The Lathrop Lady Mules headed for Springfield on Thursday afternoon hopeful of a second state title in three years, but a nine-inning loss to Blair Oaks ended those dreams in the state semifinals.
The Lady Falcons beat Lathrop in one semifinal 2-1 from the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield, with junior Brooke Huitt taking the loss. Huitt hit a sole home run in the top of the fourth inning to give the Lady Mules a mid-game lead, only to see the Jefferson City school tie the game in the 5th, on an RBI single by Torie Thurston. In the bottom of the 9th, Brooke Boessen drove in winning pitcher and University of Oregon commit Makenna Kliethermes with the game-winning run via a double.
Lathrop beat Kelly in a pitchers duel in the third-place game, 1-0, as Lexi Seitz had two hits and the game-winning RBI on a sixth-inning double, scoring Jacque Gentzell.
The Class 2 state championship game went to Bowling Green, 6-1 over Blair Oaks on Saturday.
