The Capital City Lady Cavaliers didn't want to share.
Sometimes, selfishness is a good thing.
Capital City wrapped up the Central Missouri Activities Conference softball title Monday with a 6-2 victory against the Helias Lady Crusaders at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
"To accomplish this isn't easy," Capital City coach Brett Skinner said. "We wanted to win it outright.
"We asked the girls if they wanted to share it or win it by themselves. They wanted it for themselves and they went out and got it. We can check it off our to-do list and now focus on districts."
Capital City finishes the CMAC season at 6-0. Helias had a chance to earn a share of the conference title with a win.
"Coach Skinner does a good job and and it's a much-deserved conference championship for them," Helias coach Kelly Fick said.
Capital City scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead.
"Put the pressure on the other team, that's the way we like it," Skinner said.
Kennedy Schanuth led off the fourth for Capital City with a walk and later came around to score on a double by Emma Stieferman.
"Those seem to score more often than not," Skinner said of the leadoff free pass.
Maysen Karr belted a one-out solo home run to center field in the fifth for the Lady Cavaliers.
"She's got some sneaky pop, the ball jumps off her bat," Skinner said. "That was huge, to give us some breathing room."
Helias, who had just one hit off Capital City starter Lydia Coulson through the first five innings, tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Ava Morris of the Lady Crusaders fouled off a bunt attempt on the first pitch of the inning. The second pitch ended over the fence in left field for a home run to cut Capital City's lead to 2-1.
"Ava got us going," Fick said.
Liv Bloomer followed with a walk. After a fly out, she moved to second on a passed ball. Coulson got a strikeout for the second out of the inning before Mallorey Rogers singled to right to plate Bloomer and tie the game at 2.
Momentum was on the side of the Lady Crusaders. But momentum is fickle.
"We weren't ready to go defensively and they put together some quality at-bats," Fick said.
Kelsey O'Day reached on an error to start the top of the seventh for Capital City. After a strikeout, Karr hit a pop up that fell between two Helias players on the edge of the infield to put runners at first and second.
"It comes back to something we've talked about since we started in the summer, it's communication," Fick said. "That's what it was.
"That really turned out to be the ballgame."
"That's what good teams do, you have to take advantage of things like that," Skinner said.
Faith Karr followed with a single to left to score O'Day to give the Lady Cavaliers a 3-2 lead. Maysen Karr advanced to third on the play, while Faith Karr went to second on the throw home.
"Our offense got the timely hit when we needed it and that's what you have to do to win games like this," Skinner said.
Schanuth then singled to right to plate Karr and Karr to make it 5-2. After stealing second, Schanuth scored on a double by Canryn Sharp.
"Helias is a really good team, they had the momentum going into the seventh, but we took it right back," Skinner said. "I'm proud of the girls for doing that."
Karoline Klebba got a one-out infield single for Helias in the bottom of the seventh. But Coulson, who struck out the leadoff batter in the inning, ended the game with two more strikeouts.
Coulson finished with a three-hitter. She allowed one walk and struck out 13.
"Lydia had a couple of days of rest so we knew she would be ready to go for this one," Skinner said.
Rogers took the loss for the Lady Crusaders. She went the distance, allowing eight hits and two walks while recording seven strikeouts.
Helias (15-6-1 overall, 4-2 CMAC) is back in action today in a rescheduled game at Fatima.
"They play with energy and with passion," Fick said. "They have kids that love to play. We're going to have to be ready from the first pitch."
Capital City (21-5) is scheduled to play today at Iberia.
"That showed a lot about us," Skinner said. "We should have a lot of confidence for the rest of the season and going into districts next week."
This is the first conference title for Capital City in any sport.
"This is a special group," Skinner said. "Everything is starting to come together now and this is the time of the year you want those things to happen. We're excited to see how we can finish this season."