By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Kate Finley’s shoulder went “pop” – again.
A short time later, her swing made an even louder pop.
Finley, showing no ill effects from an injury scare earlier in the game, belted a dramatic 3-run homer to lift Kickapoo to a 5-0 victory over Republic in Monday night’s Class 5 District 5 Tournament finals.
“I was just locked into the game,” Finley said. “I knew what I wanted for my team and for me, so I went up there and did what I know how to do.”
Finley just being in the game at that stage was noteworthy.
As she batted in the third inning, Finley reaggravated an injury in her left shoulder from last summer.
“I did realize it happened again, because I could feel it move,” Finley said. “I was pretty nervous, because (the first time) I was out for like two or three months. I didn’t want that to happen again.
“The trainer said if I could swing, then I could go, I was determined to stay in the game. So my shoulder had popped out. And then we popped it back in.”
With Finley fighting back tears, Lady Chiefs coach Jason Howser offered to bring in a pinch hitter.
“Obviously, I don’t want to put her in the position where she can hurt herself more,” Howser said. “But she stood up there and once she sort of got her composure – the trainer was out there (helping) her and talking to her – we both said to her, ‘What’s your call?’”
Finley would pop out in that third inning at-bat. As Finley waited on deck in the fifth inning, Howser checked with the Kickapoo dugout to see if the senior first baseman needed a pinch-hitter.
“I was hoping for a single,” Howser said. “She sequenced it well and hit it well.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
In the circle, five runs would be plenty of support for senior pitcher Allison Scott.
She threw all seven innings for Kickapoo, allowing just four hits and one walk to go with one strikeout.
Republic stranded four baserunners over the first two innings. Scott slammed the door shut soon thereafter, allowing only one baserunner after the third inning.
“(Republic) has seen me quite a bit,” Scott said. “So I wasn’t sure how they would do seeing me again. I just had to trust my approach and trust that my spins are going to work and my speed will be there. Ultimately, I’ve beaten them before so I could do it again.”
Although Kickapoo beat Republic twice in the regular season, Scott only threw in one of the games. Instead, the Lady Chiefs went with backup pitcher Callie Kilgo in the second meeting.
“We were kind of anticipating what might happen over the course of districts,” Howser said. “Tonight, (Scott) pitched like a four-year starter who’s one of the best pitchers in the state. She handled the situations. Republic made good adjustments at the plate, and we made adjustments to their adjustments. She was able to execute her pitches. Really an impressive outing for her.”
Kickapoo scratched an early run across in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to a sac-bunt RBI from 8-hole hitter Hailey Wilson. The Lady Chiefs also scored on a Republic error in the fifth.
Kickapoo tallied seven hits. Junior catcher Ellie Shevey was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
“I’m so excited, but it’s all for this team,” Scott said. “We all play as a family. We’re all so close, we’ve worked so hard for this moment. I could not be more proud of every single one of them.”
The victory gives Kickapoo its first district title since 2020. The Lady Chiefs made the final four for the first time in program history that season.
Rock Bridge (30-6 overall) stands in the way of Kickapoo’s second-ever final four berth. The Lady Chiefs (30-6 overall) will travel to Rock Bridge on Saturday, Oct. 26 for a Class 5 quarterfinals matchup.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Rock Bridge, which upset top-ranked Grain Valley to win its district tournament, beat the Lady Chiefs 8-3 on Oct. 12 in the regular season finale for both teams.
“They’ve got a very good offensive club,” Howser said. “They have three really good pitchers. And they’re athletic as all get out. We’ll have to play our best game.”
Republic (23-10 overall) finishes with its best overall record since 2018 and graduates seven seniors.
