Senior Kinley Duehning has been a standout throughout her four-year career with Guthrie softball, and her latest heroics came on a crucial 1-1 pitch when her team needed it most.
Guthrie hosted Duncan for a marquee 5A District 1 matchup Monday evening, with both teams eyeing the district crown. The game lived up to its billing, ending in a dramatic finish marred by controversy.
Pitchers Mckenna Wilson of Duncan and Duehning dominated the circle, keeping both teams scoreless through the first four innings. Duncan broke the deadlock in the fifth with a two-run double, but Guthrie quickly cut the lead in half in their half of the inning.
Sophomore Brylan Shephard ignited the rally with a double to left-center. Courtesy runner Fallon Zachary scored on a hit by senior Saige Driscoll, whose shot to center was misplayed, allowing the ball to roll to the wall.
In the sixth, Guthrie set the stage for a dramatic finish. Senior Haley Gallo was hit by a pitch, followed by a single from senior Ava Hebensperger, putting runners on base. That’s when Duehning stepped up and smashed a pitch over the left-field fence, giving Guthrie its first lead of the game, 4-2. The senior’s triumphant round of the bases mirrored the joy she displayed after hitting a homer in last year’s 5A state championship game.
But Duncan wasn’t done yet. A single and a double quickly trimmed the lead to 4-3, putting the tying run on second with two outs. Then came the controversy.
Duncan’s Shaylynn Rhoton ripped a ball down the third base line that was initially ruled fair, allowing the tying run to score. However, Guthrie head coach Kara Tarrant contested the call. After a conference between the umpires, the play was overturned and ruled foul, erasing the run from the scoreboard.
Smartphone video captured the play, showing the ball hitting in front of the third-base bag and spinning into foul territory. Whether the ball crossed the bag in fair territory is hard to determine, even in slow motion on a bang-bang play.
Rhoton later drove a deep ball to center, but it was caught by Gallo to end the game.
Duehning secured the win despite allowing 11 hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out one and walking four. Wilson took the tough loss for Duncan, pitching six innings, giving up four runs on nine hits, striking out eight, and walking none.
Guthrie, now riding an 11-game winning streak, improves to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the district. The Lady Jays will travel to Elgin for another crucial district matchup on Thursday.
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