(Springfield, MO) The Valle Catholic Lady Warriors are champions of Class 1 following their 2-1 win in 9 innings over Concordia on Tuesday at Killian Sports Complex.
The scoring began in the top of the 1st when Makayla Joggerst doubled with two outs scoring Macy Wolk from first base. Joggerst missed the Semifinals the day before with a lower-body injury suffered in the Quarterfinals a week prior.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Kiya Inman launched an Abree Zipprich Fastball to left-center field for a home run. That would be the only Concordia Orioles run. Inman added her second hit in the top of the 7th but was stranded at second as the possible winning run.
After the 2nd, both pitchers were phenomenal in the pitchers duel, Zipprich for Valle Catholic and Olivia Hemme for Concordia. Both pitchers completed the game for their squad. Zipprich struck out 14 batters and allowed a run on three hits. Hemme allowed both runs on 9 hits and struck out 17 Lady Warriors on 175 pitches.
Catcher Nicole Gegg singled with an out in the top of the 9th sparking the Valle Catholic offense. Addi Donze batted in the nine-spot of the Lady Warriors order, but she came through with the go-ahead and eventual game winning hit.
Olivia Hemme fielded a hot shot right back to her in the circle to begin a 1-2-3 double play that ended the Lady Warriors rally but the damage had been done. Abree Zipprich got the three batters she faced in the bottom of the 9th out to seal the deal and secure Valle Catholic its first State Championship in program history.
Pitcher Abree Zipprich says the team had their eyes set on a Championship run since the beginning of the season.
Lady Warriors Head Coach, Kurt Basler, says the work ethic of his team led to the Championship.
Valle Catholic reached the Championship game after a No-hit performance from Zipprich in the circle in the semifinals as her club shut down Ellington 4-0. Zipprich contributed a 3-run blast in that game as well.
The Lady Warriors season concludes as the top team in Class 1 with a record of 20-3.