Montgomery County High School’s softball team has had an incredible run going in their quest to become state champions. They had beaten state-ranked #8 North Callaway in the Class 2, District 2 semi-final (2-0), they then beat the state ranked #3 Elsberry Indians in the District Championship (1-0) and Saturday faced the Lady Red Devils of Chaffee High School, ranked #4 in the state.
It seemed, despite being state ranked themselves (#7), that they were the underdog all the way. Sure, they lost starting shortstop and team leader Jillian Weekley over a month ago. Her .400 plus batting average helped to lead the team offensively. But, if anything, the Lady Wildcats are proving to be resourceful.
Saturday they beat Chaffee 7-5 in a dramatic come from behind win that ended with a walk-off blast from catcher Dylan Topel.
The back-and-forth affair was full of drama.
The Lady Devils jumped on Hill in the first, scoring two runs on four hits. They then added another run in the top of the 2nd inning on two more hits. They led 3-0.
Montgomery was able to push a run across in the bottom of the 2nd as Anna Klekamp singled and went to second on a passed ball. A Skylar Bethmann single moved the runner to third and a Hailey Meyer slow roller to third scored the Wildcats first run.
The third inning went 3-up 3 -down for MCHS. The fourth had a two-out single from catcher Dylan Topel, but nothing else transpired.
Then came the fifth inning. It started auspiciously with the number 7 hitter, Meyer striking out. But, Kenley Wessel and Trinity Brown both walked and it brought Hill to the plate with a chance to dig into the 3-1 Chaffee lead. She didn’t disappoint. Hill slapped a hard hit single to right that hit the lip of the infield a took a weird bounce, that the right fielder misplayed.
“I saw it hit the lip and was off;” said Hill. “I wanted to score.”
Two runs scored as Coach Audra Heimer held up Hill at third. Gracie Cobb was up next and delivered a one-out rbi single which gave the Lady Wildcats a 4-3 lead. After a Sam Turner single, Chaffee Head Coach Brian Horrell made a pitching change. He switched out starter Carlyann Cossou with shortstop Bailey Robertson. The move worked as Robertson gave up an infield single to Klekamp before getting the second out as Topel hit a bouncer to third that turned into a force play at the plate, and then Bethmann skied to left to end the inning. Montgomery had their first lead, 4-3.
It didn’t last long. In the top of the sixth, Ashton Rhodes struck out looking, Hill’s fourth and final K. Then Abbigale Hanback reached on an error on a slow roller to Wessell at third. A double by Robertson and a single by second-baseman Millie Carroll plated two runs. And, just like that, Chaffee had the lead. Again. 5-4.
Montgomery went down in order in the bottom of the sixth. It was getting late.
But, the Lady Wildcats weren’t done. Far from it. Hill started the sixth with a walk before Cobb singled. Junior first-baseman Sam Turner then singled to load the bases. Nobody out. It was getting loud. Then Klekamp hit into a run-scoring double play that tied the game at 5-all. Two out. Runner at second. Topel came to the plate.
Hill, who had just scored, stopped and gave her good friend, Topel some advice.
Topel said she wasn’t concerned with walking back. She was more concerned with winning the game. “I need a hit,” she would say, “I needed to win it.”
She laced the first pitch she saw over the fence in left to end the game, 7-5.
Walk-off. Final Four.
Topel thought she had the home run, but wasn’t sure.
She says it’s a moment she’ll never forget.
Montgomery County takes on South Harrison in a Final Four semi-final game, Friday at 11am. You can hear the game on Country 96,.
