SIOUX FALLS — The Cavaliers are set to defend its title.

Top-seeded Sioux Falls Jefferson (22-0) shutout No. 4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 4-0, advancing to the Class AA state championship game for its second consecutive year.

The defending champs relied on a combined one-hitter from pitching duo Makenzie Bierman and Madison Kracht to keep the Rough Rider offense at bay.

“Just a solid team win. We were able to get a full day's rest for one of our pitchers and got five solid innings out of Mak Bierman, she was super dialed in,” said Jefferson head coach Ed Whiting. “We got a freshman in for some experience, a couple innings in the state tournament so really good there. 

It was the third-straight shutout for the Cavaliers this postseason, having now outscored its opponents 23-0 in the past three contests.

“It’s literally what they do,” Whiting said of the defense. “They show up everyday and they practice their tails off. Their communication is at a high level, we only really had to replace two starters from last year so they’ve been playing together. They all know each other, love each other like sisters so that communication part helps.”

But facing a stout pitcher in Roosevelt’s Desiree Hinsch, who struck out 15 batters in the Rough Riders’ quarterfinal win over Brandon Valley, offense was at a premium on both sides of the ball.

“Just be on time,” Whiting said. “We say HOA. Find a hittable ball, be on time and attack the ball. She throws it hard, she has good spin rate, she’s not afraid to attack you on the inside third. We didn’t have the luxury of seeing her earlier in the year, they threw somebody which was a good idea on their behalf, but we know enough about her.”

In the third inning, Jefferson broke the scoreless tie plating three runs. Back-to-back errors with a Brooklyn Herrera RBI-single allowed starting pitcher Makenzie Bierman to settle in on the mound.

“It was very important,” Bierman said of the early offense. “As a pitcher, it gives you a lot of assurance and you feel more comfortable letting people on base.”

But Bierman never wavered through five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. 

“I think just being able to have my rise ball,” Bierman said on what was working well. “Just getting swings and misses was the focus with my rise.”

Star shortstop Macy Bryant added another run in the fourth inning on an RBI-single while the pitching and defense held its own.

In the sixth inning, Jefferson went to freshman Madison Kracht to slam the door, striking out two of the final six outs without allowing a baserunner, throwing just 19 pitches to send the Cavs to the championship.

Bryant paced the Jefferson offense with two RBIs on one hit, Herrera added an RBI-single while Ayleah Johnson tallied two hits, one double, in the win.

For Roosevelt, Hinsch struck out 10 batters despite the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk.

Trista Anderson tallied the lone hit of the game for the Rough Riders. Roosevelt will play Harrisburg at 2 p.m. in the consolation championship.

But for Jefferson, the Cavs will go for a perfect season Saturday at 4 p.m. in a state championship rematch with Sioux Falls Washington.

The Warriors defeated Harrisburg, 8-4, in the semifinals on Friday.

“It’s obviously a big deal getting back to the state championship,” Bierman said. “We’re going to have to be locked in our hitting and have great defense too.”

“The story all year has been we’re going to play our game,” Whiting added. “It’s about our dugout and doing what we do. It doesn’t matter who is in the other dugout, we’re going to show up and do what we do and hope in the end, it’s enough. It should be, because our girls are good and their best is good enough. Looking forward to a good game.”