It was win or go home for the Kentwood fastpitch team Thursday afternoon against Thomas Jefferson.

The Conquerors stayed calm and got the 3-2 win to thanks in large part to strong pitching and tough defense.

The victory initially looked like it would be enough to earn Kentwood the fifth spot into the league playoffs where games are played for seeding into the West Central District tournament.

On Friday morning, however, the Conquerors discovered they will have to play Auburn Riverside in a tiebreaker game some time next week for the fifth spot.

Still, it was a sweet victory over Jefferson.

Things looked good for Kentwood when it jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Allison Newcomb and Rachel Burr each drove in a run.

But in the top of the third, Jefferson responded, tying the game up.

In the bottom of the fourth, while CJ Brooks stood at the plate, Ally Mittleider came in to score the winning run as Bethany Pfaff stole second base.

Sophomore left fielder Shian Kelly made a series of spectacular catches for the Conks with Raiders runners on base and threatening to score, including a sliding catch to end the top half of the fifth.

Kelly also grabbed the last fly ball off a Jefferson bat in the top of the seventh to end the game.

As the ball came toward Kelly she had a brief case of the jitters.

“I panicked because I’m crazy like that,” she said. “Then I got excited (when she made the catch). Game over, we’re going to districts.”

Kentwood’s season has had its highs and lows but this win provided a particularly special high point.

“It means a whole lot to everybody,” Kelly said. “We finally won a really big game. It was so intense.”

For Kentwood Coach Jason Wisor, the win was significant given the youthfulness of his team — he has just two seniors this year.

“This is huge because of the turnover we’ve had this year,” Wisor said. “We came out of the gate playing .500 ball. This is huge because it means the season starts all over.”

Next up for the Conks will be an SPSL tournament game on May 13 against Rogers out of the South Division.

Wisor said the team will prepare for the playoffs just as it has for any other opponent this season.

“The team stays calm as it is,” he said. “I’ve got confidence they’ll come out and compete…”