Story Created:
Oct 22, 2009 at 9:16 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 22, 2009 at 11:04 PM CST
Facing elimination, Republic senior Hailey Johnson got the biggest hit of her high school career. Johnson's walk-off grand slam in Saturday's class 3 state quarterfinal sent the Tigers to their 2nd straight final four, 4-2 over Boone County.
Republic trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the 7th. With the bottom of the order coming up, Loga Keck singled, Brooke Dutton walked, and Bri Hemphill was hit by a pitch to load the bases for their biggest offensive threat. Johnson fouled off the first three pitches before sending an opposite field line drive off just over the right-center field fence.
It was Johnson's 9th home run of the season after hitting a state record tying 13 as a junior.
Johnson also picked up the victory pitching, recording 11 strikeouts.
Republic faces Kirksville (25-2) Friday at 1:30 pm in the state semifinals in St. Joseph.
; "Click for StormVision Doppler Radar")
