By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

SPRINGFIELD – One swing from Sarah Messex, a shutout by Bailey Kendziorski, and the Region 2-6A softball title once again remains up for grabs.

South Effingham evened its three-game series with Effingham County on Oct. 4 with a 2-0 win, mirroring the Rebels' effort of Sept. 28 and setting the stage for today's matchup with most likely a region championship on the line.

Region champs host a four-team, double-elimination regional in the first round at state with each winner of the eight regionals advancing to Columbus for the Elite Eight double-elimination tournament to decide a state championship.

Last season, both the Mustangs and Rebels went to Columbus, but South wore the region crown after winning twice in a thrilling three-game showdown.

"I told (my players) if I could have written a script for the regular season, it would come down to a Game 3 with South Effingham for a region title," ECHS coach Brad Thompson said. "Nothing surprises me."

How could anyone be surprised? The Rebels (20-4, 14-2) and Mustangs (21-4, 12-2) have split their last six games. Three games were decided with runs in the final inning. A home run drove in the only runs in each of the other three games.

This time, Messex dealt the timely blow with a second-inning blast that cleared the right-field wall. Jaden Burns, who had walked, also scored.

And a 2-0 lead in this series is like giving Secretariat a head start in a horse race. 

"We had to get back in the (batting) cages," said Messex about her squad getting shut out in Game 1. "We had to keep working. There were pitches that we watched and should have swung at and pitches we should have swung at that we watched."

Kendziorski continued to baffle ECHS hitters. She struck out 11 and walked one while scattering five hits. It was the first shutout of the Rebels this season.

Kendziorski, who verbally committed to Boston College in September, gave up just one unearned run in three games against ECHS last season.

"The big thing for us was to be present in the moment – don't let things get too big for us, don't get caught up in the hype," South coach Adam Newland said. "We wanted to just play our game and I thought our kids did a good job staying in control."

Certainly, the Mustangs answered some questions about themselves after a rough doubleheader outing against Grovetown on Sept. 6. In Game 1, South was beaten 13-5 in game stopped after five innings because of the Mercy Rule. The Mustangs needed a sixth-inning rally to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the nightcap.

With the rest of the region teams relatively weak (only Lakeside Evans is above .500), SEHS' next region test came on Sept. 28 against Effingham County.

"You can't let (losses) affect you," Messex said. "You have to get back in there and fight for your team. You have to have confidence in yourself that you can do this."

Thompson said Giordano pitched well enough to win Game 2. She had five strikeouts, one walk and surrendered just six hits. She retired 12 of the last 13 batters.

ECHS had two runners reach third base, but Kendziorski and the Mustangs never cracked.

Now the setting shifts to Guyton for Game 3 on Oct. 11.

"I thought we had a chance to steal one here, but our 21 outs weren't productive enough," Thompson said. "It's nerve-wracking (knowing one key hit could win a ball game), but our girls are made for it. We didn't get it done today. We got it done the other day so we're thankful for a third shot."