Drew Williams struck out a jaw-dropping 17 batters and Halle Parsons hit a massive homer to lift the 2A Grant Union/Prairie City Lady Prospector softball team to a 2-1 victory over last year’s class 3A champions Burns/Crane on Thursday, March 21, at the Seventh Street Sports Complex in John Day.

The Lady Hilanders would draw first blood in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead after a throwing error to third base allowed a Burns/Crane baserunner to cross home plate, but the Lady Pros would quickly even the game up.

A Reece Jacobs double got things started for the Lady Pros in the bottom of the second. A wild pitch allowed Jacobs to advance to third base and set the stage for one of the most perfectly executed squeeze bunts you’ll ever see.

Taylor Palmateer stepped up to the plate and laid down the bunt to perfection, bringing Jacobs in from third to tie the game at 1-1 while still making it safely to first base.

The game remained a 1-1 pitcher’s duel until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Parsons decided she’d seen enough and crushed a solo home run into center field to give the Lady Pros a 2-1 advantage.

The Lady Hilanders had their chances to tie the game or take the lead in the final two innings, but they stranded runners on first and third in the top of the sixth and left the tying run stranded on first in the top of the seventh.

Parsons led the way offensively for the Lady Pros, finishing 1-3 at bat with the game-deciding home run, while Jacobs went 2-3 at the plate. Palmateer didn’t register a hit in the game but had a crucial RBI for the Lady Pros.

Grant Union/Prairie City head coach Zach Williams said being one of the few teams to hand 3A powerhouse Burns/Crane a loss is big for his group.

“It was a huge win for us, for sure,” he said. “Burns has won 38 of their last 40, I think, and we are one of those losses.”

The game was a grind for the Lady Pros. Williams said games like this can only help his team.

“We want those kinds of games, and win or lose they make us better,” he said. “Drew pitched great, and we had some clutch hitting from Palmateer, Jacobs and obviously Parsons with the big HR.”

Burns/Crane defeated the Lady Pros twice last year on both teams’ journeys toward state championships in their divisions. While Williams said his players didn’t have payback on their minds, the win does give his team a positive mindset going forward.

“No revenge,” he said, “but (it) definitely gives us confidence we can win those pitching duels.”