Kirkwood Ends 2024 as National Runner Up
The Kirkwood Eagles joined the 2024 NJCAA Division II World Series as the Northwest Plains A Champions, which gave them an automatic bid to the tournament. Their 53-12 overall record awarded them the No. 6 seed as they pitted them against #11 seeded East Central (Miss.) in the first round.
Last season the Eagles went 2-2 in the tournament, losing to Parkland 10-2 in the elimination round right before the quarterfinals.
To start their 2024 run, Kirkwood defeated East Central 9-3 to advance within the bracket. On the diamond, it was the Peyton's and the offense that came alive for Kirkwood. In the circle it was Peyton Driscoll and Peyton Paulsen that combined for seven innings, gave up three runs, and struck out nine.
At the plate, Brenna Ross drove in a team-high four RBI, followed by Peyton Johnson and Lexi Hines who brought in a run as well. As a team the Eagles combined for four hits and 12 walks in a total of 23 at-bats.
In Kirkwood's second game in the NJCAA Division II World Series, they faced #3 Murray State (Okla.). Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh inning, with only three outs of life left, the Eagles sparked a rally. First, Sydney Roe doubled, scoring both Natalie Vitek and Ross to tie the game at three. Next it was Kiya Johnson who had the lone RBI for the Eagles before the seventh inning. Johnson doubled, scoring pinch-runner Grace Zaugg and suddenly the Eagles had the lead. Jenna Sprague shut the door on any chance of a comeback in the bottom half of the inning and Kirkwood rallied to a 4-3 victory.
Paulsen started in the circle for the Eagles, going five innings and allowing three runs, two hits, and five walks. Sprague came in relief to get the final six outs and the win, making it her ninth victory of the season.
After reaching the quarterfinals round, Kirkwood's next opponent was #10 Johnson County (Kan.), one of the few teams who bested the Eagles in the regular season. Once again the Eagles were playing from behind after giving up a run via a wild pitch in the second inning. Then in the fourth inning Sailor Hall ripped an RBI single to tie the game which was followed up in the fifth inning with Sophia Kreutnerand hitting an RBI single of her own to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
From the wild pitch in the second inning that scored a run, Driscoll was in command while in the circle. She went the complete game, allowing five hits, one run, two walks, and struck out four hitters. She kept Johnson County in check once she gained the 2-1 lead and finished the game, giving the Eagles a 2-1 victory and a spot in the semifinals.
In the semifinals the Eagles took on #9 St. Johns River State (Fla.) to play for a spot in the NJCAA Division II World Series Championship. Unfortunately for Kirkwood they were once again playing from behind. The Vikings struck early. scoring three runs in the second inning and nine runs before the fifth. They got to Kirkwood's Paulsen in a hurry, getting her pulled after just three innings. Paulsen gave up six hits, eight runs, a home run, and three walks in her innings of work. Vitek and Sprague helped slow down the Vikings' offense, allowing just one earned run through the rest of the game.
Trailing 9-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Kirkwood was able to fight back at the plate. With the bases loaded, Schlotter walked and Kiya Johnson reached via a catcher's interference to make the score 9-3. Later in the inning, Ross cleared the bases with a three-run double to cut the lead to just three. From there the Eagles were unable to continue the comeback, and after an insurance run by the Vikings in the seventh, the final score was 10-6 in favor of St. Johns River State.
Falling to St. Johns River State pitted the Eagles against Murray State once again in the tournament. This time an appearance in the final was at stake. At the top of the third inning Murray State had worked an early lead, going up 3-0. Driscoll pitched the first 4 innings giving up 5 hits and 3 runs before Sprague came on in relief. Sprague would pitch the last 3 innings giving up 1 run and 2 hits. Falling behind by 3 was no problem to Roe, who in the bottom of the third hit a 3 run homer to tie things up.
It would take three more innings before more scoring happened and when it did Murray State put themselves up by a single run going into the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles were determined though and on the back of runs from Vitek and Schlotter managed to not only tie the game but win it in the seventh inning. The Eagles beat Murray State again, this time 5-4 and would have a chance for vengeance against St. Johns River State in the final.
Unfortunately, the National Championship game would not go as planned for the Eagles and they lost the rematch with St. Johns River State in a close 7-5 game. Hall and Sprague split pitching duties each taking three innings. Hall gave up four runs and six hits while striking out one batter, Sprague allowed three runs but managed to strike out two batters.
The Eagles found themselves down 4-1 at the top of the seventh inning but turned things around dramatically with contributions from Hall, Ross, Roe, and Kiya Johnson leading to four runs that put Kirkwood up 5-4. In a devastating fashion for the Eagles, St. Johns rallied, tied the game up and then hit a walk off home run to seal the national title.
The Eagles have nothing to regret after an amazing season, the most successful one in 40 years. With a Region 11 Tournament Title, a Northwest Plains District Title and a 55-14 overall record the Eagles had a remarkable season. At the National Tournament the Eagles went 4-2 overall, losing only to the National Champions.
Kirkwood World Series Schedule:
Round 2: #6 Kirkwood def. #11 East Central, 9-3 - Box Score
Round 3: #6 Kirkwood def. #3 Murray State, 4-3 - Box Score
Quarterfinals: #6 Kirkwood def. #10 Johnson County, 2-1 - Box Score
Semifinals #1: #9 St. Johns River State def. #6 Kirkwood, 10-6 - Box Score
Semifinals #2: #6 Kirkwood def. #3 Murray State, 5-4 - Box Score
Championship: #9 St. Johns River State def. #6 Kirkwood, 7-5 - Box Score