EUREKA — Lorin Boutte was not at her best in the circle Monday afternoon.
It didn't matter.
The Francis Howell senior righthander was dominant at the plate.
Boutte slammed a pair of two-run homers and the Vikings used a bang-bang, game-ending defensive play at the plate to slip by Eureka 7-6 in the Class 5 District 2 championship softball game in the shadow of Highway 109.
The Vikings, who finished second in the state last season, have won 15 of their last 16 games. They will travel to Jackson (33-4) on Saturday afternoon to play for a return trip to the final four.
Boutte entered the game with a 1.03 ERA. She averaged almost 13 strikeouts per outing and had a no-hitter and a perfect game on resume this season.
Yet she was not able to overwhelm the Wildcats like she had other opponents over the last two months.
"I felt a little off pitching today," Boutte admitted.
The University of Miami Ohio-bound standout more than made up for it with her hitting prowess. She snapped a 5-all tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that turned out to be the game-winning blow.
"They had a great scouting report on her and she was throwing great pitches and they were getting on top of her," Howell first-year coach Lexi Romeril said. "So she took care of business in the (batter's box). She can be a great leader at the plate too."
Boutte, who gave up a season-high four earned runs, went 3-for-3 and also drilled a two-run shot in the third inning to break a 3-3 tie. Both of the drives gave her team a two-run lead.
"Even though she didn't have a great game in the circle she still performed well hitting-wise," Howell junior shortstop Camille Walkowiak said. "The team backed her up with timely hits."
Freshman catcher Adelle Metz agreed, "It was our job to pick her up. We needed to hit and do our job for her."
Walkowiak and Metz banded together for the thrilling final out.
The Wildcats came within inches of tying the contest when catcher Lily Delmain sent a routine two-out grounder to Walkowiak at short with a runner on second. The ball took a bad hop and bounced away before Walkowiak quickly corralled it. Eureka shortstop Sophi Mazzola tried to score all the way from second base.
But Walkowiak recovered and gunned a throw to the plate where Metz grabbed it and appeared to tag Mazzola to end the game.
"I was thinking about throwing it before I fielded it and I bobbled the ball," Walkowiak said. "I just saw Sophi rounding third, so I knew there was still a chance. I picked it up and just threw it."
Metz made a nice grab of the throw and calmly applied the tag.
"I just made sure I caught it and then squeezed the glove really tight," Metz said. "I couldn't do it with two hands, so I was just hoping the ball wouldn't pop out."
Eureka coach Mark Mosley had no qualms about sending the speedy Mazzola to the plate. Mazzola questioned the call of the umpire.
"I definitely got my hand in there," said Mazzola, who is heading to the University of Washington. "I've done that hundreds of times. You've got to play by what the umpire rules and there is nothing we can do about it now."
Boutte watched and smiled as the celebration began.
"I love Camille Walkowiak," Boutte said.
The play ended a 99-minute thriller that took place in front of a packed house.
Eureka touched Boutte for three runs in the opening inning. Sydney Bailey provided the big blow with a two-run single.
Francis Howell chipped away and drew even on hits by Macey Nix, Addison Clark and Metz. Boutte then put her team up 5-3 with the first of her drives.
Eureka (17-10) battled back on a run-scoring hit by Madisen Butler and some daring baserunning from Gracie Mazzola, who scored from second on an infield ground out.
"We intentionally gave ourselves a rugged schedule exactly for a game like this," Mosley said. "We fought back and had it right there. I'm very proud of this group of girls."
The Vikings used a well-balanced 11-hit attack to get the job done. Metz, Nix and Clark had two hits each.
"Crazy, crazy game," Romeril said.
Francis Howell is now within one win of getting back to the state tournament.
"This feels awesome," Boutte said. "All of our hard work that we put in on and off the field is finally paying off. We still have a ways to go. But this feels nice."
Jackson beat Francis Howell 2-1 on Aug. 26 in an early-season tournament.
Class 5 District 2 softball final: Francis Howell 7, Eureka 6
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Francis Howell players converge on starting pitcher Lorin Boutte (left) after they defeated Eureka in the Class 5 District 2 championship softball game at Eureka High School in Eureka, MO on Monday October 16, 2023. Tim Vizer/Special to