Fatima shortstop Kinzey Woody had a monster game in Monday’s Class 3, District 5 semifinal against California at Southern Boone. Woody went 3-4, just missing the cycle, with a single, triple, and a game-winning walk-off HR to center field to lift the Lady Comets to a 10-0 win.

Coach Ashlee Schnieders is not surprised her junior slugger had a great game. “She’s always solid for us, no matter what,” said Schnieders. “Kinzey sees the ball well, and doesn’t try to overdo it.”

That can be a problem with heavy hitters. “The girls know I want them to hit the ball hard, but I’m never gonna say I need you to hit a home run,” she said. “I’m gonna say I need you to move runners over, which means hit the ball hard. And if you’re swinging for the fences, unintentionally, you’re most likely going to pop up. They know when we go in the cages, we work on line drives, and hitting the ball hard to the back of the net. So, they know, and I have a great group of girls who are pretty grounded in that, too.”

Fatima didn’t score in the first at-bat, but Schnieders is pleased the Lady Comets rolled after that to advance to Tuesday’s championship game against Blair Oaks.

“Scoring in the first inning is important,” said Schnieders after the game. “We made adjustments too late against California, but some of that was their defense.”

Hannah Heisler smoked the ball but it went right to a Lady Pinto. “We’re hitting it hard, but hitting it at people,” said Schnieders. “The adjustment was just off, you know, and just because we get no runs in that first inning, Hannah starting off with that laser to centerfield gave confidence to everybody else. Even though she got out,  we can still hit the ball hard.”

Fatima took the lead 4-0 in the bottom of the second after Woody tripled to clear the bases after Emerson Williams and Heisler drew walks, and Kaitlyn Plassmeyer reached on an error.

Woody scored on an RBI groundout from Faith Jaegers.

The Lady Comets tacked on three in the third for a 7-0 lead. Kristen Robertson slid into third on a three-base error and scored two batters later on an infield single by Elise Dickneite. KP reached on another error, and Dickneite and Plassmeyer scored after a throw sailed down the right-field line to give Fatima a 7-0 lead.

Taylor Baumhoer and Mia Kliethermes delivered a solid 1-2 punch from the circle, combining for a one-hit shutout. Baumhoer, who holds the Fatima career strikeout record, struck out eight of the nine she faced, including the first three hitters of the game.

The Lady Comets entered the game after a 15-0 win over Eldon on Thursday.

“Taylor came out very dominant in the circle,” said Schnieders as the senior hurler struck out all nine batters she faced in the game. “Defensively, it helps to have a pitcher that come out very strong. Hitting wise, it was a team effort. Everybody was putting the ball in play. They were doing the little things right. When you put all those things together, it leads to a really good game.”

Offensively, Woody went 3-3 with a double and HR while driving in five runs. Jaegers was also 3-3 with a double and four RBI.

Robertson (RBI) and Williams (2 RBI) had two hits apiece, and KP, Heisler (triple, RBI), Dickneite (RBI), and Lily Cunningham (RBI) had a hit each.

A report on Tuesday’s championship game will be presented next week.