Jefferson cruised back into the Class 1 state championship game thanks to yet another dominant performance from Kendle Schieber.

The sophomore pitcher struck out 11 batters and allowed only four hits during the Eagles’ 5-1 victory against Naylor on Friday evening at Heritage Park. Using her devastating rise ball, Schieber mowed down Naylor’s aggressive batting order time and again for the defending state champions.

“Her rise ball was definitely her key pitch tonight,” Jefferson coach Deanna Bottorff said. “They were chasing it, so we took advantage of it.”

A slew of early errors allowed Jefferson (21-4) to scrape across a run in the first inning, but Naylor knotted the score when Mary Elder blasted a lead-off solo home run in the third inning. Schieber didn’t let the mistake bother her, however, and retired the next 10 consecutive hitters to help her team settle back into control.

“It already happened, and there was nothing I could do about it,” Schieber said. “So I just had to keep going.”

Gina Schieber’s sacrifice fly gave the Jefferson the lead for good in the fourth inning, while Jill Henry (solo home run) and Ashley Chor (two-run triple) provided extra cushion down the stretch, as the Eagles handed Naylor pitcher Chelsea Lane just her second loss of the season.

The Eagles rapped out eight hits and took advantage of six errors by Naylor (21-4).

“You can never say you’re going to be safe at all, but Jill’s home run definitely game our team the confidence we needed,” Bottorff said.

Jefferson takes on the winner of Clopton and Bevier today at 5 p.m. at Heritage Park in hopes of claiming its sixth state title in school history.