The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons are back in the Final Four, but they'll need one more win to get to Springfield.
To get there, Blair Oaks needs a win in today's Class 3 state semifinals against the Savannah Savages. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
"Any time you can play at home, you feel like you have an advantage," Blair Oaks coach Sharon Buschjost said. " It's a long drive for Savannah. I would expect our crowd to be good, to be loud and definitely turn it into a home-field advantage."
Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in Class 3 in the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association rankings. Blair Oaks (24-6) is No. 3, while Savannah (17-1) is No. 5.
To reach the Final Four for the 11th time in 21 years, Blair Oaks defeated Centralia 4-0 in Thursday night's quarterfinal game in Centralia. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but it was pushed back a day due to inclement weather.
"Everything about that game felt like what a postseason quarterfinal game would be and should be," Buschjost said.
Savannah finished third in Class 3 last season, losing 10-2 to Sullivan in the semifinals and then winning 5-4 against Incarnate Word in the third-place game.
Savannah played its quarterfinal game Wednesday, but the location was moved to St. Joseph. Savannah defeated Odessa 6-4 to reach the Final Four for the second straight season.
Savannah scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a two-run home run by Haley Noland.
This season, Savannah is averaging 10 runs per game while allowing an average of 1.4 runs.
"There were some lopsided scores when you look at their games," Buschjost said.
Blair Oaks is averaging 7.6 runs per game and allowing 1.8. However, in four postseason games, the Lady Falcons are outscoring their opponents 31-0.
"We feel really good where we're at in all facets of the game," Buschjost said, "and especially hitting."
Leading Savannah this season is senior pitcher Kenzie Schopfer, one of the Savages' two returning all-state players from last season. In 2020, Schopfer has a 15-1 record with 189 strikeouts and 30 walks in 90 innings. She has also pitched three no-hitters and 10 shutouts.
Buschjost said the Lady Falcons have on their scouting report Schopfer is a power pitcher.
"She throws hard, has a rise ball she wants you to chase and also throws a drop ball," Buschjost said. "She's got a good mix of pitches."
In Wednesday's win, Schopfer allowed four runs on three hits with six walks and 16 strikeouts. Two of those hits were home runs by Odessa's Brittany Affolter.
Blair Oaks faced a hard-throwing pitcher Thursday in Centralia's Kaelyn Walters. The Lady Falcons struck out just three times and consistently put the ball in play.
"Walters, there was nothing easy about her," Buschjost said. "She could bring it, too."
Another returning all-state player for Savannah is Madde Graves, who batted fifth and played first base against Odessa.
No. 3 hitter Emma Tipton hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to lift Savannah to a 5-4 win last Saturday in the championship game of the District 8 Tournament.
"You certainly have to watch out for more than one or two hitters," Buschjost said. "They have more than one or two who will hurt you.
"I tend to look at a team Nos. 1-9, and they can all be dangerous."
Just to get into the state tournament, Savannah had to beat second-ranked Kirksville 3-0 in the district semifinals before upending No. 7 Chillicothe, a team that handed the Savages their only loss this season.
"I don't know if it was the number of games they played that got them the No. 4 seed, but they don't sound like a No. 4 seed in a district," Buschjost said of Savannah.
Rock Bridge and Father Tolton, both teams that have defeated Blair Oaks this season, are also playing today in the state semifinals.
"Our strength of schedule that we play helps us get ready for this type of game," Buschjost said.
Buschjost said it will be a game-time decision for Blair Oaks' starting pitcher between Alexis Findley and Andi Siebeneck. Findley is 13-3 with 138 strikeouts and a 1.26 ERA in 94 innings, while Siebeneck is 9-3 with 108 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA in 69 innings.
The winner advances to the Class 3 state championship game, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday at the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
Today's other Class 3 semifinal game is between No. 4 Sullivan (19-9) and No. 6 Bowling Green (19-7). That contest will start at 2 p.m. at Sullivan.