>> What an incredible week to be in at Fort Dodge.

State softball and an incredible weather week.

Those are the new center field bleachers, a lot offensive seen some great action from there.

They get to see one more game.

The 2023 one a championship.

It is number two North and Tom Grant Martinsville St. Mary's.

The Blue Devils here from Harlan Rogers.

Glad to have you here tonight.

Two in the book.

This is a statewide around the world.

What are they going to see in this last one?

Let me guess.

Good pitching.

We are going to talk about pitching again.

We do have two really great pitchers here in the circle .

It is Ellie Flanagan.

She is dealing with a little bit of an injury, but she is a powerful pitcher.

We will see how long that knee can hold up here tonight.

Campbell German.

She has been dominating this tournament.

She took a perfect game into the seventh inning in the semifinals.

Lost that on a base hit to the first hitter.

Anyway, otherwise, she has been solid and very tough to hit.

And when you need to score runs to win a game.

All you need is one.

There fit the trip to state, they have only scored three runs his entire tournament but She has been looking for a hit here at the tournament.

It has been about her pitching.

She is outstanding in our hitting, as well.

That is for North Linn.

For Martensdale-St. Mary's, again, they are back at state.

They are in state at fastball.

Now here they are in softball.

They have been great as a hitter, but you mentioned Campbell German.

Outstanding for this squad.

>> This team can put up some runs, as well.

This is going to be in the pitchers hold up and keep into that low-scoring game.

Otherwise, we are going to see a bunch of hits and a lot of friends.

The >> Glad to have your tonight.

>> Can these pitchers hold up and keep it to that low-scoring game?

Otherwise we will see a lot of hits and a lot of friends.

>>Musco Lighting, the sports lighting specialists.

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>> What an incredible week to be in Fort Dodge.

State softball and and and credible weather week.

Those are the new center field bleachers.

Lot of fans have seen great action from there.

They get to see one more game.

The 2023 1A Championship.

It is number two, North Linn and top ranked Martensdale-St. Mary's, The Blue Devils here from Harlan Rogers.

We are here.

She is Laura Leonard, I am Paul Yeager.

One more to go.

This is a statewide, around the world.

What are they going to see in this last one?

Let me guess.

Good pitching?

Then we will talk about pitching again.

We do have two really good pitchers here in the circle .

She is dealing with a little bit of an injury, but she has powerful pitching.

We will see how long that knee can hold up tonight.

Campbell German, she has been dominating this tournament.

She took a perfect game into the seventh inning in the semifinals.

Lost that on a base hit to the first hitter.

Otherwise, she has been solid and very tough to hit.

And when you need to score runs to win a game get all you need to have is one.

North Linn has only scored six runs since that tournament.

But they have been led by Ellie Flanagan.

She has been looking toward the tournament.

Skyler Bennett is outstanding in her hitting, as well.

For Martensdale-St. again, they are back at state.

They were in state at fastball and now they are here in fastball.

Baker has been great as a hitter.

But you mentioned German.

Outstanding for this squad.

>> This team can put up some runs, as well.

This will be, can the pitchers hold up and keep it to the low- scoring game?

Otherwise we will see a whole bunch of hits and a lot of runs.

>> For the final time, let's go upstairs to Tim Fitzpatrick for the interactions and Giants games .

>> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and softball fans.

Welcome.

To Rogers sports complex in this 1A Championship between the visiting team, the North Linn lynx .

The home team, the Martensdale-St. Mary's Blue Devils.

Now, let's meet the teams.

Linn.

Number 1, Paisley Carpenter.

Number 7, Samantha West.

Number 11, Jillian sheltie.

Number 16, Missy Hockenberry.

Number 18, Abby Michael.

Your assistant coaches, Taylor Henderson.

Hannah Bridgewater.

And Riley Jacobson.

Now, here is your starting lineup, for the lynx of North Linn, leading off coupling shortstop, number 8, Skyler Benish.

Playing second base, Kenzie Bridgewater.

Doing the pitching, number 13, Ellie Flanagan.

Clean up there for the lynx, doing the catching, number 24, Jersey Peyton.

Playing fifth at the base, number 28, Kylie Munson.

Center field, number 17, Seventh, the designated player, number 22, Harley Henderson.

Batting eighth in left field, number 25, Willie Reber.

Batting in the ninth position, third base, number 21, Allie Christiansen.

>> Your player in right field, Ava Hoover.

Head coach for the lynx, Chadds Ford .

Now, let's meet the team from Martinsville St. Mary's.

Your starters and assistant coaches number 8, map German.

Number 10, Karson Oberender.

Olivia Van Gundy.

Number 17, Annie Hawkes.

Number 19, Kailey Phinney.

Your assistant coach, Kayla Eslinger.

Now, here is your starting lineup for The Blue Devils.

Leading off in shortstop, number 6, Bailey German.

Number seven, Ellie Baker.

Doing the pitching, Campbell German.

Cleanup hitter for The Blue Devils, the designated player, number 18, Abby Hughes.

Playing fifth, doing the catching, number 11, Sydney Bears.

Batting six, at third base, number 15.

Hadley Pearson.

Batting seventh in left field, number two, Aunie Berger.

The regular, number 5, Maryann Hart.

Batting in the ninth position, center fielder, number 3, Emily Hughes.

The flex player at first base.

Number 13, Ava Oberender.

Head coach for The Blue Devils, Emily Wood.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, turn your attention to the home plate area.

Our umpires for this contest as assigned by the Iowa girls high school athletic Union.

At first base, Terry Joe Friday.

At third base, Micah Crisler.

Calling the balls and strikes tonight.

Ryan Crisler.

All right.

Who is ready to win a state championship?

