LIBERTY, Mo. — Park Hill’s first playoff trip in nearly two decades ended one out away from a victory.

The Trojans held a lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning in a sectional playoff game but Liberty scored twice in the final inning to pull out a 5-4 victory on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Liberty High School.

The season ended for Liberty the next game, falling to Blue Springs South for the right to go to the state final four.

“They are a good team for a reason, they are 23-4 and there is a reason they won,” Park Hill coach Jackie Qualls said. “They keep scraping and coming after you.”

The final inning started with Park Hill clinging to a 4-3 lead. With two outs, Mya Lewis had a double, putting two runners in scoring position. Kennedy Townsend was intentionally walked to load the bases, but a pop fly allowed Liberty (24-4) to keep the deficit at one.

Raeli Howerton opened the bottom of the seventh with what appeared to be an out at first glance. Park Hill catcher Kali Day showed the ball to the umpire on what the Trojans believed to be a foul-tip out.

The home plate umpire motioned out as well, but a conference between the officials turned it into a foul ball and not a strikeout.

Then, Howerton tripled to the gap in right-center field.

Park Hill pitcher Kaylyn Jones recorded a strikeout and coaxed pop up behind home.

CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Park Hill’s Nia Muniz slides into home safely during a Class 4 playoff game against Liberty on Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Liberty. Liberty won 5-4.

One out away from moving onto the quarterfinals for only the second time in school history, Park Hill (16-7) couldn’t get the final out. The last time the Trojans made the playoffs, in 2001, they made the state final four.

Olivia Branstetter hit a game-tying RBI single to left field to bring home Howerton.

Then, Brooke Niemeier laced a double to deep right field to easily score Annabeth Henson, running for Branstetter, for the game-ending run.

The rally by Liberty negated a strong showing by Park Hill, which three different times rallied from a deficit.

Liberty went up 1-0 on Sydney Mallot’s RBI single with the bases loaded in the first inning but Jones got a strikeout to escape the jam.

The Trojans loaded the bases in the third inning on two walks and a single by Shelby Sanders. Day grounded out to bring home a run, tying the game at 1-1.

Liberty regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Kelsee Mortimer doubled and scored on Howerton’s first RBI single.

The back-and-forth contest continued when Park Hill got a run in the top of the fourth, knotting it at 2-2.

Grace Woods and Miranda LuMunyon walked before Lewis, making her varsity debut at the plate, had an RBI single.

The Blue Jays then regained the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth.

Liberty loaded the bases again and Amayiah Hall’s RBI single pushed a run across for Liberty.

Shelby Sanders was batting to open the top of the fifth inning but an awkward swing on a 3-1 count had her doubled over and holding her left arm. She went out of the game and Madison Thomas was called off the bench to finish the at-bat.

On next pitch, Thomas was hit by it and that put a runner on base to open an inning for the fourth time in five innings for Park Hill.

Day followed with a home run to left field that banged off the scoreboard to give Park Hill a 4-3 lead.

The home run broke the school record for home runs in a season, giving her seven, besting Bethany Sullinger’s mark by one.

Despite having the lead in tow, the Trojans were down to only nine players due to injuries to other starters combined with Sanders’ injury.

“The job they have done is incredible to fight through injury and adversity,” Qualls said.

A chance to pad the lead got off to a good start in the sixth inning. Townsend doubled and went to third on Chloe Strickland’s single. A ground ball then turned into a double play as Park Hill was called for interference at second.

Day, one of three seniors, then had her final at-bat, an intentional walk. Lauren Slocum, who tossed three innings of scoreless relief, got a fly ball to end the scoring threat.

The game was the final for Day, LuMunyon and Thomas but the Trojans return 10 players next year.

“We are excited for next year,” Qualls said. “I hate to say I have to look forward to next year, but we are excited for next year.”