Osawatomie ? Until this year, Ottawa High had never had a winning record in softball. Now the Cyclones are headed to next week’s Class 4A state tournament.

What a difference a quality pitcher makes.

Freshman sensation Megan Ramsey allowed five hits and struck out nine, leading Ottawa to a 7-3 triumph over Baldwin in the 4A regional final Wednesday night at Cole Complex.

“She’s phenomenal. She really is,” Ottawa (16-5) coach Renee Malburg said of her precocious meal ticket. “She throws really, really well.”

Baldwin coach Ginny Honomichl wasn’t about to disagree.

“We read that she struck out 18 in one game,” Honomichl said. “We knew we had to shorten our swings against her. We weren’t going to let her do that to us.”

And when Baldwin grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to catcher Mandi Daigh’s bases-loaded double to the left-field gap, Honomichl was thinking optimistically.

“We felt good,” the Baldwin coach said, “because we knew how good she (Ramsey) was.”

Meanwhile, Baldwin (13-5) starter Katie Martin had faced the minimum number of batters in the first three innings. The Bulldogs seemed to be in control. Then Ottawa struck and the ‘Dogs self-destructed.

A walk, an error and a scratch single loaded the bases. Another error plated a run, then Jill Spratt slapped a two-run single and the game was deadlocked at 3-3. Baldwin also had a throwing error on a rundown play.

“We hurried too much,” Honomichl said, “and gave them too many outs.”

No doubt buoyed by their comeback, the Cyclones exploded for four runs an inning later. Ramsey rocketed a double against the left-field fence to score one run and catcher Jennifer Warren slapped a double down the left-field line for two more. The final run of the frame crossed on a fielder’s choice.

Meanwhile, Ramsey took command. After Daigh’s three-run double in the third, the Cyclones’ right-hander allowed just one more base-runner.

“I just threw a lot of movement pitches,” Ramsey said.

Earlier in the day, Ramsey had fanned 10 batters and Ottawa disposed of defending regional champion Santa Fe Trail, 2-0, in one semifinal. In the other semi, Baldwin clubbed 13 hits — two each by Daigh, Kayla Pringle and Kari Garrison — to post a 10-5 victory over Prairie View.

Ottawa 7, Baldwin 3

Ottawa 000 340 0 — 7 10 1

Baldwin 003 000 0 — 3 5 4

WP–Megan Ramsey. LP–Katie Martin.

2B–Ramsey, Jennifer Warren, Julie Heck, Ottawa; Mandi Daigh, Baldwin.