Oran softball team topples Leopold in Class 1 District 4 semifinal

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Oran softball team was more than happy to be trailing by only one run midway through the first inning Tuesday.

Lexi Vandeven and Brittany Garland each delivered a one-out double while Patience Vandermierden reached on a walk to load the bases for Leopold, but Oran starter Mackenzie Graviett struck out the next batter, allowed a run to score on a hit batter before inducing an infield pop fly to end the threat.

Oran's Leah Cauble slides into home plate to score past Leopold's Patience Vandermierden in the second inning during a Class 1 District 4 semifinal Tuesday, May 3, 2016 in Marble Hill, Missouri.Glenn Landberg

Eagles coach Jim Eftink called the narrow escape the biggest moment of the game, as second-seeded Oran found some early life on offense to come away with a 7-3 win over the third-seeded Wildcats in a Class 1 District 4 semifinal at Woodland High School.

"I think that set the stage for us to come in, score a couple and get the wheels rolling, but if they would have had a big hit in that first inning, that would have been a disaster," Eftink said. "We avoided it, pitched out of it. Mackenzie Graviett did a good job doing that."

The Eagles move on to face top-seeded Scott City in the district championship at 4 p.m. today. The two teams previously met on March 21, when senior Valerie Bahr hit a walk-off homer that lifted the Rams to a 4-2 victory at home.

Since that loss, Eftink said his players have been patient in anticipation of a rematch.

"They're better than what they were then, and we've improved over the season. ... It'll be a tough hill to climb to beat them because they were all we could handle the first game, and now they're better," he said. "We've got to show that we've improved, too, and we'll see where we're at tomorrow."

Oran (10-6) took the lead for good in the bottom half of the first inning. Leah Cauble doubled to right-center field before the next batter, Tatum May, reached on an error. Jessie Long grounded out to score Cauble, and a two-out single by Hannah Scherer plated May to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage heading into the second.

After Graviett worked a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, the Eagles broke the game open in the bottom of the frame.

Brianna Stause reached on a bunt single with one out, stole second and made her way to third on a throwing error. She scored when Sydney Kern doubled, and Cauble provided her second extra-base hit of the game with a run-scoring triple. A groundout by May scored a run before Long, who singled, came home on a misplayed ball in left field, allowing the Eagles to build a 6-1 lead.

"We've been swinging pretty good bats this year. ... They're hitting for power," Eftink said. "Those three seem to always get a key hit, with Cauble, May and Long. Whenever the game's on the line, that's who I want up there, and they got the key hits that inning that we scored those runs."

Oran's Brianna Stause makes the run to third base in the third inning against Leopold during a Class 1 District 4 semifinal Tuesday, May 3, 2016 in Marble Hill, Missouri.Glenn Landberg

Leopold (14-3) answered in the top of the third, as Vandeven led off with a single and was replaced by courtesy runner Jessie Holweg, who moved to second when Garland drew a walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on an error at first base and scored on a two-out fielding error at shortstop, cutting the Wildcats' deficit to 6-3.

Vandeven, who got the start for Leopold, retired eight straight batters until the bottom of the fifth when Claire Ramsey, who finished 2-for-2, hit a one-out double to left-center field. Hannah Scherer followed with her second hit of the game before a sacrifice squeeze bunt by Graviett allowed Ramsey to reach home.

"At that point, we had not scored in a couple innings, and we needed to shake things up and get something going," Eftink said. "Claire got a big hit. We had a good squeeze play there at the end, and that insurance run made it a lot easier in that last inning."

Graviett worked around an error in the top of the seventh to pick up the complete-game win in the circle. She struck out six, walked two and gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits. She struggled to get ahead early in counts, but Eftink was pleased with the sophomore hurler's ability to get her team out of several jams.

"She had that one inning where she walked a batter after a hit and then a couple errors, and they scored a couple like that," Eftink said. "She's not the type of pitcher that can walk batters, and she's got to have good defense behind her. Her walks usually come around to score -- I've told her that all year. She kind of limits them, but every now and then, she'll walk one and they'll come around to score."

Leopold's Alexis Vandeven makes the throw to Emily Seiler at first base for an out against Oran in the fourth inning during a Class 1 District 4 semifinal Tuesday, May 3, 2016 in Marble Hill, Missouri.Glenn Landberg

There was a big scare to end the top of the fifth when Leopold's Klara Beel was tagged out on a steal attempt at second base. She laid on the ground writhing in pain after sliding awkwardly into the base and injuring her ankle. Rain moved into the area, and the game was delayed for about 10 minutes while medical personnel assisted her off the field.

"I didn't know how we would respond to that," Leopold coach Keenan Kinder said. "We ended up giving up one more run, but I thought it was a close game. A couple hits here or there make a big difference. Oran played a really good ball game."

Vandeven finished 2-for-4 to lead the Wildcats at the plate and was tagged with the pitching loss. She scattered nine hits and allowed seven runs (six earned) with three strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work.

"She did a good job. She showed her senior leadership there," Kinder said about Vandeven. "The girls played behind her. We never folded up, never gave up shop."

Vandeven, who threw a perfect game against Scott County Central a day earlier, will be lost to graduation along with Garland and Emily Seiler.

"I could fill the newspaper up with everything I've got to say about them. I love those three girls," Kinder said. "They've done everything I've ever asked of them. I think they've started every single game for their entire careers, all four years. They're going to be hard players to replace. I know they're going to go off to college and do bigger and better things than just the game of softball.

"... Whenever we got here today, the seniors immediately were like, 'Let's get in the cage. Let's use their machine.' From Day 1 until the last inning of the game, they were trying to improve all year long, the whole entire team. I respect that. You've got to love that about them."

Leopold 102 000 0 -- 3 6 3

Oran 240 010 x -- 7 9 4

WP -- Mackenzie Graviett. LP -- Lexi Vandeven. 2B -- Vandeven (L), Brittany Garland (L), Sydney Kern (O), Leah Cauble (O), Claire Ramsey (O). 3B -- Cauble (O). Multiple hits -- Leopold: Vandeven 2-4; Oran: Ramsey 2-2, Hannah Scherer 2-3, Cauble 2-4.