SPRINGFIELD  — Saturday’s Class 3 state softball championship was one for the books in many ways, from the 16-14 final — a record combined score — to the fact it took eight innings to decide. Perhaps most important for the Lady Comets (33-3) is that they trailed by nine runs but kept their composure to pull out the victory at the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield.

“No one expected to trail by nine runs,” said Coach Ashlee Schnieders, who led the Lady Comets to their first Final Four since 2014, when Fatima (22-7) defeated Pleasant Hope 16-3 for the Class 2 state title. “No one thought the final score would be that high, but everyone knew it would be a close game. I was excited to win, but it was a very emotionally draining game. It was a little overwhelming.”

Tied at 14 in the top of the eighth, the Lady Comets plated two, putting everything on the line.

“We kept telling each other this was our state title and we weren’t going to give up,” said senior Ellie Brune, who went 4-6 with a double and two RBI, including the final run. “I’m so proud of my teammates.”

With one out, Kaitlyn Plassmeyer reached on an error but remained at first when the second out was a pop-up to the pitcher. Kinzey Woody walked, and Faith Jaegers (2-6, 3 RBI) stepped in to deliver a single to left field to plate KP.

Jaegers doesn’t worry about her role or the fact she hits behind Woody, who led the team with a BA of .533 this year and went 2-3 with two home runs.

Woody was vocal in her leadership. “The culture we’ve built here at Fatima has allowed her to blossom into a great player and leader,” said Schnieders, adding that having Woody in the lineup ahead of Jaegers presented an interesting scenario. “It can be challenging to hit behind a phenomenal player like Kinzey, but Faith is a great hitter as well, which has made it difficult for teams to defend all year. Faith doesn’t like the spotlight, but she definitely deserves recognition. She’s quiet but has come through all season with big hits.”

Seven of those big hits were home runs this year to lead the team, which gives her a tie for third in the Fatima HR record book.

Brune was next in the box, and her single drove in Woody to give Fatima a two-run lead.

Chillicothe’s lead-off hitter reached on an error in the bottom of the frame, but the Lady Comets didn’t sweat it.

“Mistakes are going to happen,” said Schnieders. “How you deal with them is what’s important.”

Fatima responded by securing the next three outs to end the game, the final being a pop-out to KP.

“It seemed to be going in slow motion,” said Brune. “I was ready to charge in and celebrate, but it seemed like forever before she caught the ball.”

Schnieders wasn’t comfortable with a two-run lead despite the Lady Comets needing only three outs to claim the win.

“Against a good team like Chillicothe, three outs is not a given,” she said. “Three outs could take an hour or 30 seconds. We just had to fight and stay focused.”

One of the outs was a strikeout swinging, which gave Taylor Baumhoer 235 for the year, a new Fatima record.

“Taylor has worked her tail off all year,” said Schnieders. “She deserves this win and the strikeout record. I’m very proud of her.”

Baumhoer set the record in the quarterfinals after striking out 14 Seneca batters to reach 217, and in the Final Four, she struck out 11 in the semis and seven in the championship game. Against Chillicothe, she walked three, and eight runs were earned on 13 hits to win her 20th game of the year, third on the all-time record list.

Baumhoer had no doubts or fear, even after Chillicothe plated 10 runs in the second. “I put it behind me and focused on what I had to do to keep us in the game,” she said. “They scored more against me in one inning than any team scored all year, but it was early, and I knew the game was far from over.”

Schnieders agreed. “I told the girls after that inning that they had a choice to make,” she said. “I told them they could give up and go home sad or fight back and win the game. They fought back, and all you can ask as a coach is that they not give up.”

Tied at 3-3 in the top of the second, Fatima had added a run on Woody’s first HR to take a 4-3 lead before Chillicothe’s monster inning.

“They took advantage of an error and a few walks, but they hit the ball well,” said Schnieders. “At this stage, you know they’re a great team with great hitters, but we have great hitters too.”

Brune was amazed at the hitting display. “They hit every gap,” she said.

When the girls prepared to bat in the top of the third, there was a sense of positivity despite a case of nerves.

“I didn’t know whether I felt more surprised or scared that they scored 10 runs,” said Brune.

Despite the nerves, the Lady Comets brushed it off and kept playing.

“Mia (Kliethermes) really got it started,” said Baumhoer. “She hit a double, and we got hot.”

Kliethermes was somewhat uneasy entering the game. “I get nervous about everything,” she said. “I think just everybody being there. Being in the state game and not knowing much about your opponent is nerve-wracking.”

Others showed plenty of support, especially senior Caleigh Huot, who went 3-5 with two RBI against Chillicothe. “She has more experience in bigger games and just saying ‘have fun with it,’ and ‘you’ve been doing all season.’ I just went in there and did what I’ve been doing.”

After her double, Kliethermes (3-5, 2 RBI) came home on a Huot double, and Lilly Cunningham (1-5) singled. Following a sacrifice by KP moved the runners, Hannah Heisler (3-6, 2 RBI) sent the ball to center field for a double that drove in both teammates to make it a 13-7 score.

Woody stepped into the box and drew a walk, one of a record 32 on the year, including at least 15 that were intentional.

Enter Jaegers, who cleared the bases with a double to center field. Two batters later, senior Allison Schwartze (1-5, RBI) reached on an error that allowed Jaegers to score.

Just like that, the score was 13-10.

Schnieders is impressed with the resolve. “What kind of team can come back after a 10-run inning and score six? These girls have proven they’re the best team in Class 3, and that inning was a big reason.”

Fatima continued to press while holding Chillicothe scoreless until the seventh.

In the top of the fifth, Woody drew another walk but was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice as Jaegers reached first. Brune doubled to put two in scoring position, and Jaegers scored on a Schwartze sac fly. That cut the lead to 13-11, but the Lady Comets weren’t done.

Kliethermes hit an RBI single to cut the lead to one before the inning ended.

In the sixth, the first two batters went down, but with two outs, Heisler singled. Woody hit the first pitch she saw and crushed the ball over the left-field fence for her second round-tripper, a two-run blast that gave Fatima a 14-13 lead.

“We never gave up,” said Woody. “It was all gas and no brakes.”

After Chillicothe tied the game in the seventh, Fatima went on to claim the win.

The Lady Comets scored first after Heisler drilled a double to left field to lead off the game. Two batters later, Jaegers reached on an error that pushed Heisler to third, and she came home on a Brune single. Schwartze, Kliethermes, and Huot came through with consecutive singles that gave Fatima a 3-0 lead.

All told, the Lady Comets posted 19 hits in the game and credit their improvements to the three losses.

“After we lost the Hallsville game, we started having voluntary extra practices,” said Heisler. “We would go in early or stay late to work on whatever we felt needed to be improved. This state championship is a product of that hard work.”

At that point in the season, Fatima was ranked first in Class 3, and it was something the Lady Comets wanted to maintain.

However, that became a double-edged sword. “The big question was ‘How do we act as number one?’ because the girls told me they felt a lot of pressure,” said Schnieders. “I told them to play like they were number one or play like they were dead last. Your ranking shouldn’t dictate how you play the game. Since that loss to Hallsville, the girls have been different. They were very motivated to succeed and took what I said to heart. They just played Fatima softball and bought into the culture I wanted to create. I’m glad they did.”

Some of the Lady Comets were nervous stepping onto the field for the title game. “Chillicothe had already been to state and finished second last year, so they had the experience of the big game,” Heisler said.

Cunningham overcame jitters by remaining attentive to the important things. “I just try to stay focused on the game and not think too much about the crowd, making errors, or having a bad at-bat,” she said. “I did feel confident that our team could win a Final Four. I knew that we were capable of being the best team out there, and we went out and showed it.”

Fatima players agree it has all been about excellent team chemistry.

“I have a lot of favorite memories from this season, but overall I would say having fun with my team was the best,” said Cunningham. “For example, we did a wacky Wednesday practice where we all dressed up in funny clothes. Another thing is when we would all get together and go have dinner, and we would all sit and have fun.”

Schwartze said it’s the little things that made this season special, adding that watching KP make the final out of the season was especially satisfying.

“Inside jokes and things like that were cool,” Huot added. “I’m going to miss that.”

She had the eventual game-winning hit against Helias this year and wore a chicken hat.

When asked what, if anything, would have made this season better, the consensus was to have beaten Blair Oaks in all three games, but the Lady Comets agree that losing helped in the long run.

“It made us a better team,” Heisler offered.

Coach Schnieders agrees. “No one likes to lose, but they challenged us to improve,” she said. “Those losses made us who we are as individuals and as a team. I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

The Lady Comets expressed gratitude for the support shown by fans all year.

When the game ended and the celebration ensued, there was an element of relief and emotional release.

“There wasn’t a dry eye on the field or in the stands,” said Schnieders. “I was tired but I am so happy and proud to have coached these girls. It’s nice to celebrate, relax, and let some of the pressure go!”

Schnieders added that she is amazed by this group of young ladies. “It’s not often you have a team go the entire year without an injury,” she said. “They trained correctly and did everything right. You don’t get a group like this very often, and I feel very fortunate to have been able to coach them.”

She also praised the efforts of her assistant coaches, Kenny Bonnot, Makayla Broeker, and Steve Schnieders.

“We couldn’t have had this great season without them,” she said. “This has been the most incredible experience.”