Defending champ Kelly advances to district softball final

~ The Hawks defeated Portageville 3-0 in the district semifinals

BENTON, Mo. -- Alexis Dock knew she would have to be on her game since she was matched against one of the region's premier pitchers.

Dock also holds that distinction -- and she was definitely in peak form.

Dock won the battle of impressive sophomore hurlers, firing a four-hit shutout as top-seeded Kelly beat fourth-seeded Portageville 3-0 in Thursday's Class 2 District 1 tournament semifinal at Kelly High School.

The Hawks, who improved to 16-7, will shoot for their 10th district title in the last 11 years when they host second-seeded St. Vincent at 3:30 p.m. today.

"They're going to be out to get us," junior Stephanie Worth said about St. Vincent, which lost to Kelly 3-2 in last year's district final.

Upstart Portageville (13-9), led by pitcher Taylor Tiffany, was also out to get Kelly.

But Dock's work in the circle, some timely offense and errorless defense by the Hawks wouldn't allow it.

Dock gave up four hits, only two after the first inning. She struck out eight and walked one.

"The change and the curve," Dock said about what pitches were working the best.

Dock, asked if she felt like she had pitched particularly well, didn't have time to respond before Worth, her catcher, chimed in.

"I feel like she was on her game," Worth said.

Tiffany, who had a 19-strikeout performance against Sikeston earlier this season, allowed seven hits and just one earned run. She struck out five and walked two.

"Alexis threw a very good game, and the little girl from Portageville threw an excellent game, too," Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "It was a nail-biter."

Portageville had its best chance to break through against Dock in the top of the first inning.

Tiffany, who went 3 for 3, doubled with two outs and was held at third on a single by Destiney Crossno. Crossno stole second before Dock escaped the jam with a strikeout.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning.

Dock led off with a walk, junior Savannah Ashley singled and junior Kristi Brucker sacrificed.

Worth then laid down a suicide-squeeze bunt that went for a hit as Dock scored the first run.

"We work on bunts every day," said Worth, who led Kelly with two hits.

That practice again paid off in the fifth inning, when Kelly scored its other two runs, both unearned after junior Morgan LeDure reached on a leadoff error.

LeDure went to second on a ground out and to third on senior Jade Rampley's single. Rampley advanced to second on the throw home.

Dock then put down a suicide-squeeze bunt that drove in LeDure. Rampley also scored on the play on a wild throw to the plate.

"It's a big part of our routine," Ratledge said about bunting.

That 3-0 lead was more than enough for Dock, who retired 12 of the last 13 batters she faced while Kelly made several nice plays in the field.

"They were on," Ratledge said about the defense.

The Hawks, who have advanced to the state's final four six of the past nine years, will shoot for another district title today.

Portageville 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

Kelly 000 120 x -- 3 7 0

WP -- Alexis Dock. LP -- Taylor Tiffany. Leading hitters -- Portageville: Tiffany 3-3, 2B. Kelly: Stephanie Worth 2-3, 2B. Records -- Portageville 13-9, Kelly 16-7.