McGowan came through in clutch

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

1998 -- Kourtney Davis, Galena

1999 -- Chelsea Crosby, Wooster

2000 -- Jenne Bator, Wooster

2001 -- Brianne McGowan, Wooster

The Wooster Colts had a steep mountain to climb as they arrived at West Flamingo Park for the final day of last month's 4A State Softball Tournament.

To repeat as state champs, the Reno school would need back-to-back-to-back wins -- no easy task with temperatures hovering near the 100-degree mark.

Colts coach Dick Allen turned to sophomore fireballer Brianne McGowan in Game 1 and his ace responded, shutting out Northern Region champion Reed in a 4-0 Wooster win.

For Game 2, Allen again looked to McGowan, and again the sophomore passed the test, posting a 3-1 victory over Durango to put the Colts in a rematch with the Trailblazers with the state title on the line.

So with seven innings remaining in his team's season, who did Allen tap to start Game 3?

Who else?

For the third time in four hours, McGowan stepped into the pitching circle for the Colts.

Though a pair of Wooster errors helped Durango build a six-run lead after one inning, McGowan held the Trailblazers to two runs from there, as the Colts rallied for a thrilling 9-8 victory, earning a second straight 4A championship and McGowan the Sun's 2001 State Player of the Year award.

"Pressure doesn't bother her, and you could really see it that day," Allen said. "For a 16-year-old, her composure is unbelievable."

"The night before, I told my son, 'Tomorrow we're going with Brianne in the first, the second and if we make it, the third.' It's like the Triple Crown -- she won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont."

Added McGowan, "It was so exciting, the way we came from behind and won three games that last day. It wasn't easy for us at all."

Pitching on the same staff as the Sun's last two players of the year -- seniors Chelsea Crosby (1999) and Jenne Bator (2000) -- McGowan emerged as her team's big-game pitcher this spring.

Coming off a superb freshman campaign that saw her go 14-1 with an 0.21 ERA, McGowan compiled a sparkling 20-2 record with 11 shutouts, an 0.63 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 156 innings.

With Crosby and Bator among seven Wooster seniors who won't be back next year, McGowan will likely be asked to carry an even heavier load in 2002. But after her recent "Triple Crown" victory run, you aren't likely to find anyone betting against her.