Cor Jesu, Incarnate Word Earn Berths
In Finals

By Jeff Brown
Special To The Post-Dispatch

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Cor Jesu Academy used two unearned runs and an emerging hero to beat Eureka 2-1 Friday in the Missouri Class 4A softball semifinals at Rainbow Softball Center.

Junior designated hitter Holly Sahrmann came up with the big hit leading off the bottom of the fifth inning. She scorched a line drive over Eureka right fielder Jen Smith's head for a double. The next batter, Catie Blume, laid down a bunt that Eureka pitcher Melanie Wallach fielded, but her throw to first was low and skipped away. Sahrmann scored from second on the error.

"She just started (being the designated hitter) for us the last three games and she's been a hero," said Cor Jesu coach Marianne Haberstroh. "She hit a home run in one, she was a hero in the last game and she's basically a hero in this game. So we made the right move at the right time."

Sahrmann's run, combined with Amanda Clifton's first-inning RBI single, turned out to be all the Chargers would need in advancing to today's championship game.

"That's the luck of the game - it's one throw that makes the whole game," Sahrmann said.

Cor Jesu (26-3) will take a 21-game winning streak into the title game at 4 p.m. against Blue Springs (29-2), which beat Jefferson City 3-0 in Friday's other semifinal.

Blue Springs got a complete game from sophomore pitcher Lindsey Major, who went 21-2 on the season and allowed only five earned runs in 151 innings. The Wildcats have won 20 of their past 21 games and beat Cor Jesu 2-1 earlier this season.

Eureka (28-3) takes on Jefferson City (24-8) in the third-place game at 11 a.m.

* Incarnate Word 2, Lutheran South 0: Incarnate Word Academy pulled out the heavy lumber to beat Lutheran South in the 3A semifinals.

The Red Knights got a leadoff triple from junior Michelle Smith in the fifth inning. Senior pitcher Jenny Rice struck out the next two hitters, and it looked as though the Lancers might get out of the jam.

Incarnate Word junior Sarah Lamkin put an end to that thinking by driving in Smith with an inside-the-park home run. Lamkin's drive down the line shot past diving right fielder Carrie Gilbertson and into the corner, enabling Lamkin to circle the bases.

Incarnate Word takes on the winner of the Marshfield-O'Hara game for the title at 5:30 p.m. today. Lutheran South plays for third place at 12:30 p.m.