Springfield Catholic ran the table at the 2024 Big 8 Conference Spring Softball Championship, winning four games in two days, April 12-13, to claim the program's first league title.

On Friday, the Irish won a 13-12 thriller over Lamar before run-ruling Hollister, 17-0. Saturday culminated with a win over defending Big 8 champion Mt. Vernon, 14-7, before another securing another walk-off victory in the championship game against East Newton, 6-5.

The Lady Irish got three complete-game victories from pitcher Jocee Luce who also had the game-winning hit against East Newton in the title game. Averie Keeling also secured a victory in the circle, throwing a no-hitter and shutout against Hollister.

On Friday, Catholic fell behind 9-5 in the third against Lamar before putting three runs on the board in the bottom of the third and retaking the lead in the home half of the fourth. A two-run single by Carleigh Russell and a hit by Luce pushed SCHS ahead 12-10. Luce shut down Lamar in the fifth and sixth innings and had two outs secured in the seventh before the Tigers knotted the score at 12-12 with a clutch double. However, Taryn Stuhlsatz's bases-loaded walk proved to be the game-winner in the final frame as the Irish knocked off Lamar for the first time, 13-12. Katie Galligos, Makenna Phipps and Caroline Nelson had three hits apiece as part of Catholic's 15-hit attack.

In the second game Friday, Nelson and Stuhlsatz both hit inside-the-park home runs, drove in four runs, and scored three times apiece in a 17-0 shutout over Hollister. Catholic logged seven runs in the second and third innings to secure the run-rule shutout as Keeling worked her magic in the circle, striking out two and not allowing a hit.

Saturday began with a thrilling 14-7 win over No. 2-ranked Mt. Vernon, the tournament host. The Irish jumped out to a 10-1 lead, thanks in part to a five-run rally in the third and a three-run homer by Jalyn Smith in the fourth. Smith also doubled in the victory, while Russell also picked up a pair of hits, including a triple. Keeling walked three times and tripled. Luce was clutch in the circle, striking out a pair in a complete-game win over the Mountaineers while holding off a late rally from the home club.

The victory over Mt. Vernon set up a winner-take-all finale against East Newton with Catholic looking to avenge its senior night loss to the Patriots two days earlier. The Irish saw early leads of 3-2 and 4-3 slip away with East Newton pulling ahead 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning. SCHS put two runners on base in the home half of the sixth on a hit by Sarah Stokes and error that put Galligos aboard. However, the Patriots shut the door and sent the game to the final inning with a one-run lead.

Luce dug deep and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh on three pop-up outs, setting the stage for a dramatic Irish comeback. After back-to-back singles from Stuhlsatz and Nelson to start the bottom of the seventh, a single by Russell tied the game, 5-5. Later in the inning with two outs, it was Luce who delivered at the plate, driving home Nelson with a single to left and completing the thrilling finish. The right-hander also picked up the win in the circle, allowing just 5 hits and 3 earned runs in her fourth complete-game effort in three days.

For the tournament, Nelson had a team-high 8 hits and batted .533 with 6 RBI and 13 total bases, while Keeling batted .538 with 10 total bases. Smith hit .455, slugged .909 and had 3 extra-bases hits, drove in 6, and caught every inning of the tournament.  Russell and Stuhlsatz also racked up 6 RBI apiece.

All told, every Irish starter collected multiple hits and accounted for clutch plays in the field and at the plate in a weekend filled with dramatic victories and a thrilling run to the Big 8 title.