For the first time in the program's history, the Mater Dei Wildcats Girl's Softball will compete for a state title when they face 26-2 Boone Grove on Saturday afternoon 12:30 Evansville time at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis for the Class 2A crown.

It's a trip that nearly didn't happen.

After taking care of business against Indianapolis Scecina Memorial in the first game of Saturday's Semistate, the Wildcats met the Eastern Hancock Royals in the championship game where they held on to a 2-0 the until the final frame. An errant throw by pitcher Emily Goodin in the bottom of the seventh allowed Eastern Hancock to tie things up, sending the game in extra innings, but it was Goodin who atoned for her earlier mistake by putting Mater Dei back on top by one with a solo home run on the first pitch she saw.

Despite the 3-2 lead, the Wildcats still had to fend off a determined Eastern Hancock in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Royals freshman, Jenna Smith stepped up to the plate and sent a shot out to deep left field setting up a tense couple of seconds that meant either a trip to the State Final, or another tie.

Evansville Courier-Press reporter, Chad Lindskog was there to capture the moment...

Admission for Saturday's State Final is $10 per person at the gate. The game will also be carried on Fox Sports Indiana according to the IHSAA website.

More From WGBFAM