>> We get to say for one final time in 2023, it is time to play softball.

What a way to go out.

Martensdale-St. Mary's is the home team.

They will play defense first.

It is a berger on left.

Oberender at first, Brynnly at short.

Pearson at third.

Bears behind the plate and in the circle is Campbell German.

Martensdale-St. Mary's is 27-6.

They had a lot of good pitching.

Campbell German is a big part of that.

Take a look at her record here.

What stands out about Campbell German to you?

>> The strikeouts.

The opponents batting average.

Nobody is getting the bat on her.

She is striking out a lot of hitters.

She throws a lot of different things.

You will see a rise, a change, a curveball.

The other night, I am telling you what, we were seeing it right here.

That glove was popping.

She was throwing it hard, right around 65 miles an hour.

>> She gives the thumbs up but she has not popped it yet.

This is the team that is going to have to try and hit her.

Jersey Peyton, Kylie Munson.

Carly Henderson, Lily Raburn and Allison Christiansen.

What do they have to deal, Laura, as you look at keys to this contest?

What stands out for North Linn to you?

>> They need to score more runs.

We have been talking about this since the beginning of the game.

They have not been able to generate a lot of runs.

They need to do that.

They need more than one run to back up the good pitching and runners on base.

When they get them on they need to be able to move them around.

And, run, steal some bases.

>> For Martensdale-St. Mary's?

>> They need to work the count in their favor if they can.

Get ahead in the count.

Play loose.

Coach would say that they play at their best when we are loose.

If you look at that dugout, they have cowboy hats on and here is on, they are ready to go.

If they play loose and upbeats, they are going to be tough to be.

>> 7:38, first pitch.

76 gorgeous degrees.

The 1-0.

Misses.

Today is July 21st, 2023.

You are watching 1A Championship state softball statewide on Iowa PBS.

Also on the Internet at iowapbs.org.

We are free anywhere you want to be in the world.

>> 2-1 pitch from German.

Smacked into the center.

Skyler Benish, let's see if that is a hitting right.

>> Skyler Benish, the you and I commit waited back on that off-speed pitch and right into his center field.

>> Benish had to play against her future roommate in the opening round.

Foul ball.

Bridgewater get a bat on it and sends it into the screen.

I think that was more of the padding underneath.

It was more of a boom!

>> She is a little disappointed in herself.

She did not get the bat back quick enough.

>> She gets be bent down and fielded by German.

The throw to first.

To Oberender moves Benish up to second on the sacrifice.

All of that talk about bunting.

I might've been the first sacrifice of the day, I think.

>> I think it is.

We have seen all week long, teams play small ball.

Put the ball down and bunt for base hits and squeeze runners in.

We have not really seen anything all day until that one right there.

>> Ellie Flanagan, the senior dips in.

Watch that first pitch out.

Since her injury on a rainy night, she has not quite been the same with hitting and pitching.

She battled but it did not play in the regional final.

Hits that one well to right.

That one has a chance to leave.

It is off the top of the wall.

It is in for a long single, scoring the games first run is Benish.

1-0, North Linn.

Ellie Flanagan, huge weight lifted off her shoulders.

>> Just as you were saying, she has had a little trouble hitting the ball because of that injury.

Still rehabbing it, trying to work herself back into shape.

She got all of that one off the bottom of the fence.

Benish easily scores.

>> A courtesy runner will be Samantha West.

>> Flanagan thought it was out.

She gave a little fist pump and then realized it hit the bottom of the fence.

>> A swing and a miss by a jersey Peyton, who was a hero in the semifinal with a two run home run which was the difference in that game.

West at first, the courtesy runner for Flanagan.

Payton at the plate.

Nice pitch.

The throw down to second is stopped by Brynnly German.

So, Campbell German goes almost a perfect game in the semifinal.

Gives up two hits in the first inning here in the championship game against North Linn.

How quickly things can change at the state tournament.

>> You go back to the keys that we talked about .

They are putting runners in motion.

They are going to test the arm of bears behind the plate.

>> Good change-up.

West is now at second on the stolen base.

The throw to third is not in time.

Actually, it was more about location on that one.

It was on the foul side of the bag.

>> The throw was there.

It was just on the other side of the bag .

Good heads up running by West.

Got a great jump.

That ball is in the dirt and she was on the move.

>> A walk to jersey Peyton.

>> In his third year as head coach.

He sends in a courtesy runner for his catcher.

Who he is sending in is Hockenberry.

There is a look at Lucy.

>> I expect her to be on the move.

They want to put pressure on in this defense right away.

>> The bunt is laid down back to German.

>> Close to first.

The third and first is in time.

Over ended.

Great throw across the diamond.

So, Haughenbury is erased by West scores.

>> West comes into play.

They do squeeze that run in.

>> Talk about putting some pressure on the defense.

They are making them play the ball.

They are making them play.

German does a good job of fielding that.

Could not get it home and then they are able to keep the runner out at third.

>> Come back to German off the bat of Peyton McMahon.

Two runs a score.

North Linn has to be good about that first half of the inning as they push two across.

>> Emily would there we will attend to her microphone and be able to hear what she has to say.

In her second year of varsity coaching, she coached a year in high school and a year in junior high.

She has a great team.

This is the defense with McMahon, Hoover in the outfield.

Bridgewater and Flanagan on the infield with Jersey Peyton behind the plate.

Ellie Flanagan in the circle.

Here is a look at Ellie Flanagan and her pitching record of 24-3.

The array of 1.47, Laura.

What stands out to her about you?

>> The strikeouts.

We talked to her about what is your best pitch that you throw?

She says hey, it is a secret.

>> I have four pitches and I will throw the mall.

We just have to figure out what they are part.

>> Here is the batting lineup for Martinsville, St. Mary's.

Campbell German, Abigail Hughes, Sydney Bears, Hadley Pearson, Aunie Berger, Marianne and Emily Hughes.

For The Blue Devils, 2-lynx.

Then against first pitch is fouled back behind .

Jersey Peyton chases that.

She will throw it back into play.

Brynnly German, the younger sister of the twins by five whole minutes.

I don't think Campbell has let Brinley forget that.

There is that change-up but not quite as effective as it was against Clarksville the other night.

I asked, was that a change of?

She says it was a pitch.

>> She was playing it very close to the bench.

>> Comes back in on the hands.

Christiansen feels over to Munson.

There is one away.

So, one of the supers sophomores.

Ellie Baker, will come in from the left side.

.452 average, 104 at-bats.

12 stolen bases, 47 hits, all leaders for The Blue Devils.

The first pitch is out of the zone.

>> This Benesh is very young.

But, they have the experience of being here and being in the state tournament atmosphere from last year.

Flanagan.

Lifted and it is going to just get out of play by about three feet.

Look out!

Ryan Crisler wants to see the ball and make sure it is not dinged up.

He is going to keep it in his pocket so the ball is good.

Jersey Peyton looks into the dugout for the pitch to call.

Her first year of varsity catching.

Last year, she was a JV second baseman.

Talk about a transition.

>> That is a big transition.

You have to work a lot in the off-season.

the defense has adjusted for the left-handed hitter.

Bridgewater adjusted in.

You can see Munson playing back.

>> Baker with the one out walk.

Is it vital that Martensdale- St. Mary's gets a run here in this first?

>> I don't know if it is vital, I think it would be helpful for them mentally to get one of those runs back.

If you can put some runners on base and make a little noise, I think that helps calm the nerves, as well.

>> Campbell German digs in.

>> It is early, you heard coach would say it is early in the game.

We will be able to score, that is what she told them.

Just having the confidence when make a little noise on the base pads and at the plate, that is going to help you.

so, Martensdale already kind of had a couple of things reversed in that first inning.

Campbell German skies it right behind short and into left.

The catch is made by Lily Rehberg.

>> Good communication out there defensively.

Rehberg coming in charging and calling off Benesh and takes control.

>> Martensdale had not given up a run in the month of July prior to about 15 minutes ago.

They lost 9-0 to Johnson on June 29th.

to a trainee team was May 25th when they lost two conference rival lean.

>> Something like that gets reversed, how quickly does that set into the back of your head?

>> You know, I think it is getting comfortable with the fact where they get five games without giving up a run.

So, you just kind of thing, that is the norm when you step into a ball game.

You give up those two early on and you kind of have to set the reset button and say we are still playing baseball, we know we have to score runs and we cannot just rely on the fact that our defense and our pitchers are going to shut down our opponents.

We have to make some noise and hit some balls hard and knock runners in.

Abby Hughes at the plate now.

The sophomore.

There is a look at coach would and help this team along.

The pitch is off the plate.

>> She was a semi finalist won in the third-place game over Clarksville, 7-2.

We will take a look at the brackets a little bit.

Show you how these two teams have done here.

We will also look at the pitchers and super slow Mo.

The coaches are mic'd up.

We are mic'd up.

>> Umpires are mic'd up.

>> Listening to a couple of those conversations.

>> He was works the count full, 3-2.

>> Called third strike.

The Blue Devils leave a runner.

>> The outside part of the plate got brought up .

Sherman Only a junior.

College is still one of those options for her in the sense of what she wants to do.

Here is how the pairings all shut out.

Martensdale St. Mary's opened the win and then they beat Branson's before Martensdale- St. Mary's won the semifinal.

North Linn rated eight innings to sweep synchrony.

Hartsville, that was the Indians who won that game.

That was a close 2-1 contest in the semifinals which is how we ended up here.

>> You talked about Campbell German and college in the future .

We talked to her the other night, late.

Late night.

She said, yeah, there are a couple of schools that I am I do not want to really say quite yet.

I want to be fully comfortable with my choice and my decision before I make any kind of announcement.

So, did not reveal anything.

But she surmised that we want to out and play.

Absolutely, she does want to continue on and play softball.

I think she has got a bright future.

>> 2-0 pitch is hit down the third base line and fouled by about 18 inches.

>> Why do you say that?

Is it location?

Is it you do?

>> I think the mechanics are good.

She knows how to locate the ball .

Has got good spin.

Got good velocity.

Really good velocity.

I think if she continues to grow and get stronger, good off- speed pitches like that.

>> She is going to get stronger and with more muscle, she is just going to develop in ways and get refinement on her pitches.

>> Harley Henderson strikes out.

That will bring in Lily Rehberg.

Fouled back behind.

Rehberg, another one of those eighth-graders playing today.

First it is Clarksville, she was the only lynx to have two hits.

She hits it right past German who dives to the left.

The throw is on to Oberender to get the out.

>> That might be another reason why I think she has a big future.

She is very athletic and she can feel that position very well.

Good, quick reactions and makes a strong throw.

>> The number 9 hitter, Allie Christiansen to back.

A senior in this lineup.

The first pitch is a ball .

Another transfer.

She came to North Linn at the end of this year.

She played soccer on a combined school team.

Defended her whole life .

She hits it well to center.

On the run to the left is Emily Hughes.

Just like that, the lynx go one, two, three.

Good inning for North Linn.

We will take a break to remember a friend.

>> Averages 31 points per ball game.

>> Iowa girls administrator Lisa Brent Meyer lost her catcher with -- a bottle she has been fighting for more than a year.

The graduate excelled in volleyball, golf, and softball.

It was fastball where she is remembered most for winning the final six on six state championship in 1993.

>> 85-66, the final score.

>> Lisa knew firsthand what it would mean to be an Iowa girl.

>> When you play a lot or do a lot, you are still in Iowa girl.

He knew what it was like to be involved with athletics.

As I grew older and made it to state, the state fastball tournament, I realize a lot more what Iowa really was.

That was one of the first times I felt like a princess, one of the few times in my life and that is because the athletic union does that.

They put the Iowa girl on a pedestal.

I thought I realized how important it was and unique it was until I went to college and I played fastball with a lot of players from around the country in different states.

experience and they would just look at me funny like I was crazy.

They were not treated the same way.

It was always neat to make it to state, but it was just different.

They were not celebrities they were just another fastball player.

In Iowa state girl stands out.

>> Brink went on to play and coach at Drake University and eventually landed her position at the I GSA you.

Her contribution to girl starts in Iowa both on and off the court is what made her the embodiment of the Iowa girl.

>> The pitch from Ellie Flanagan to Sydney Bears is a strike.

1-2.

>> Back here to live-action .

That one was tied.

We watched that thing twice now.

We watched it last night and I think of a new memory with her.

You have known her a long, long time.

You had a good bunt with her .

You have that Drake blood going through your veins.

Out number one.

The Drake community, we talk about athletes and their connection.

The team meet.

You are a team mate for life.

To actually play on the same team as hurt, you might as well have as closely connected as the two of you were.

>> The thing that Brink did, whether you played in my era which we will call it, or her era, she connected with everybody from the first fastball players that started that program at Drake to the players that are there right now.

She knew each and everyone that always would alumni functions or on the team.

Everybody knew her and she knew everybody.

She wanted everyone to be included in everything that we did at Drake.

She wanted everybody to have just as much fun as she was having with whatever we did.

She was the connector for all of us.

Yeah, I did not play with her, but we certainly were teammates.

I mean, all of us are Drake fastball players now and alumni.

We feel like Brink is our teammate.

>> Hadley Pearson at the ball with 1-2.

>> We all know the square, 2-0 here.

>> The lineup where we started the last time.

Let's go.

Let's go.

So, we mentioned the ability pitch is important.

now as part of our coverage, that is Campbell German.

You see her in super slow Mo.

>> Well, we talked about her mechanics and how she gets that good push off of the rubber and stays right.

She is really good in center and has a lot of good action on your pitches.

She has that good arm rotation that she can bring.

We talked about it.

I asked Coach Wood, how fast is she doing?

She said I have never clocked her, but I think she gets at times, can get around mid-60s.

>> A little bit of pop.

You hear it in the glove on the occasional fastball for some of these pitchers that they have seen here this week.

It is going to be top of the order for North Linn.

Skylar Benesh let off the game with a single.

Eventually scored the first.

The sharks are out >> Got sunglasses and sombreros in there.

They have all kinds of things going on.

>> One thing about the team, I think we talked about it a couple of times.

The 0-1 is coming.

You have to remember, they are players, but they have people and outside lives.

It might only be four years of varsity coaching, but he coached a lot of years.

What has changed in your coaching velocity?

>> Ball is high.

>> I have had to learn to be more tolerant and understanding.

Maybe some of my team, softball is not there love, but I want them to be a part of this team.

Well hit by Benesh to center.

That thing is out of the ballpark !

It is almost over the center field bleachers.

run.

>> Talk about timing and bat speed .

She was able to level that one, get it out in front and just drove it to straight center field.

You can see how far this one gets out of here.

Almost to the top row of those bleachers in straightaway center.

>> Easy, you almost at one of our cameras out there.

>> Slapped foul to Kenzie Bridgewater.

>> Benesh is going to play in college.

Softball is important to her.

Maybe there is somebody where that is their life passion.

So, coach says we just have to work.

Kenzie Bridgewater punishes it to Berger for the first out of the third.

Now, Ellie Flanagan.

If you are like Flanagan, North Linn, where have I heard that name before?

Can you name all of the Flanagan's?

>> Gosh, no I can't.

>> There is four of them.

>> You have your cheat sheet over there.

>> I can always remember Abby.

It is grace that is the one that never popped into my head.

But Abby and Grace were in the battery.

She was a younger player in the 2021 team.

The change-up is there.

There is a younger one.

Not 100% sure if they were still looking for the parents.

They are still looking for the Benesh family.

He goes to deliver that ball.

Proud parents.

One be the last softball game he is at.

>> His daughter is only a junior.

And then all of the college games.

>> Right.

>> How about that season for you and I this year?

>> He has got it rolling up there.

He has done a great job recruiting in the state of Iowa.

His players are border to border in the state of Iowa.

They have had a really good season.

Stumbled in the conference tournament.

Did not get the opportunity to move on and play in the regionals.

He certainly has a good group of players I would not be surprised if they were picked number one in the Missouri Valley conference.

>> We are going to see Sam West come in and courtesy run for Ellie Flanagan with the one out walk.

>> When you have a college team in Iowa played well, does that help high school?

Does that translate into the high school level?

>> I think it does.

I think a lot of girls that like to stick close to home and be in a radius where their family and parents can come watch him play.

We have got multiple good college programs here in the state of Iowa.

Not only the big four with Drake and Northern Iowa and Iowa State.

You have a lot of smaller division three, division two, and AIA.

We have a lot of good, next level softball.

So, I think if girls see that, an opportunity to go on and play and get in education.

Why don't I go out for softball in high school?

I would be good at it.

Maybe I can work my way into a scholarship and further my education.

>> The change-up is fouled by Jersey Peyton.

The junior catcher.

Walked back in the first.

It just helps raise the profile outside the state it is cool to see him play on a bigger stage.

>> We all have follow players that have come through the nuts here not only at the high school level but here at state tournament knowing that they are going to play at Missouri.

We have seen a lot of another's that went on and played.

We have seen them come up from eighth grade, freshman year to grow into that really great softball player and go on and play at the next level.

It is fun for all of us in the state of Iowa to say she is an Iowa girl.

We can follow that career and be very proud of what she has done.

>> We are not talking about randoms.

We are talking Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma.

>> Pitch Lowery.

>> You can keep naming them.

Illinois, Virginia.

The count goes full on Jersey Peyton.

This North Linn team has a different swagger about tonight then they had the other night against Clarksville.

That is for certain.

Right now, Jersey Peyton draws a one out walk.

Sam West has stolen her third base as a courtesy runner.

We will have another another third pinch runner.

Haughenbury is coming back.

She is telling Kylie Munson to layoff anything up.

Lay off the rice ball.

Is that what they are trying to say there?

>> They want to get it down and get it into their zone .

Drive it.

Knock in a couple more runs.

>> West is that second.

Haughenbury is at first but Abby plate is a Munson.

Everybody will move up a base on the wild pitch.

Campbell German and Sydney Bears have a discussion halfway between the circle and the plate.

>> Want to make sure they are on the same wavelength knowing that they have a runner down there at third.

Maybe no more pitches down.

>> A little bit of a fastball upstairs.

They make the change there if they would like.

There is a look at Ellie Flanagan.

She says I like three.

Can we get four and five?

Ground ball over too short.

They come over the plate.

The tag is not in time.

Now you have a first and third situation as Munson hits the fielders choice.

German came home.

Emily would is going to make a trip to the circle.

>> The right play.

You come home with it.

The play is there.

>> She got down and got that hand in it.

The attack came a little bit too high and late.

>> We have one down.

We need to get two on.

>> What are we doing?

>> I was going to say, nothing special .

>> Honestly, nothing special.

>> Nothing special.

Okay.

>> They could have just been doing that for our benefit, they could be throwing off the names.

We don't know what they called.

>> They called nothing special.

>> I think.

But if you are watching in the circle, you have the conversations in the dugout.

The throw down to the pitcher.

Runners at and third.

The bunt is popped up by Peyton McMahon.

Just out of the reach of the Bears.

We are in the third, 4-0, North Linn.

They scored twice in the first.

They scored two in the third period, the visiting team out of the tribe rivers contest from the northern side of Linn County.

North Linn.

Punch right, over the head of the shortstop, German.

It is barely into the field.

The field is in trying to get that ground ball.

A perfectly hit ball by McMahon to drive in and the other way.

>> That is an advantage by having the infield drawn in just enough.

The barrel of the bat is on it.

You play in the regular depth and right in your glove for an out.

>> They throw to third.

That is Munson.

McMahon goes down to second on the play.

Martensdale-St. Mary's is not conceding but still making a play here.

5-0.

The pitch is a valid back overhead.

Martensdale-St. Mary's, heck of a schedule this year.

Play Johnson for a doubleheader.

Carlisle.

Then you have conference games would state her limited appearance with Wayne and Southeast Warren.

Emily Wood beefed up the schedule.

That is one of the reasons they are playing here tonight in this last game.

>> You are in an area where you have access to play some of those bigger schools in the Des Moines area.

You can go up and play Johnston and Dowling Catholic.

You have that opportunity of teams that are close by.

Why not challenge your team create?

>> Henderson goes down on strikes.

You know, that Johnson vibe, we are talking 45 minutes, 30 minutes.

Martensdale-St. Mary's is just south of Norwalk in Des Moines.

It is two communities.

Martensdale and St. Mary's.

Great atmosphere there at Martensdale for softball.

Everybody bring a lunch.

Sit around the outfield fence.

First pitch is a strike to Lily Rehberg.

>> A lot a big sop offense down there.

>> Yeah.

>> It was fun listening to everybody talk about that game with Maxwell.

>> Hit on the hands.

German is over to Oberender to end the Not before North Linn was able to put three more across the board.

Now, he gets to be a little tough, but you have to do it one at a time.

>> Leave the high ones.

Leave out the high ones.

>> Look, it is somebody with a pink fuzzy hat and an orange fuzzy hat, and the pink bow.

>> A little bow to the pink that we have talked about.

Those hats, they all made those on Monday.

They all got together and had a team dinner and thought, why not?

Why don't we do something like this?

We decorate our cowboy hats.

Everybody did something a little bit different except for Hadley Pearson.

She did not get the memo.

a tiara.

You can see them in the dugout.

Everybody has done a little bit to decorate their cowboy hat.

Kind of as a rally cap your >> Let's get a look at Ellie Flanagan before they get back to the server >> >> Do you like a good hat?

>> It has to fit me just right.

>> Particular .

>> Maryann Hart to that.

The sophomore playing right field.

The 1-0 is punched to the right side for Kenzie Bridgewater who has seemed to make every other play the other night against Parksville.

Now, there is an interesting person to have a conversation with.

Kenzie Bridgewater, everyone.

>> She is a tick-tock girl with Sam West.

The two of them have been working on a dance.

Trying to get it right.

I don't know.

That ball is bunted foul.

I did not know the dance.

I looked it up and I saw her the next game.

She told me after the quarterfinal, that is the dance but I saw her after the semifinal and I said that is a hard one to learn.

She said I know, right?

She was very proud that she is working hard on it.

Here is the thing, Laura.

I have learned with teenage kids, there is a spam the count or a burner the count where they shared tick-tock things privately amongst each other.

Okay, I am not ready to show the world this, but I will show you this.

Here is my fake the count and check it out.

Sorry Kenzie, I am doubting you here.

I know that they all do it.

She says everybody on the team has a fake the count.

Those that have a tick-tock.

The 2-1 pitch from Flanagan.

Swung on and missed.

>> I just came into Instagram.

I am so behind on everything.

I am just glad I am not on tick- tock.

>> Officially tick-tock is banned by the state of Iowa by the governor.

So we don't have a tick-tock the count.

But, here we go.

Strike three, two away.

I will go back to Instagram.

Two away in the top of the order.

Second time through on Flanagan, what are they going to look for there?

You need a good at-bat for German.

>> You have to have the good plate discipline and she did.

That was up in the zone, did not go after it.

Wasn't too aggressive.

Make plan again and bring it down in the zone a little bit.

That is one of the things that Coach Wood said is the more experienced this team is, they become better at the plate as They need to put that into practice here over the rest of this ball game.

>> Nice sky setting up for a beautiful sunset as we have some clouds to our left.

Otherwise, we just had a beautiful evening.

The 1-1.

As I look around, you can see there is no more son directly on the diamond.

.

much under the full light.

You get a chance to see that clear sky.

Fans in lawn chairs 200 feet away from the action.

The 2-1.

That is up high.

Brynnly German.

Swing and a miss.

3-2.

>> More of the fastball fanatic Dan in softball.

Sister Campbell is of the softball fanatic.

>> Gets it in the air to Hoover who pulls it in.

It is for the innings third out.

You are watching stayed softball for free here on Iowa PBS.

Stay with us.

>> The Iowa State fair is the biggest thing in Iowa.

>> Explore the history of Iowa's grand tradition.

>> 60,000 Iowans can't be wrong.

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It is just fun.

It really is.

>> Join us for our great state fair.

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>> Tuesday evening at 7:00 on Iowa PBS.

>> 5-4-0 for North Linn.

A bunch of zeros for Martensdale-St. Mary's.

They are still looking for their first hit.

We go to the top of the fourth.

North Linn will send Allie Christiansen, Skylar Benesh and Kenzie Bridgewater.

the last at-bat flew out to center.

German spins it in there and it is fouled back into the net.

>> German doing a good job of getting ahead in the count .

Kind of at a point in time in this ball game where you kind of have to put the pressure on these hitters.

Come after them.

Throw your best .

Get them out.

Three up, three down.

Get back to the plate.

You have got to find a way.

>> 0-2.

>> Manufacture some runs.

You have to get to planning ahead you have to be aggressive but stay off those high pitches.

First you have to get out of this ending.

>> That pitch is sky.

It is right near the camera well.

That was a great defensive play by Brynnly German.

>> That takes some concentration.

If they are going to run that far, keep your eye on that ball that is high in the sky.

Took a peek to see where photographers were, where the camera people were.

Able to slide underneath it.

That is a really nice, athletic play.

>> Which one is harder to play out?

Wells Fargo Arena or the state softball tournament?

Oh, I don't know.

I got nervous at both.

You know?

She was kind of like, it is similar, but fastball, you have spotlights at the main floor.

>> Oh my goodness.

Benesh crushes another one over the wall.

No doubt about that one.

>> Back to back on home runs.

>> She is releasing the ball very well coming out of the hands of Campbell German.

She is on and the timing is perfect.

You can see Hughes go back to the fence.

It's sales over her glove and over the fence for her second home run of the ball game.

Both of those swings were textbook.

It was just level off the bat, drive the ball.

>> She leads the state in all classes in runs.

She leads stolen bases.

The problem is, Benesh is not even on base to steal them.

>> She is touching them all but she is not stopping.

She is the all-time home run leader at North Linn.

Just adding to that total.

>> She leads 1A this year in volleyball, fastball, track.

Heck of a defensive player against synchrony to keep that game close.

North Linn at 6.

Martensdale- St. Mary's at 0.

Fouled off by Kenzie Bridgewater.

Two in the first.

Three in the third.

One so far here in the fourth.

North Linn have doubled their tournament output in one game.

>> When we talked to the coaches, we said what do you really need to do to win the championship?

The first thing out of his mouth, score more runs.

They have done that.

He said yeah, it is great.

We are getting 1-2, we are not giving up any.

in the championship game.

They have put up big numbers here so far.

>> Pulled to the right side and over.

>> Just about ran out of time to get speedy Bridgewater.

>> It is a little bobble.

Oberender able to get her foot on it quickly.

They are hustling down that line.

>> Flanagan looks at a first pitch strike.

Flanagan has been on two alternate teams for softball.

Likely on the all tournament team for a third time.

She would like another pink shirt.

She would also like Singled back in the first.

Walked in the third.

Bats in the fourth with two outs.

A lot of her hits go right.

>> She is one of the leaders on this team that helps embrace the younger players , works them in and gets them into all the groups and everything.

Makes them feel comfortable so they don't have to worry about what the other plans for what the seniors are thinking about.

Gets rid of all that drama, right away.

That one got fooled on a pitch.

Strikes out.

>> Third strike out of the game for Campbell German.

That will end the lynx fourth.

Another run scored on a giant home run.

Coach Chad joins us now .

Coach, you doubled your offensive output in the whole tournament.

How did you do that?

Is it all because of the practice?

>> No, that is about right.

You got that.

>> It is not my strength, coach, I will tell you that.

>> I should, I am a math teacher, I should know that.

We got some extra attention to a couple kids that needed it.

It was .

easy-going.

Right question like it was a short practice for us, but it was good to see anything we did wrong, we could see it on tape, it is on YouTube.

We will take a look and learn a little bit from it.

>> Allie seems to be in control of a lot of pitches.

How do you see it?

>> She is a big-game pitcher.

There is no doubt about it.

She gets to these games, there is really not any nerves.

Not many nerves.

She is just ready to throw.

>> Do you have nerves right now?

>> Do I have nerves?

>> Better than they were then at the start of the game .

>> Head coach Chad Spore.

6-0.

North Linn leads as we go to the bottom of the fourth .

Baker, German and Hughes.

>> I think he is exactly right.

She is a big-game pitcher.

She is not really laboring, struggling at all.

She looks very confident in the way she is throwing and locating the pitches.

>> First pitch to Baker is a ball.

>> She has got a Velcro brace on.

She has been getting physical therapy for it.

It doesn't seem to be bothering her tonight.

She doesn't seem to be playing with that brace as much as she did in the semifinal.

I don't there is much restriction because I think she is feeling it.

She has got that adrenaline going and not worrying about the knee.

>> Baker swings and misses .

It is a 1-2 out.

>> Takes a big breath.

You see her .

It is all about breathing here.

The 1-2.

Baker lays off the high pitch.

Kind of what they were talking about.

Popped up foul and out of play.

>> Big-game pitcher's big-game players, sometimes in those spotlights, you get great, you grow.

>> Take it to another level.

You can't coach it, right?

>> No.

That you cannot coach.

motivation and taking in the moment knowing that you have to be there for your team and do what you can do.

It is a team sport.

You know, it is not just an individual thing.

With this home run for me, I need to hit this home run for my team so we can win this championship.

I think that is just an inner drive of a lot of players that step up in this big game situation.

>> The lights come on, you get going.

3-2 to Baker.

Back up towards Bridgewater.

Loves it and throws across.

A good defensive play by Kenzie.

>> They had her position in the perfect spot with a broader and from the second base position where she is almost even with Flanagan.

She really makes it tough on Baker to try and punch that the infield.

>> That will lead to Campbell German.

In the pitching circle tonight, a little frustration.

You want to imagine, we have given up six runs.

German trying to break the no- hitter.

>> We are in the fourth, it is a little bit early to call it that.

German says the biggest change of her game has been her composure.

Trying to set a tone for the others.

Chops it foul.

Another one of those very similar.

Actually, German and Flanagan are very similar.

It is the a goldfish, forget it, move on.

>> They said on the quarry heads they decorated the other night.

On it was , who cares, get over it.

If you make an error, who cares.

Get over it.

Let's move on to the next play.

You know, if you strike out, who cares, get over it.

You just have to move on to the next play.

Don't let it linger.

I that is a great mind-set to have.

>> The 1-2 coming to Campbell German.

Hit towards Bridgewater.

Hits above.

Somehow it doesn't matter.

She grabs it and retires Campbell German for the second out.

That will bring in Abby he was who leads the team and walks.

Even though she is considered a hard hitter.

When you have German Baker and German ahead of you you are going to knock some runs in.

>> You are in that cleanup spot drive the ball .

A lot of times she will have one or two of those players on and in front of her.

She has been able to come through and knock it in.

The 1-0 inside.

2-0.

Flanagan looks in, winds up and fires.

Perfect pitch.

You can see the logo.

>> You can see it as it comes in and spends .

You just have to really focus in on that release point as a hitter.

It is coming from that hit spot.

>> Bridgewater again.

Will she make all three plays?

>> All grounded out from Kenzie Bridgewater.

2-0, North Linn.

The lynx are in control.

Coach Wood is in it.

We have heard you a couple of times.

We are not out of this.

>> We are focusing on one pitch at a time.

We have to score to win anyway.

>> Campbell, she is battling the scoreboard, right now.

What do you see in the circle that she is doing well?

>> She is staying focused.

She gave up a couple good heads but came right back at the next batter.

>> I feel like everybody has a hat.

What was your hat special, >> I did make one.

It was a straw hat with some flowers on a.

>> It is not.

>> Emily Wood, thank you so much.

She is a school counselor there and she knows the importance of relationships with players and someone who can relate from Missouri, they are in the area.

They are just great sports.

Baseball has been good.

Football, wrestling, girls in sports.

Fastball was that the statement is here.

They have played on big stages and big opportunities.

They have another good chance right here.

How did they get back in the skin?

>> It starts right now with a 1- 2-3 inning.

Making some good pitchers, getting some good defense.

You have to get out of this inning without giving up any runs and then we do not have a lot of time left.

You have got to start getting some hits.

>> A cue ball shot from patent to Oberender.

That is a good start right there.

Not a scared hit who normally snacks the ball hard.

>> Just a cue ball shot off the end of the bat that initially looked like it was going to roll foul but it had the funny spin on it and stayed fair.

>> Oberender stepped on the bag for the first out of the fifth inning.

>> Swing and a miss by Kylie Munson.

Another strike from German.

The amount of community that will attend a game.

Strike out on three pitches.

Kylie Munson is out.

>> That will bring up Peyton McMahon.

After the regional final game, there were no less than eight girls through the ages of seven and 10.

We will say 5-8 that were around Campbell German.

She knows that those girls are looking up to her.

They know they want to be her on the diamond.

How do you embrace that as a player?

Not every player wants to do that or play that way.

>> You are right.

That is not everybody's mind- set.

I think you need to have the right personality and I think she understands that she has come up real the ranks and has kinda built a name for herself.

All these younger players kind of look up to her.

She is one that has embraced that role of being a role model and takes it on and is happy to do that to have the younger kids want to want to be around her, want to be like her.

She knows that they are watching.

You are right, not everybody wants to be that person, but she does.

In a small town, small trinity, it is kind of a nice thing that you have somebody like that that the younger players can look up to.

>> Matt McMahon hits it into right for the base hit, which will make way for Harley Henderson.

She has struck out in her first two plate appearances in this contest.

Just like when we saw the 1993 state fastball.

You know that a lot of those championship games, Jason has put them on YouTube and you can watch a lot of those old games.

We will have to think Jason and the union staff for all of their help with relationships and questionnaires with coaches and informing them with what we were trying to do.

It takes an army and I always think I am going to think him and I forget to do it.

Jason, this is my thank you you.

I know I am behind for several years here.

Thank you for all that you do.

>> I will tell you, I worked with Jason at Drake when he was first information director at Drake.

He was the best.

>> He has done a lot of hard work to help us out over the years.

>> Swing and a miss.

Harley Henderson is the fifth strikeout victim for Campbell German.

>> Show them your fight.

We will show you how to sing now with what has become almost a tradition here as we sing take me out to the ball game.

>> Take me out to the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and cracker Jack.

I don't care if I ever get back.

If they don't win it's a shame.

One, two, three strikes you're out at the old ball game.

>> If that is not a moment right there, great work by our crew.

Our director tonight, helping us out.

All of our great operators.

Some have been with us for 10 years of covering sports.

Glad to see them each and every night when we do this coverage, whether it is after all or softball or volleyball or soccer.

All of our coverage is long statewide on television or wherever you may be around the world.

First pitch for Sydney Bears.

Hadley Pearson and Aunie Berger due up.

Middle of the order.

The clock is starting to take >> Otherwise, Flanagan has been perfect.

Fouled away by beers.

>> Bears is another one of the young catchers that is calling the game.

She is calling the pitches and it has kind of been a long start.

But we started to see some of these starters, the coaches give them the opportunity to be able to call pitches and call the game and get a feel for it.

>> Fourth out in a row made by Bridgewater at second base.

That is 12 in a row now retired by Ellie Flanagan.

>> That will make way for Hadley Pearson.

Grounded out to short back in the second.

>> A lot about are not getting squared up here tonight.

Not much barrel being used against Flanagan.

>> She hasn't really given them anything really great to hit.

Everything has been around, inside, outside, all around.

Not getting the side of the plate.

Hits it high in the air to center to McMahon.

It doesn't carry that far.

You know, can.

>> That is one, two, three, four, five plays in a row made by Kenzie Bridgewater which is exactly what you said in the semifinal against Clarkson.

>> Six of the last seven >> What does that tell you when your second base person is fielding most of the work in the outside part of the plate.

>> Hitters are late on the swing.

They are not getting around it.

>> They are hitting it deep.

>> One out in the third and one out to the first.

>> Aunie Berger flied out to first.

The sophomore here.

Swing and a miss.

One, two, three go The Blue Devils.

Strikeout, number 4.

For Flanagan.

She is yet to give up a hit through five innings.

The highlights are .

one-sided here.

>> Which then led to a hard run.

A couple of defensive plays where they could not get the out in the inning continued.

They scored twice in the first with this home run with Skylar Benesh and then the inning kept going.

They kept adding runs.

They scored three in the third on just a bang bang play there.

Another player throws off a tiny bit.

Again, Skylar Benesh skies one with the second element of the game.

The junior had led this team to 6-0 lead .

They back here in the sixth.

Lily Rehberg, Ellie Christiansen and Skylar Benesh.

We are going to get a chance to see the bat listening.

>> The question is, who do you pitcher?

>> It just depends on where she comes up, who is on.

>> Swing and a miss by rigor and Rehberg.

The competitor that German is, she is going to want an opportunity.

>> You got me twice.

>> You have to believe she has that kind of fight and her and mentality with one more chance to shut down Skylar Benesh.

You will probably see her at state again sometime.

North Linn, just like in fastball has been all about reloading.

There is not much rebuilding that happens.

2-2.

Pension to right for a base hit.

Hard up at second base.

It is a leadoff single for Lily Rehberg.

>> Another piece of decent hitting.

Just waited on it and the ball is up in the zone.

She took it to right field.

Starts off and inning as a leadoff hitter on base.

They have been productive when they get those leadoff runners on.

>> Ellie Christiansen, the senior.

She hasn't played softball since ninth grade.

Peyton McMahon said why don't you go out for softball.

It has worked out for her so far.

>> You have talked a little bit earlier about her and how she played soccer on the combined team and she was a defender, but she scored every goal except one during the season.

So, really made an impact on the combined team as a defender, but goes on to score every goal for that team.

>> More of a defensive swing by Christiansen on the pitch that came in.

Look at Campbell German.

She digs right in as soon as she gets that ball.

She just wants to keep going.

That pitch sales out of the zone.

>> She is a quick worker and so is Flanagan.

I think the teammates appreciate that they get the ball back, they step right back on the rubber and get back to business.

>>'s guided towards heart.

He grabs it and goes down to both knees to retain her bounce for the first out of the sixth .

>> She had to go down to the needs to pull that one in.

It might be a little bit of a tough sky.

Kind of transitioning to the lights and the daylight tonight.

It might have been hard to pick up initially off the bat.

bring up Skylar Benesh.

Oh, just two home runs today.

Two RBIs.

Another 3-3 game.

Change-up hit to third, fielded over to second to get the lean.

You will get Benesh at first.

She heads onto a fielders choice.

Rehberg is erased.

>> Good, quick reaction by Pearson at third base.

Immediately set those feet to make that throw to second to see if they could try to turn a double play but got the lead runner.

>> Kenzie Bridgewater, the defense of specialist pops it up towards third.

That is collected by Pearson.

We go to do or die time.

Martensdale-St. