Before Jefferson City could celebrate its first softball state championship, it had to deal with one more stressful situation.

"I just said, you know, you can do this," coach Lisa Dey said.

Lady Jay's pitcher Mackenzie Bowden "did this" all game. She had a no-hitter and her team led 2-0 going into the seventh and final inning. But, when a two RBI double cut the lead to one, Coach Dey went to the mound.

"She said breathe, because i was like, hyperventilating," pitcher Mackenzie Bowden said.

"She had the second best batting average on the team so she didn't mind if Mackenzie walked her," catcher Kara Steiner said.

"My heart was pounding and she just said, 'You know, get your out and you're done, you're state champions,'" said Bowden.

The title carries extra meaning for Coach Dey. Earlier this week, longtime Sedalia baseball coach Ross Dey passed away from cancer.

"I lost a brother-in-law this week. I put him on the scorecard and had his number on my hand so it means a lot," Dey said.

"She's just really the best coach. She's the best coach I've ever been with," Steiner said.

"You know, I've had some great ball clubs and I've had some great kids. You know, the difference there is these kids thought from their freshman year that we're gonna make something of this and we're gonna do something. And they had their goal set at the very beginning," said Dey.

Mission accomplished.