WILLARD — Caliyah Clapper and her Madison teammates are on a mission.
Call it a retribution tour.
Clapper twirled a complete-game seven-hitter and belted a solo home run in the third inning as the fourth-seeded Rams knocked off No. 1 Shelby 5-1 in the opening game of a Division III district semifinal doubleheader at the Willard Sports Complex.
Madison (13-14-1) will play Celina for a district title at 11 a.m. Saturday in Willard. The Bulldogs knocked off Lima Shawnee 8-7.
The Rams won a district crown and reached the regional championship game last year before surrendering a seventh-inning walk-off grand slam in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to eventual state runner-up Springfield.
Clapper and Co. have been in a foul mood ever since.
“We wouldn’t let go of last season,” said Clapper, who has dealt with hip and hand injuries this spring. “(Coach Tim Niswander) told us before we got off the bus that … our record doesn’t matter. Our season starts right now and doesn’t end until we make it to Akron (for the state tournament).”
Early Offense
The Rams gave their sophomore ace all the run support she would need in the first two innings. Madison scored one in the first on Clapper’s RBI single to right and two more in the top of the second on Izzy Wamsley’s two-run double to center for a 3-0 lead.
Clapper’s solo shot to lead off the third gave Madison a 4-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Clapper. She struck out seven and walked two.
“You don’t feel like you have to be perfect and you can just cut it loose,” Niswander said of the early run support. “If you give up a hit it’s not a big deal.”
The Whippets (22-7) got to Clapper for a run in the home half of the third when Natalie Kennard singled to lead off the frame and Kendall Bowman laced a one-out RBI double to right.
Madison got that run back in the fifth when Campbell Kiser doubled and scored on an error.
Missed Opportunities
Sheby left the bases loaded in the first and stranded two runners in the third and seventh innings.
“That was pretty big,” Shelby coach Samantha Martin said. “We did leave the bases loaded, but in past seasons we have struck out or not had quality at bats. I thought the girls had really good at bats.
“They hit the ball hard, so there’s nothing to really shake your head at. Sometimes you don’t find the holes.”
Leaders
Clapper led Madison with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Allie Shrader had two hits and Wamsley drove in a pair.
Kennard led Shelby with three hits, including a double. Bowman had two hits.
Revenge
Shelby swept a doubleheader from Madison early in the regular season.
“The first time we played them it was the third game of the year,” Niswander said. “We were hurt, it was cold and we didn’t play very well.
“They had to go extra innings to beat us, so we knew we were right there.”
Unfinished Business
Last year’s disheartening regional final loss has served as motivation for the Rams all season.
“We’ve been talking all year that this is where we want to be,” Niswander said. “I told them on the bus when we pulled in today that I thought the best team came over on the bus with me and now all you’ve got to do is go out and prove it. And that’s what we did.”