JACKSON — Kelsey Schultz's efficient performance was very much by design Thursday afternoon.
Nursing a bad back, she required just 66 pitches to two-hit host Kettle Moraine Lutheran for the second time in four days. Behind her 1-0 win, Horicon clinched the Flyway softball title outright for its sixth league crown in seven years.
"The whole week, my back was hurting," Schultz said. "I tried not to let it get to me but it was hard."
Horicon coach Roger Schliewe nearly sat Schultz, not wanting to risk her with the Marshladies' regional opener 12 days away. So they developed a plan of attack that shelved her curve and aggressively pounded the strike zone for quick outs.
"I asked her if she wanted to sit out," Schliewe said. "She said, 'I'll make it. This is a championship game."
Horicon got the only run it needed in the third. Shelby Scharpf singled to center and stole two bases to bring Bri Schwartz up with two outs.
Schwartz hit a pair of doubles off of Jessica Steele Monday, one of which came off a changeup. KML elected to pitch to her again with a free base and Schwartz lined another changeup into the left center gap.
In her recent tear, Schwartz is 8-for-13 with four doubles and a home run.
"She sits back on those changeups all the time," Schliewe said. "Last time it was a changeup, too. Thank God for that pitch."
Schultz was in firm control, allowing two walks while striking out seven. With 49 pitches through six innings, she still had plenty in reserve to get two of her punch-outs in the seventh when the Chargers (6-5, 6-4 Flyway) put two runners on.
"I didn't want to go extras," Schultz said. "I was trying really, really hard to avoid that."
Schultz had great command, staying on the inside portion of the plate to jam the Chargers. That set up a riser that tormented KML's hitters while easing the strain on her back.
"She can let it go," Schliewe said of the riser. "We know they're free swingers."
Schultz enjoyed the benefits of a pitcher-friendly strike zone. That, combined with the Chargers' penchant for crowding the plate, enabled Schultz to control KML's lineup.
"There was a really big strike zone on the inside so I kept it there," Schultz said. "Schliewe had me work on my riseball and ever since Monday, it's been going really good."
When informed of her pitch count, Schultz was surprised and elated at the same time. She threw 47 pitches for strikes.
"That's impressive," Schultz said. "It shocks me, actually."
Horicon had the chance to tack on an insurance run in the seventh when Karissa Eiring tripled with one out. Sam Davidson got a suicide squeeze bunt down but between the bunt going back to Steele and Eiring's late break, it went for naught.
"It was her first time trying it," Schliewe said of Eiring. "Sam got it back to Steele and she knows what she's doing."
Horicon (13-3, 12-2) heads to Saturday's Oakfield Tournament. The Marshladies received a top seed and a bye in their regional bracket.
HORICON 1, KML 0
Horicon 001 000 0 - 1 4 1
KML 000 000 0 - 0 2 0
Pitchers (ip-h-er-bb-so) - Schultz (W; 7-2-0-2-7), Steele (L; 7-4-1-2-6).
3B: H - Eiring. 2B: H - Schwartz.