SHELBY — Lexington ran into a buzzsaw Friday afternoon.
Bryan pitcher Thea Staten struck out 13 and the Golden Bears advanced to the state tournament for the first time in program history with a 4-1 win over Lady Lex in the Division II Shelby regional championship game.
A sophomore flame-thrower, Staten gave up just three hits and walked two. She struck out the final seven batters she faced.
“I just knew I needed to be confident with my stuff and trust my spins,” Staten said, “and know that I have a great defense behind me.”
Bryan (21-5) took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the second, but Lady Lex (28-3) tied it in the top of the third. Emily Asher drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Jillian Morr’s one-out double to left.
Bryan reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame thanks to a pair of long balls. No. 9 hitter Marlee Yoder led off the inning with a single, bringing leadoff hitter Amiyah Langham to the plate. The freshman shortstop turned on a 1-0 pitch and belted it over the wall in left for a 3-1 Bryan lead. Senior slugger Kailee Thiel added a solo shot later in the inning to give the Golden Bears a 4-1 advantage.
“They got into a couple,” Lexington coach Todd Galownia said. “That’s what it comes down to in games like this. You make a mistake and they get a couple runs and it’s hard to battle back.”
Staten worked out of a jam in the top of the fourth. She gave up a leadoff single to Kylie Galownia and walked Kaylie Eichorn with one out, but recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
Lady Lex stranded another runner in scoring position in the fifth. Kyra Boyd doubled with one out, but Staten extinguished the threat with a flyout and a strikeout.
“Some of these kids haven’t seen a pitcher like that,” Todd Galownia said. “It’s hard to get out there and do that.”
Morr, Asher and Kylie Galownia each had a hit for Lexington. Asher scored Lady Lex’s lone run.
Lexington pitcher Makaree Chapman gave up four hits and three earned runs. She struck out eight and walked one.
Lexington’s four seniors, Morr, Asher, Kylie Galownia and Kaylie Eichorn, won 80 games in four seasons.
“These seniors won 80 games, by far the best class in a long time,” Todd Galownia said. “They’re great players and that leadership they bring.
“It’s hard on them right now, but they’ll move on. They’re all winners. They’re going to do good things.”