For the first time in program history, the Cassville softball team has advanced to the Final Four.

Pitcher Aubrey Stoufer dominated in the circle Saturday in Ashland as the Lady Wildcats defeated Southern Boone, 2-0, in the Class 3 quarterfinals to advance to the Final Four.

“We came into it with a pretty good plan,” said Cassville coach Jordan Savage. “Obviously Aubrey had been throwing really, really well up until that point, and she just kept doing what she does. She threw a ton of strikes, kept hitters off balance and hit all her spots throughout the day.”

Cassville wasted no time taking the lead. In the top of the first, Stoufer doubled and scored on a Lili Naugle RBI, putting the Lady Wildcats up 1-0. Southern Boone left two on base in the bottom half of the inning, setting the tone for a game where runs would be at a premium.

Stoufer struck out the first two batters of the second, and shortstop Briley Artherton snagged a line drive to end the frame.

As the game progressed, Stoufer continued to mix pitches and pound the zone.

‘She kept Southern Boone hitters pretty uncomfortable, working the inside of the plate,” Savage said. “She had pretty much every pitch in our arsenal working, which is — I mean, when she’s on, she’s as good as anybody around, and that’s kind of what let us see the victory that day.”

In the bottom of the third, Southern Boone threatened when a throwing error allowed a batter to reach third, but Stoufer escaped with two quick pop-outs to keep the 1-0 lead intact.

In the fourth, Stoufer helped her own cause again, blasting a solo home run to double Cassville’s lead to 2-0. It was one of only three hits Southern Boone had allowed at that point in the game.

“She battled for hers, and the pitcher made a mistake right over the middle of the plate and made her pay for it, so that was a huge swing for us,’ Savage said.

Cassville’s bats struggled to add insurance runs, as Southern Boone’s starter settled in, striking out nine on the day. Stoufer finished with 10 strikeouts in the complete-game shutout.

“We were trying to get girls on,” Savage said. “We had some good swings here and there; it was just a matter of not even really being able to find a hole or find anything getting down, which is unfortunate. But at the end of the day, when you’ve got a pitcher like that and us coming up with some big defensive plays there late, especially when they got some runners on. Turning the double play there in sixth inning — was huge.”

That double play came at a crucial moment in the sixth. After Southern Boone put a runner on with a single and stolen base, Madi Yockey caught a line drive at third base, then fired it to second for a double play.

“Aubrey being able to work again through the seventh inning there and being able to get that ninehole out to make the last out before the top of their lineup came up was pretty big as well,” Savage said.

In the seventh, Southern Boone again put pressure on, getting a leadoff runner who eventually stole third. Stoufer, throwing her 100th pitch, struck out one batter, induced a pop-up to left for the second out, and then caught the final hitter swinging for a strikeout to seal the win and Cassville’s spot in the state semifinals.

“It’s just one of those things where, I mean, we got the two-seed in districts, but we felt we were as good as anybody,” Savage said. “We just kind of approached every day like we were just going to continue to go — whoever we were facing, it didn’t matter. The girls have kept a pretty level head.”

The semifinal berth marks a major milestone for Cassville’s program, now in its second season under Savage. it comes in a year where the Lady Wildcats are Big 8 Co-Champions, a program first, and won their second district title “It’s a huge thing for the program,” he said. “It’s just a huge step for everybody, just to see the success start rolling, especially after last year and the way it ended [in a 13-inning loss to Nevada in the district championship]. The girls have said it the whole time — even two years ago when they won districts for the first time, then losing in the sectional round — it’s been building to this.”

Savage said this group has learned from those past experiences and embraced a mindset of focus and confidence.

“It’s just a matter of understanding that you’re as good as anybody,” he said. “We’re going to stay focused and ready for what’s next. That’s their whole goal right now, to be focused on Friday. It’s just one game at a time and working to play in November on Saturday.”

Cassville (18-10) will face Doniphan (20-9) at noon on Friday in the semifinals, with the other semifinal seeing Macon (23-13) taking on Chillicothe (277), also at noon. The losers in those contests will play for third place at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, and the winners will play for ultimate bragging rights on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. All Final Four games will be played at Meador Park, located at 2600 S. Freemont Ave. in Springfield.

As the Lady Wildcats prepare for the Final Four, Savage said the focus is on refining the fundamentals and regaining rhythm at the plate.

“Obviously, it wasn’t our best offensive performance against Southern Boone,” he said. “We’re trying to do what we can to get us back to putting the ball in play more often and putting pressure on the defense.”

Savage said Cassville has faced strong pitching throughout the postseason, but the team’s ability to adjust and compete has carried them.

“We faced really good pitching ever since the Clinton game there in that second round of districts and all the way through,” he said. “Against Clinton and Seneca, I felt like we put the ball in play a lot more and were able to put more pressure on where they made a few mistakes. That’s just what happens when a team continuously puts the ball in play against you.”

To prepare for the semifinals, Savage said practices this week will emphasize focus and execution.

“Keeping them going back to the fundamentals of what we started at the beginning of the year is going to be a big approach this week,” he said. “It’s about not losing focus there because that’s what will ultimately prepare you to win on Friday or Saturday.”

Savage added that the defensive mindset that carried them through Saturday’s win will remain key.

“It’s a matter of making sure they’re focused on every pitch,” he said. “We make sure Stoufer and Naugle and Joei Blankenship are all ready to go in the circle at any given point in time and making sure the bullpen is sharp. Continuing to compete every single practice is what we do day in and day out.”

Savage credited the Lady Wildcats’ mental approach for keeping them steady through the postseason run.

“It’s kind of been the whole mantra throughout, especially once districts started,” he said. “It’s business as usual.”