Hitting in the bottom of the seventh in the championship game of the Missouri Class 3 District 12 Softball Tournament, down a run with two outs and two strikes, McDonald County's Kylie Helm put an end to one of the most exciting softball games in the history of the MCHS program when the senior hit her second homer of the game to give the Lady Mustangs a 15-14 win over the Monett Cubs.
The chances of Helm striking out in that situation were minimal. The last time she had struck out in her high school career was on Sept. 26. Not this past Sept. 26 or even Sept. 26 of 2017. It was Sept. 26 of 2016 in her sophomore season. That was the fifth and last time she has struck out, a streak of 219 official at-bats without striking out, the best-ever such streak in Missouri high school softball.
But even more important than continuing her streak by just putting the ball in play was that Helm drove a 2-2 pitch way over the left-field fence for a walk-off win for the Lady Mustangs, who had led 12-1 at one point in the game.
"I started crying when I touched first base," Helm said. "I didn't know if it was going to go out, but older Coach Smith (first base coach Lee Smith) started yelling and then I started crying. It still doesn't feel real that I actually hit the home run to win districts."
Helm put McDonald County on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with a three-run homer to erase a 1-0 Monett lead. The Lady Cubs scored a run in the top of the first on two hits and two walks off of freshman Madeline McCall before Alexa Hopkins came in and got out of a bases-loaded, no out jam without giving up a run.
McDonald County seemingly took control of the game in the bottom of the third, scoring nine runs on just one hit -- Hopkins two-out double to drive in the eighth and ninth runs of the inning. The Lady Mustangs took advantage of nine walks, including eight consecutive free passes to score six runs before Whitney Kinser hit a sacrifice fly for the seventh run of the inning.
But the Lady Cubs began roaring back in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on four hits and two McDonald County errors to cut the lead to 12-6.
Neither team scored in the fifth but, in the sixth, Monett put together five hits to go with a McDonald County error to score five runs in an inning for the second time in the game to close to 12-11.
The Lady Mustangs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a walk to Chloe Colvin, a single by Kinser and a wild pitch to take a 13-11 lead into the seventh.
One insurance run proved not to be enough to stave off Monett. The Lady Cubs used an error and three hits to make the comeback complete by scoring three runs for an improbable 14-13 lead entering the bottom of the seventh.
Monett starting pitcher Kassie McCallister re-entered the game in the sixth after being relieved in the Lady Mustangs nine-run third inning and retired five straight batters to get within an out of a win. But with two out in the seventh, Kinser hit a hard ground ball to second that was juggled, giving the junior just enough time to dive headfirst into first base to beat the throw in order for Helm to get to the plate. Helm, who had walked twice in the game, once intentionally and once non-intentionally, answered with her dramatic game-winner.
"I have never been part of a game like that," said coach Skyler Rawlins. "I have never been part of a game that had so many ups and downs. I think the weather (cold and wet) played a big part in defense and pitching. Winning a district championship is exciting and winning one like this is even more so. We want to be playing our best ball at this time of the year and will see what happens the rest of the way."
Helm finished with two hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, while Rita Santillan, Kinser, Hopkins, Kaylee Cornell and Leslie Yousey had one each.
Hopkins gutted out seven innings for the win, allowing 13 runs (five earned) on 14 hits while striking out eight and walking none.
Semifinals
Hopkins led the Lady Mustangs to a 10-0 win over Carl Junction in five innings in the district semifinals. The sophomore shut out the Lady Bulldogs on two hits, striking out three and walking none.
Helm powered the offense, hitting a pair of home runs and driving in four. Hopkins also had a homer, going back-to-back with Helm in McDonald County's four-run first inning. Colvin added two hits and Santillan had one.
McDonald County hosted Bolivar in a Class 3 sectional on Wednesday. The winner advances to the state quarterfinals on Saturday.
Sports on 10/18/2018