Holden Softball Team Ends Historic Postseason Run With State Championship Victory

The Holden Lady Eagles softball team ended the season by claiming the MSHSAA Class 2 Softball State Tournament title with a win over South Harrison by the final score of 4-1 in the first-place game played at Meador Park in Springfield Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Lady Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning and held on for the victory to deliver the first-ever softball state championship trophy to the trophy cases of Holden High School.

“We were confident going into it,” said Holden softball coach Jeff Smith. “There wasn’t a doubt in anybody’s mind. Everybody believed that we were going to do just exactly what we just did. These girls are so determined. There wasn’t ever a doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Playing as the home team, the Lady Eagles weathered a series of hard hits and a walk in the first inning to allow just one Bulldog run in the top of the opening frame.

Holden built its foundation to plate two runs in the bottom of the first when senior shortstop and leadoff hitter Addy Campbell opened Holden’s half of the inning with a single.

Lady Eagle senior catcher Haley Brooks followed Campbell with an RBI single that scored Campbell to tie the game.
Freshman first baseman Lily Kephart singled behind Brooks to put two runners on.

Brooks scored the go-ahead run on a ground out by senior third baseman Bobbie Diibon.

Holden kept the pressure on the Lady Bulldogs when senior designated player Addi Wooster was hit by a pitch before a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning with the Lady Eagles leading 2-1.

“They came out, and we were absolutely motivated to put up at least two runs there,” said coach Smith. “Their pitcher, we made her throw like 40-some pitches in that inning, kept fouling off pitches, taking great at-bats, putting balls in play, nothing hard, just good situational hitting, good situational base running, and did the little things right like we’ve worked on all year long.”

Holden scored its third run of the game in the bottom of the third inning when a wild pitch allowed Brooks to score from third after Brooks singled to lead off the inning. Books had moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kephart and a passed ball.

Following a scoreless fourth inning from both teams, and a scoreless top of the fifth for South Harrison, Campbell tripled with one out in the bottom of the fifth. When she landed on third base, a look and a yell from Campbell to the dugout got the team and the crowd fired up.

“Her role all season long for the last 32 games has been our leader…leader on the field, leader off the field,” said coach Smith. “She’s just a phenomenal kid, a phenomenal athlete. Everybody follows her. She is a true leader, and through talent on the field, just everything that a team needs to get to where we are at right now. When we need a spark, just like what happened today, she’s the one that sparks it. If she can’t do it offensively, she’s going to do it defensively. If she can’t do it defensively, she’s going to do it in the dugout.”

Brooks singled to push Campbell across home plate for what would prove to stand as the final run of the game.
“We’re always 110 percent effort, energy, I mean, we preached that at practice all last week,” said Campbell. “If we play with the same energy and effort that we have this postseason, we’re going to go far, and that shows.

“Not everybody was on the field today or in the postseason, but right here, Jazzy, she stuck with us every single game, practice, and supported us, and especially our fans,” continued Campbell with a pat on the shoulder of teammate Jazzy Brown who supported the team from the dugout while recovering from an injury this season. “I mean, we couldn’t do anything without them. When everybody comes together as one and we play as one, and we keep the energy up, it shows.”

Brown provided encouragement from the dugout during the regular season, and throughout the championship finish.
“It’s really exciting,” said Brown. “I’ve worked with these girls since freshman year for three years, so we’ve grown as a team together. Getting older and growing and making new teammates each year, we’ve all became family. So seeing them put that all on the field, it’s really emotional sitting there watching them play just knowing they’ve accomplished so much in all this time. We all just love each other so much, so it’s just emotional for all of us. We say a prayer before every game. We just hold our faith on the field. That’s what brings us all together.”

Brooks ended the game with a team-leading three hits and two RBIs with the second RBI that scored Campbell marking the final run of the season for Holden.

“We all just came out and had fun, and played our game,” said Brooks. “We didn’t try to put too much pressure on ourselves. We just went out and had fun.”

South Harrison threatened Holden’s fun in the top of the sixth inning by loading the bases with no outs.

Lady Eagle senior starting pitcher Liv Wooster ended the threat by pitching for a strikeout, handling a tag at home plate on a steal attempt on a passed ball, and coaxing a fly out caught by Lady Eagle senior center fielder Macey Greene.

“My focus was mainly to pitch as good as I can for my team so we could be the champions,” said Liv Wooster with twin sister Addi standing next to her after the game. “I think all of us, we were acting like a team and…

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