WELLSVILLE - They say all’s well that ends well and, well, the regular season ended about as well as it could for the Wildcats in Wellsville Tuesday. 

And while the finale may not have offered much in terms of suspense, Wright City boarded the bus back home as outright Eastern Missouri Conference champions, following a 24-0 four-inning shutout over the host Tigers.

The Wildcats finished 9-0 in EMO play, which included a 6-2 win over two-time reigning Class 2 state champion Bowling Green earlier in the month, to earn their first league crown since nabbing back-to-back titles in 2003-04. 

Yes, 15 years is a lengthy drought, but the EMO is no joke when it comes to softball. It’s the conference’s bread and butter, which makes the accomplishment all the more special.

Just ask Coach Fred Ross, who’s been with Wright City through thick and thin and the entire decade and a half.

“(The EMO) is competitive each and every year,” Ross said. There have been four or five state champions and four or five more semifinalists to come out of here in that time. It’s always tough so it’s a big achievement for the girls.”

The Wright City bats planted five runs on Wellsville in the first inning to get things rolling. Then brushed off a scoreless second with six more runs in the third, before capping the game with a monster 13-run fourth, concluding the evening with 13 hits while drawing a season-high 13 walks.

Senior shortstop Brooklyn Moore, a Maryville University commit, has all but developed a reputation for coming through with the bases loaded. And that trend continued Tuesday when she dispatched the ball over the wall for her team-leading sixth home run and third grand slam of the season in the third frame.

She cleared the bags again the next inning with a three-run double, finishing 3-for-4 with eight RBIs, two walks and four runs scored. Her performance at the dish elevated her to No. 1 on the list of the St. Louis Metro Area’s top-run producers. She’s knocked in 45 runs in 74 at-bats in 2019, while posting a .554 average.

Of course, Wright City has more than just Moore when it comes to offensive weapons.

Junior Abby Raines was 2-for-2 with a double, triple, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Summer Boswell and Kylie Jarmuskiewcz each recorded multi-hit games with a double and pair of RBIs. Melissa Locke had a triple and drove in three runs.

Allexus Donnelly, Kenidie Duft and Hannah Kendall each had a base knock and scored at least twice. Pinch runner Ellie Rodriguez also had a busy day in crossing home three times.

The senior lefty Locke didn’t have any issues in the pitcher’s circle, allowing two hits while fanning 11 batters in four frames without a walk, the 12th game in which she’s totaled double-digit Ks.

Wright City, which fell 1-0 on the road to Francis Howell Monday, heads into the postseason with a 22-4 overall record.

While it’s been a banner year for the Wildcats, the fall of 2019 has been a bummer for Wellsville-Middletown, which dropped to 0-30 and hasn’t won a game since September of 2018.

“They’re down and we knew that coming in,” Ross said. “Our girls adjusted (to their pitcher) and got some pretty big hits. We worked hard and did a lot of good things.”

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 8 SEMIFINAL: WRIGHT CITY 7, WINFIELD 4

WINFIELD - The Wildcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the third inning, but the Warriors knotted things up with a solitary run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth. 

Wright City went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth frame with three runs. Moore doubled and scored the game-winning run on a base knock by Boswell.

Boswell was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kendall was 2-for-3 with a double, triple, run scored and stolen base. Head was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Locke notched a complete game victory in the circle, allowing one earned run on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. 

The Wildcats will look to bring home their first district title since 2005 when they take on Mexico at 11 a.m. in Saturday's championship tilt at Winfield. 

Mexico beat Warrenton 4-0 in Thursday's other semifinal. 

The Wright City softball team beat Wellsville 24-0 Tuesday to finish 9-0 in league play. From left, kneeling, are Summer Boswell, Brooklyn Moore, Kenidie Duft and Melissa Locke. Second row (hands showing) are:\ Coach Fred Ross, Anna Russel, Victoria Orf, Emma Thomas, Alexus Donnelly, Riley Seagraves, Ellie Rodriguez and Kylie Jarmuszkiewz. Back row are Cassie Reash, Kaelyn Wegrzyn, Abigail Vossen, Addison Fast, Tristen Head, Emma Wegrzyn, Hannah Kendall, Madison Hamlett, Abby Raines and Coach Ryan Raterman.

Wright City shortstop Brooklyn Moore pumps her fist in the air after hitting her third grand slam of the season Tuesday versus Wellsville-Middletown. 

The Wright City infield meets at the pitcher's circle during Tuesday's win over Wellsville-Middletown. 

Riley Seagraves heads home during Thursday's district semifinals game against Winfield.