian Sports Park in Springfield.
Troy is the visiting team. Here are the lineups:
Troy: 1. Emily Crane - SS; 2. Savana Grover - 2B; 3. Morgan Oliver - C; 4. Whitney Richardson - 3B; 5. Christa Reisinger - CF; 6. Tiffany Hazelwonder - RF; 7. Ashley Murphy - 1B; 8. Mackenzie Lawson - DP; 9. Rachel Sullivan - LF; Liz Wiegand - P.
Blue Springs: 1. Kelsey Brady - LF; 2. Tylin Stephens - SS; 3. Morgan McMahon - 1B; 4. Erin Keeney - DP; 5. Nikkie White - 3B; 6. Madison Hood - RF; 7. Kennedy Dujakovich - 2B; 8. Kristen Heil - C; 9. Alexis Koop - CF; and Kelsey Kessler - P.
For more on this game, check back later.
