It’s been a few years since Fatima’s softball team hoisted the first-place district plaque, but the Lady Comets were ready for Friday’s third game against Blair Oaks in a classic 1-2 matchup. Fatima won a pitcher’s duel with a pair of home runs in a 2-1 win to move on to the quarterfinals this Thursday at 5 p.m. at Seneca.

“We played a tough schedule this year to get us ready for the postseason,” said Coach Ashlee Schnieders, whose team is now 30-3. “Our whole goal was to make it to Friday, the championship, and we did! It was a game we have been wanting all season, and we played a very good Blair Oaks team. It was truly a pitcher’s duel.”

Taylor won that battle with nine strikeouts and no walks while allowing just one run on two hits. “We played with heart the whole game and pushed through some stressful situations,” said Schnieders. “These are the games that prove what kind of team you are, and we showed we deserved to be there and to advance. I am extremely proud of this team; they are a special group. We know there are still more games to focus on, but it was a great celebration.”

Before the district tournament, Fatima and Blair Oaks had each claimed a win, and the rubber game was a high-stakes contest at Sullivan.

Offensively, Fatima had only two hits and took advantage of two errors.

Mia Kliethermes hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the second.

In the third, Kaitlyn Plassmeyer and Hannah Heisler laid down back-to-back bunts, both reaching on an error, the latter of which allowed KP to score.

Faith Jaegers had the team’s second hit, a single to left field in the third, but she was stranded.

In the semifinal on Thursday, the Lady Comets defeated St. Francis Borgia, 7-3.

Fatima wasted no time establishing a lead with four runs in the first.

Heisler (1-3), Kinzey Woody (1-4, RBI), and Jaegers (1-4) hit consecutive singles, with Woody driving in Heisler. Allison Schwartze cleared the bases with a hard-hit double to center field, and she came home on a Kliethermes (3-4, 4 RBI) single.

Ellie Brune (3-4) led off the third with a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch. She was joined on the bases by Schwartze (walk), and Kliethermes delivered her second single of the game to plate Brune.

Borgia scored one in the fourth, but Fatima answered with a run in the bottom of the frame after Kliethermes hit into a fielder’s choice that drove in Heisler (walk).

Leading 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Kliethermes hit her third RBI single of the game, advancing to second on the throw as Brune scored for a 7-3 lead. Brune had hit her third single with two outs and moved up on Schwartze’s single.

Baumhoer started the game and went six innings, allowing no runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts and a walk. Kliethermes, in an inning of relief, allowed one hit.

In the district opener, Fatima ran away with a 15-0 win over St. Clair.

Offensively, the Lady Comets counted six hits as Jaegers and Schwartze had two apiece, and Heisler (3 RBI), Caleigh Huot (RBI), Robertson (RBI), Brune (RBI), and Baumhoer added a hit each. KP also drove in two runs.

On the rubber, Baumhoer had six strikeouts, and Kliethermes posted two in a three-inning no-hit shutout.