Fayette stepped up big with a 3-1 win over Paris on Senior Night last Tuesday, September 30. The victory spoiled what was up to then an unblemished season for the Lady Coyotes, who came to Fayette with a perfect 16-0 record.

The hit of the game was a long fly ball to center by senior Leah Thies in the night’s biggest moment. With the bases loaded with two outs, she drove a 1-0 pitch to deep center to send three runners home and land on first.

“We needed Leah to hit that ball when she did. She drove those runners in, and it was great,” said Fayette coach Bri Busker. “She was due. It was a low inside pitch, and she drove it. I thought it was gone. I’ll take a single with three RBI any day. It was awesome.”

Fayette showed patience at the plate to load the bases in front of Thies. Senior Mariah Felten led off with a walk and rounded second as Paris committed an error on a bunt by Kindle, who advanced to second on the same error, to put two runners in scoring position. With one out, junior Paige Vroman walked to load up the bases in front of the Falcons’ power hitters.

Paris answered with its only run of the night in the top of the fourth. After leading off with a double, Katie Cummins scored on a sacrifice bunt by Ava Crain. But the Coyotes would come no closer, despite having a runner on base in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

Trailing by two runs, Paris had one final inning to spark a rally. Fayette ace Payton Kindle struck out the first batter, and the Falcon defense caught two fly balls as the bottom of the Paris lineup was retired in order in the top of the seventh.

Kindle delivered a focused, complete-game performance from the circle, striking out six batters without issuing a walk. She allowed one earned run on five hits.

“Payton pitched amazing. She was ready for today,” Busker said about her starting senior.

Fayette had just three hits on the day, singles by Thies, senior Browyn Eubanks, and junior Kennady Vroman. Fayette struck out nine times and walked twice. Junior third baseman Brooklynn Wise was also hit by a pitch twice. She and Eubanks each stole a base.

“I think with the pressure of it being senior night, they really stepped up,” said Busker. “They wanted to play for their seniors.”

When the season concludes, the Falcons will bid farewell to five seniors, each of whom were honored in a ceremony following the win over Paris. Martha Crowley is new to the Fayette lineup as a homeschooled student. “It’s her first year applying for us,” Busker said. “She’s amazing. She’s such a light and brings such good energy to the team.”

Two seniors, Mariah Felten and Browyn Eubanks, returned to the diamond after sitting out their junior seasons. Busker said Felten knew she had big shoes to fill. “She stepped it up. It’s been a good final year for her.”

Eubanks, a state champion hurdler, was the perfect fit for center field, where speed is key. “She came in and took this year with a chip on her shoulder,” Busker said. “We put her in the outfield and she’s done nothing but great things. She has speed on the bases. She can hit. She can bunt. She will do whatever you tell her to do. That’s someone you want to have on your team. She’s been great to be around.”

Busker also had high praise for her starting pitcher, Payton Kindle. “Her first three years, she was always that No. 2 pitcher behind Skylar [Sunderland]. Now being No. 1, she’s taking that job with pride. She wants nothing but success for her teammates. As a pitcher, that’s a lot of stress on you. She has stepped it up in the circle and has done great things for us this year.”

Busker said losing Thies, the team’s starting catcher for the last three years, is going to be difficult. “She’s going to be a tough one to let go. She’s a leader on and off the field. She’s a great person to be around. She has a great, positive attitude all the time. And she has nothing but grit. And it shows in practice and games.”

Fayette returned to the diamond for a dominant Central State 8 win at South Callaway, 16-0, on Thursday. The Falcons scored 16 runs on 15 hits and three walks with just four strikeouts. Thies homered, and freshman Camryn Ballew doubled in an offensive onslaught as five Falcons finished with five multi-hit games. Junior Emma Hilgedick went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Paige Vroman finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Kennady Vroman went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and drove in two runs. Thies scored twice and had an RBI with a home run. Wies went 3-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Junior Greycen Syferd singled and scored a run. Ballew went 2-for-4, including an RBI double, and scored two runs. Kindle walked and scored.

In the circle, Kindle picked up the win with the four-inning shutout. She struck out two and walked one while allowing five hits.

Fayette struggled in a hot weekend triangular hosted by Westran in Huntsville. The Falcons lost 18-3 to Class 3 Moberly and 16-9 to the home team.

On Monday, the Falcons returned to the win column with a 15-0, three-inning shutout over Pilot Grove in their final home game of the season.

Thies homered and walk, driving in two runs and scoring three. Hilgedick went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and a triple, with four RBI.

Eubanks, Hilgedick, Kadence Sulltrop, and Paige Vroman each swiped a bag.

Fayette collected nine hits in three innings and struck out only twice.

Kennedy Chew took the win in the circle, striking out three batters while allowing one hit and issuing one walk in three innings pitched.

The Falcons scored seven runs in the bottom of the first and added three more in the second. The game ended after Fayette scored five more in the bottom of the third.

Fayette closes out the regular season on the road. The Falcons were scheduled to face former Lewis & Clark Conference rival Salisbury in a pre-district showdown on Tuesday after the Advertiser went to press. The regular-season finale is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday at Glasgow.

Fayette opens Class 1 District 8 play on Monday at Westran (Huntsville). The bracket had not been released as of press time on Tuesday.