By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)
June 13, 2009 - 07:31 a.m. EST

BATTLE CREEK — The whispers of USA having an easy walk to the State Finals started early outside the dugouts from USA and other members of the crowd. But, for the Patriots, it was anything but that, going scoreless in their first five at-bats. However, anger took over the minds of two Patriots and it could not have played out better.

Both Kelsey Schaus and Jillian Williamson say anger was what triggered their key hits that produced two runs each. Schaus delivered in the sixth inning with a double that scored Minda Martinez, and Williamson capped off the game with a two-run blast that knocked in Katie Schaus.

"I was struggling and I guess I just came through," Kelsey Schaus said. "I just went up to the plate and wanted to smack the ball because I was frustrated."

USA head coach Lary Houthoofd pinch hit for Schaus in the fourth inning after what he thought was a bad at bat.

"She did a nice job of coming back and getting that big hit for us," Houthoofd said. I was a little mad at her for swinging at a bad pitch during an earlier at bat. But those are our freshman, they've been playing great ball all year. They got three more years of this after tomorrow."

However, the move paid off in an odd way, motivating Schaus in her next at bat and giving the Patriots their first two runs of the game.

"I was really upset that she hit for me, but it made me want to get a hit that much more my next time around. That hit gives me so much confidence for tomorrow. Right now, I feel like I can hit anything."

Williamson's anger was channeled from Rapid River head coach Andy Schwarts, who taunted the bat of the senior pitcher.

"Their coach kept telling their outfield to come in, and that made me mad," Williamson said. "I might not be Dani (Gremel) and Carly (Treiber) with 13 home runs, but I felt like it was my turn."

The homer off of the bat of Williamson was something Houthoofd said was well deserved after standing behind Gremel and Treiber, proving that USA has far too many weapons to concentrate on just two.

"I like that she got her home run. Jillian has always been in their shadows, but she is just as good of a ballplayer," Houthoofd said. "She works hard and I'm very proud of her."

Williamson has been the MVP of the Patriots thus far this postseason, tossing shut out games on the mound and coming through in the clutch at the plate. With the pressure of winning her third title in four years, Houthoofd expects nothing less of Williamson Saturday (Today) during the Patriots Division 4 State title game against Decatur.

"She just keeps carrying us. She comes up with a two-run homer and pitches a great game," Houthoofd said. "She just always steps up during big games and I look for her to have another great game tomorrow."

Hopefully for the title game, USA's bats can come awake. Houthoofd will take the wins, but he is not pleased with scoring just five runs in the teams past two postseason games.

"We should of had at least 10 runs against that pitcher, but I always feel that way," Houthoofd said. "I'm sure she had a decent game, but that type of pitcher, we have clobbered all year long. Our bats have slowed up a bit for us, hopefully they can wake up for tomorrow."

Williamson agrees that Tuesday's 1-0 win over Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart was an alarming win for the Patriots, coming in extra innings on a walk-off home run by Treiber.

"Last week's 1-0 win was a wake-up call for us. Everyone knew that they had to pick it up if we wanted to continue our season," Williamson said. "We got one run from Kelsey's big hit, and that's all it should take. Our goal is to not let anyone score on us in the postseason."

Williamson led the Patriots at the plate with a pair of hits and two runs scored while Treiber also belted out two hits. Kelsey Schaus knocked in one run on one hit while Jessica Gremel, Estey Ruppal and Katie Schaus added a hit a piece.

With a good nights rest and watching fellow conference team Reese get a 1-0 victory over Bronson, Houthoofd is hoping that his team can come ready to play tomorrow, and most of all, ready to win another State Title.

"Hopefully the girls do not come out nervous tomorrow. They are never scared, just nervous and they have never had a situation where we are supposed to win. And everyone else talks about us winning it all," Houthoofd said. "They will come out and perform tomorrow, I know they will."

Chad Wingert is the Sports Editor of the Advertiser and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com