Following a 15-0 mercy-rule defeat vs. COC foe Carl Junction, Nixa softball competed in and hosted the 32nd Annual Ozarks Fall Festival Tournament on Sept. 10-11, 2022.

The tournament featured 18 teams, including Nixa, most of who were coming off successful 2021 seasons. 

In Friday's pool play, Nixa defeated Poplar Bluff (13-0), Excelsior Springs (6-2), and the defending Class 5 State champion Lee's Summit West (5-1). Offensively, Nixa was propelled by their top-of-the-lineup, as Paige Garetson, Phoebe Gardner, Chloe Krans, and Sara Sweaney combined for 13 RBIs in pool play. Krans (Poplar Bluff) and Sweaney (Excelsior Springs) both smashed home runs over the fence as well. On the mound, Garetson earned two wins (Poplar Bluff and Excelsior Springs) and Maddy Meierer notched one (Lee's Summit West).

From there, teams advanced to their respective brackets (platinum, gold, silver, or bronze). Brackets and seeds were determined by won/loss record, head-to-head competition, and run differential. 

Nixa hosted and earned the top seed in the gold bracket. 

In the semifinals, Nixa faced Smithville and defeated the Warriors 5-0, behind Meierier's complete-game shut out. She allowed six hits and fanned nine batters. The game was scoreless until the third inning when Gardner hit a solo HR over the left-field fence giving Nixa a 1-0 lead. The ensuing inning Nixa extended its lead to 3-0 with an RBI double from Rylee Harper and an RBI single from Harper Simpson. Nixa got its final runs in the fifth from an RBI single from Sweaney and RBI double from Meierer.

The gold championship game featured Nixa (7-2) and Grain Valley (10-3), who beat Lee's Summit West 9-3 to earn their bid in the finals. The pitching on both sides shined in this finale, but it was eventually Nixa coming out on top 3-0. 

Garetson earned the start and did not disappoint. She tossed a complete game shut out, allowing seven hits with one walk and a strikeout. Offensively, she was also one-of-five batters to get a hit in the game, finishing the game 1-for-3. Gardner, Krans, Sweaney, and Lauren Loney also managed a hit in the game. 

Nixa scored a run in the second with a Loney RBI single and added two additional runs in the fourth from Mylee Harper and a Krans' RBI single. 

Grain Valley outhit Nixa in the game 7-5, but Garetson and her defense were clutch when it mattered most and kept Grain Valley from crossing the plate.

The perfect weekend and championship advanced Nixa to 8-2 on the year and returns back to action for a cross-town rival game at Ozark on Sept. 13.