Defensive gem caps Hagerbaumer’s dominant pitching effort as Payson wins regional softball crown

BARRY, Ill. — As the ball came off Ava Heming’s bat, Payson Seymour softball coach Joe Fessler figured the tying run was headed for home.

“I thought for sure it was hit into the outfield,” he said.

Olivia Mock didn’t let that happen.

The Indians second baseman and a leaping catch of Heming’s liner between first and second base, securing the final out and stranding two runners on base as third-seeded Payson Seymour outlasted second-seeded Liberty 1-0 in Friday night’s Class 1A Barry Western Regional championship game.

“It was a heck of a shot,” Fessler said. “(Mock) jumped and leaped and snow-coned it.”

And sent the Indians to the sectional for the first time since 2019.

“It meant a lot, especially against a rivalry team,” Payson pitcher Abby Hagerbaumer. “It was amazing. … All of our motivation and energy built up helped. They beat us two times in a row, so we wanted to come back at them.”

Payson (16-16) will face the winner of the Hartsburg-Emden Regional — Illini Bluffs and Rushville-Industry square off at 11 a.m. Saturday in the title game — at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Glasford in the sectional semifinals.

“Just have confidence in ourselves and be ready,” Hagerbaumer said.

The Indians built that as Friday’s game unfolded.

Before the first pitch, Hagerbaumer admitted to being on edge.

“I was so nervous the whole day,” she said. “I had a lot of nerves built up. Just having confidence in myself and saying I could do it helped.”

Despite her anxiety, Hagerbaumer struck out the first six batters she faced.

“Taking deep breaths and keeping myself calm and saying I could do it got me through it,” Hagerbaumer said. “Starting out strong helped me out so much.”

Hagerbaumer didn’t allow a baserunner until a leadoff walk in the third inning and didn’t give up a hit until Claire Obert’s leadoff single in the fourth. Overall, she allowed just two hits, two walks and one hit batter while striking out a career-high 19.

“She did a good job of hitting spots and mixing up high and low,” Fessler said. “That was the name of the game. She would hit the outside low corner and then come in high with the rise ball. It just worked for her.”

The Indians gave Hagerbaumer the lead in the third when Mock led off by reaching on an error. She took second on Josie Fessler’s bunt and scored on Sam Hugenberg’s single up the middle. Payson loaded the bases in the fifth inning and got back-to-back singles to open the sixth, but Liberty’s Chandler John worked out of both jams.

John allowed four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts and gave up only one unearned run. She retired the Indians in order in the top of the seventh to set up one final shot at a rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, Liberty’s Zanger singled up the middle and Jacie Blair followed with a walk. Facing a 1-1 count, Heming ripped her liner to the right side that Mock caught to set off a celebration.

“Oh, man, it was pretty big, big for these girls and the coaching staff, too, to win this regional,” Fessler said. “We had this on our calendar and we wanted to get here and be able to hoist that trophy. It felt awesome. I’m just proud of the girls. They’ve worked hard and put in a lot of time. To see them succeed is awesome.”