HASTINGS, Neb. — Millard South softball players have a stockpile of sayings they like to call Kerkmanisms.

These gems of wisdom from Patriots coach Steve Kerkman have found their way onto a team T-shirt.

After Friday’s 6-2 victory over Lincoln Southwest in the Class A state softball championship game, Patriots pitcher Taylor Erlenbusch has another one to add to the collection.

“We never let a team beat us twice,” Erlenbusch said. “What a way to go out, redeeming ourselves like that.”

The Silver Hawks defeated the top-ranked Patriots 4-1 on Oct. 1 at the Millard South Invitational. Both Kerkman and Erlenbusch said the team was timid at the plate that day.

There was nothing passive about the way Millard South’s offense attacked the 38-7 Silver Hawks in Friday’s title game at the Smith Softball Complex.

After second-ranked Southwest went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning — two Millard South errors helped shortstop Liz Dike score that run — then left the bases loaded without scoring again in the second, everything started to go the Patriots’ way beginning in the bottom of the inning.

The 29-4 Patriots took the lead for good when left fielder Meg Mumaugh ripped a two-run double to left field after Rachel Kubik started the inning with a single. But Kerkman said his team wasn’t completely comfortable until the later innings.

“We were down 1-0 in three straight games so we were OK,” Kerkman said. “In the middle innings, they didn’t want to be the one to make the mistake. In the last couple of innings, they got after it and were more comfortable at the plate.”

Erlenbusch also settled into her groove in the circle and cooled off the Southwest bats that had scored 28 runs in three elimination-bracket games after a 9-8 loss to Papillion-La Vista on Thursday.

Southwest earned its berth in the championship game with a 13-5 victory over Papillion-La Vista. Dike had a grand slam in the second inning and a two-run home run in the seventh to lead the Silver Hawks’ 11-hit attack.

“We got a run early and got off to a good start,” Southwest coach Mark Watt said. “They made their own offense after that and just swung the bats better.”

Not only was Erlenbusch the pitcher Millard South leaned upon the past two months, she also came up big at the plate. Her double to lead off the fifth inning led to the Patriots’ fourth run, and a sixth-inning single led to Millard South’s last run.

That’s what Kerkman said his ace has been doing all season.

“She proved it,” Kerkman said. “She carried it all the way. She’s a student council kid, she’s in honor society, she’s just a leader.”

Erlenbusch said this title — Millard South’s first since 2005 — was a complete team achievement.

“We faced a lot of adversity this year,” Erlenbusch said. “We redeemed every loss and came in and took control when we needed to.”

Lincoln Southwest (38-7).....................100 010 0—2 7 3

Millard South (29-3)........................021 012 x—6 11 3

W: Taylor Erlenbusch. L: Tania Carroll. 2B: LSW, Taylor Rowlett; MS, Erlenbusch,Meg Mumaugh.

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402-618-4113, alexsdad@mail.com

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