Photo by Josh Strope Brooke’s Rachel Kazmirski is congratulated by Bruins coach Jim DiCarlo after hitting a grand slam home run during a W.Va. Class AAA Region One, Section One elimination game against John Marshall.

WHEELING — Everyone knows Brooke’s Rachel Kazmirski is one of the best pitchers in the state.

But what many may not be aware of is just how dangerous she can be with a bat in her hand.

John Marshall found out first hand Saturday at the J.B Chambers I-470 Complex

Kazmirski went 4-for-4 with five RBI, including a key grand slam in the fifth inning that broke things open and sent Brooke on its way to a 9-3 victory against John Marshall in a Class AAA Region One, Section One elimination game.

With a victory, Brooke advances to the sectional title game at 5 p.m. Monday against Wheeling Park. If Brooke wins Monday, it returns to Ben’s Field on Tuesday for a winner-take-all tilt.

Brooke and Wheeling Park split their games earlier this season.

“We had a couple of good days of practice and I thought that helped,” Brooke coach Jim DiCarlo said. “We did the little things that we needed to do. The bunts were great and we hit the ball hard.

“Rachel really, really wanted it. The other day, she kept saying ‘I left all these runners on base.’ She didn’t (Saturday).

“John Marshall is just like the New York Yankees with how hard they hit the ball. They are just so hard to pitch to. They have had our number, in fact everybody’s number, and this year they had beaten us three times. I didn’t know what to expect, but I am happy we were able to produce some runs because you never have enough runs against them. Never.”

Kazmirski had a rough outing against the Monarchs when the teams faced off Wednesday in the sectional opener.

She went hitless with runners in scoring position, coming to the plate three times with the bases loaded.

She singled in the first and fourth innings so she felt comfortable when she stepped to the plate in the fifth. The Bruins (17-10) had taken a 3-1 lead the inning prior and the all-stater entered the batter’s box with another opportunity to help her team stretch the advantage.

Once she got her bat on the ball, there was no doubt as it soared easily over the left-center field fence to give Brooke a commanding 7-1 lead.

“I was just looking to hit the ball,” Kazmirski said. “In the last game against John Marshall, I was up at bat with bases loaded three times and I couldn’t produce anything for us so I just wanted to hit the ball hard. She gave me a pitch that I wanted and I went from there.

“I have been hitting constantly since (Wednesday’s game). After the game got canceled (Friday), a bunch of us stayed over to hit and we wanted to focus on hitting because we know how good of a hitting team they are.

“I think the whole team mentality was different. I think last game we were a little shaky, but we don’t want to get rid of the seniors.”

Just for good measure, Kazmirski tacked on an opposite-field RBI double in the sixth inning to push the lead to 9-1.

John Marshall (17-13) struck first in the bottom of the third as Kameron Skrzyneki hit a two-out single down the third-base line to score Mack Hall.

Brooke answered in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a John Marshall error to tie it 1-1. Landyn Hanes put down a sacrifice bunt that scored courtesy runner Gloria Prosser to give Brooke its first lead. A RBI groundout from Maleaha Misch made it 3-1.

John Marshall added two runs in the sixth to keep the game alive — Hall RBI infield single, with another coming during a rundown. But Kazmirski induced three flyball outs in the seventh to keep Brooke’s season alive and set up a date with the top seed Patriots.

Kazmirski was the winning pitcher, striking out seven.

The loss ends a two-year streak of reaching the state tournament for the Monarchs.

“We didn’t execute as well as we should have, defensively or offensively,” John Marshall coach Ed West said. “They have a very nice pitcher and she certainly keeps us off balance. We had a few hits, but maybe some base running mistakes.

“The big blow they got, the home run, that was just something we couldn’t afford to do. When you get down that many runs, it is tough to come back from.

“The girls will bounce back. We have some good girls coming back next year and some nice young players coming up. John Marshall softball will be back again. It won’t be down forever.”