When the Lady Bulldogs got two hits and scored a run in the very first inning Wednesday morning, it sent a message to the whole team and a murmur through the crowd.

When Lucy Fearday then started setting down one ALAH batter after another, everybody quickly realized there were two outstanding pitchers in this game.

And when that final out was recorded, the scoreboard read 4-0 and it was the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs that were advancing to the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament championship game. The state tournament was played at the impressive Louisville Sluggers Sports Complex in Peoria.

“This was a huge win for us,” said St. Anthony coach Makayla Walsh just moments after the contest. “We all heard about Makenzie Brown and how hard she throws. Scoring that run in the first inning really set the tone. The girls didn’t let her intimidate them.”

On the second pitch of the game, Cameron Rios slapped a ground ball deep in the hole between short and third base and easily reached first for an infield single.

“Cameron dictates what we do most games,” Walsh noted. “She got that first hit and got on base and it was just contagious. She’s such a fun player to watch.”

Rios went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Addie Wernsing. Then with two outs, Fearday ripped a pitch into the right-centerfield alley that rolled to the fence. Rios streaked home on the RBI double.

“She’s the fastest pitcher I’ve ever hit against,” Fearday admitted. “We knew she hadn’t given up many runs, but we’re a good hitting team up and down our lineup. Plus, coach had us prepared. We were ready to hit her.”

Walsh, who pitched during her high school career at St. Anthony, knew she couldn’t begin to throw as fast as Brown, especially from the normal 43-foot distance. So for batting practice, she pitched from 35 feet so her hitters could get use to the ball coming in faster than normal.

It certainly helped.

Brown still struck out nine, but she allowed seven hits and issued three walks which gave SAHS numerous scoring opportunities.

And the Lady Bulldogs capitalized by scoring single tallies in the second and third to increased their lead to 3-0.

In the second, Sydney Kibler blooped a base hit into right field and Walsh immediately implemented her favorite “small ball” style. Stacie Vonderheide laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing Kibler to second and Grace Karolewicz grounded a base hit up the middle, allowing Kibler to score.

In the third, Fearday lined a pitch down the right-field line that resulted in a lead-off triple. Two pitches later, she rambled home and scored on a wild pitch by Brown.

“Getting that run in the first inning was huge,” Walsh admitted. “But we had to keep chipping away, which is what we did. Brown is an outstanding pitcher, but we found a way to put the bat on the ball and score some more runs.”

And more than enough for Fearday, who turned in her fourth straight stellar pitching performance of the postseason.

She set ALAH down in order the first three innings. The Lady Knights did managed two hits in the fourth, but both runners were stranded. ALAH also had singles in the fifth and seventh, but neither runner advance beyond first base.

Fearday once again had pinpoint control and didn’t walk a batter in her four-hit shutout -- the first time ALAH had been shut out all season. She threw only 73 pitches in her seven-inning performance, while Brown recorded 117 pitches in the game.

“Maddie (catcher) was really framing the pitches well and my teammates played great defense,” Fearday said. “I’ve been working hard on keeping my pitches down and moving the ball inside and out. I was pleased with how I pitched, but it’s great to know my teammates have my back every time.”

The Lady Bulldogs tacked on one more run in the seventh. Rios led off by lining a pitch that glanced off the glove of the left fielder. She made it all the way to third base. Wernsing then laid down another well-place bunt and Rios slid in ahead of the tag.

Fearday went 3-for-3 at the plate with a single, double and a triple, while Rios collected two hits. Sydney Kibler and Karolewicz had the other two hits.

The victory set up a showdown with No. 1 ranked Illini Bluffs in the championship game.

“This team has such a good mindset right now,” Walsh said. “They realize they’re playing for the state championship. They also realize this was just another game. We’re a young team, so this is a great experience for us. And we’re having fun.”