Down four runs with a single out remaining it seemed inevitable. The 22-5 season that the Malden Green Wave carved out would finish with a whimper.
But then ... the inevitable turned into the improbable.
When Dushawn Butler stepped into the batter's box and locked eyes with Scott City pitcher Bryan McNeely his nerves grew.
"I just knew I was going to strikeout," he said. "I hadn't hit it out of the infield all game."
Having not played since seventh grade, Butler returned to baseball for his senior season. He didn't want to conclude his high school career this way.
Then he heard it: "Senior year!" And the apprehension subsided.
Butler nailed a long fly ball into right field, earning a double and bringing in two runners to narrow the deficit to 7-5. In one swing the game's momentum tilted and in return, one phrase continuously emitted from Malden's dugout.
"Senior year!"
For seniors Butler, Dee Triplett, Mason Brown, Ontario Reed and Ethan Bader the mantra holds multiple meanings. Resiliency. Composure. Mainly, it serves as incentive to treat every action on the field as if it's the last -- because it very well could be.
"We've got three or four people that have been together since we were 6 or 7 years old," Brown said. "We've gotten close in the lower ranks (of winning state championships), but this is the furthest we've reached in high school."
In the waning moments of Monday's contest, it became the team's identity.
"I was telling them 'Senior year!' when they was up to bat, so they'd know they gotta do it -- and they did," Triplett said.
Make everything count. One more mistake and the season ends.
As Tye Miller approached the box, he heard it too.
"Senior year!"
Miller answered Butler's shot with his own double down the line. Butler made his way home.
7-6.
Drew Blankenship knocked the ball short and barreled down the line. He dove head-first into first base, beating the throw by the narrowest of margins.
"Senior year!"
Up next, Triplett, who already knocked out a two-run shot in the 6th inning.
Fearing another blast, the Rams elected to intentionally walk him.
The anti-climatic walk didn't matter. The energy shifted to junior Gavin Bristow.
"Senior year!"
The bases were loaded. Not the ideal situation to face with two outs. One slip-up and any base could claim the clinching out.
But, "Senior year!" persisted. Bristow singled the ball past third base.
7-7.
Fittingly enough, Brown was up next.
However, the game's decisive moment wouldn't result from the senior.
A mishandled pitch by Scott City's third-string catcher sent the ball flying backward. Blankenship, the freshman outfielder, stormed down the third base line. With his hand raised in the air he slid into home and sent the Green Wave into a frenzy.
8-7.
"Senior year!"
Even in the midst of exhilaration, Brown knew the next game won't be the same. They need to refocus quickly and correct the mistakes that factored into the early 7-0 deficit against the Rams.
"We can't make bone-headed plays. We can't make errors. If we clean that up, then, you know, anything can happen," Brown said.
Malden will face the winner of Tuesday's game between the West County Bulldogs and Hancock Tigers.
West County grabbed a 6-3 victory over St. Pius X to claim the Class 3 District 3 title.
The Tigers nabbed the Class 3 District 4 title after a 4-0 shutout against Herculaneum.
For Malden, Wednesday's game presents an opportunity to reach the Final Four and continue the magic of "Senior year!"