BROWNSTOWN — Brownstown Central’s Kinzee Dean executed her game plan to perfection in the fourth inning of Thursday’s championship game of the Milan Class 2A Sectional Thursday night.

The Braves faced Hauser’s ace pitcher, Paige McDaniel, in the opening game of the season on March 26.

Dean recalled facing McDaniel in that game and took some mental notes after facing her in the second inning Thursday night.

“We played them our first game of the season and I actually hit a home run off of her, so I was really confident. I knew that I could get hits against her,” she said.

“In my first at bat I watched one outside pitch. Then she pitched it to me again, in my second at bat when I got the opposite-field hit that scored the two runs. I knew how she was going to pitch to me because I watched it my first at bat, so I was ready for it. I got my hands back and I watched it all the way in and hit into the right side of the field.”

The Jets held a 1-0 lead, on a home run by McDaniel in the second inning, so Dean’s gave the Braves a 2-1 lead on the way to a 3-1 victory for their first sectional championship since winning a sectional trophy in 2010 at Eastern (Pekin).

Braves Coach Darren Bryant was excited about the sectional title, saying that his team did not allow any runs in defeating Southwestern 3-0, and South Ripley 12-0 to reach the finals.

Bryant said, “We had been in some championship games. Monte (Ault, former coach) had several, even in 3A, but we couldn’t pull it out, so it is good to see us pull this out with this team, especially with five seniors, who contributed a lot.

“They’ve had a good career, so it is nice to see them get that sectional win.”

Brooke Meahl led off the top of the fourth with a single. Rylee May was safe on an error, and Kyndle Huddleston walked to load the bases before Dean delivered her big hit into right-center field. Huddleston was out on a play at third base, but Alex Davidson singled to score Dean with an insurance run.

The Braves had nine hits with Dean getting three and Kelsey Schneider getting two.

“Kinzee had that huge hit,” Bryant said. “Kinzee has been clutch all year. She is a girl that the bigger the spot, the more likely she is going to come through. She does not feel the pressure. I felt really good about her batting in that situation.”

Dean also played on BC’s volleyball and girls’ basketball teams that won sectionals and advanced to the state finals.

She said, “It was really exciting to win in volleyball and basketball. I knew what it took to win a sectional so I tried to keep the energy up in the dugout, even after Paige hit their home run.”

Huddleston, who started at first base for the Braves for the past two seasons, said it was a special feeling to win a sectional as a senior. “It’s amazing. It’s long overdue. It’s a team effort, but Kelsey pitched a great game”

Bryant agreed with Huddleston’s assessment of Schneider’s performance as the senior right hander had seven strike outs, she walked two and allowed five this.

Bryant said, “Kelsey pitched really well. She has been real solid here lately. We’ve tried to change our pitching philosophy the last five-six games when we were splitting games. We wanted to keep them both (Schneider and May) sharp and not overuse anybody too much. I thought Kelsey was ready to go the distance tonight.”

The Braves are 17-11 and will play at Providence (10-10) Tuesday night for a regional game. Providence defeated Eastern 8-0 to win its sectional.

“It’s going to be fun,” Bryant said. “We’ve never won regional so if we could pull that off it would be a first time.”

Huddleston said, “We’ve never played Providence so it will be a good game. Defense wins games so we need to play good defense. Offense is important, but defense is what wins our games. I love our team atmosphere. It’s really great.”

The Braves made two errors, but Bryant said his team played outstanding defense throughout the sectional.

“We made a couple mistakes. That was nerves a little bit with it being the sectional and what was on line. But they made some great plays after that. Sophie Wayt probably made a game-saving catch in left field with the bases loaded (in the fifth inning).

“That was a big play, and Olivia (Justice) made a super throw on that wild pitch to throw that runner out to end the game. That was nice not to have to face their order.

“Getting that trophy felt really good. It was the first time for me. I was an assistant coach on Monte’s 2010 team. That was one of my first year’s coaching.”

Hauser finished at 20-7.

Milan Sectional — Championship

Brownstown Central 3, Hauser 1

Brownstown Central hits: 3-Kinzee Dean, 2-Kelsey Schneider, 1-Brooke Meahl, Rylee May, Alex Davidson, Adelynn Anderson; RBIs- Dean 2, Davidson 1; runs- Meahl, May, Dean

BC pitching: Schneider 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 7 K, 2 BB