Savannah Savages fall to Oak Grove Panthers in Class 3 State Quarterfinals
By Calvin Silvers
On a brisk Saturday afternoon at Missouri Western, the fall season was winding down, setting the stage for the Class 3 State Quarterfinals. The Savannah Savages had the advantage of a home-field feel against the Oak Grove Panthers, but they quickly lost control of the game. A struggle in the first inning resulted in an 8-2 defeat, ending their season with a 21-10 overall record and a Class 3 District 8 Championship.
The confidence of the Panthers presented itself early, with Oak Grove quickly establishing dominance by racking up four runs in the first inning. This early onslaught put the Savages in a tough spot, throwing their game plan off balance.
Oak Grove’s JJ Duffet delivered a standout moment with an unlikely hit, barely making contact but was able to use the tip of her bat to push the ball past the pitcher. Her play brought in two runs, fueling the Panthers’ impressive 4-0 start.
Savannah determined not to let a single inning derail their tournament hopes, had Macee Blyth spark the offense with a well-placed hit that fell just in front of the left fielder, allowing her to safely reach second base. Regan Bauer came up with a clutch hit that ricocheted off a Panther’s foot, sending Blyth racing across home plate.
Though it was the only run for Savannah in that inning, it narrowed the score to 4-1, leaving Oak Grove in the lead as the first inning came to a close.
The Panthers continued to apply pressure in the second inning. With a runner on second, senior Brianna Craig stepped up and made solid contact, driving the ball through the gap between the third baseman and shortstop. Carly Beard sprinted home with ease, adding another run and extending the Panthers’ lead to 5-1 as they maintained their momentum through two innings.
Both teams battled to the bottom of the third inning without adding to the scoreboard, leaving Savannah trying to dig out of that early hole. In the bottom of the third, however, things began to shift.
Savannah’s Macee Blyth stepped up and launched a missile that bounced off a Panthers’ glove. This allowed Oliva Schaub to score, bringing the tally to 5-2 and igniting a spark of momentum for the Savages as they headed into the fourth inning.
Oak Grove quickly shifted the momentum back in their favor, thanks to a solid hit from Kyndle Cox that zipped past second base, bringing in another run to extend their lead to 6-2. The highlight of the day came in the sixth inning when Brianna Craig crushed a two-run homer, soaring over the fence and pushing the score to 8-2.
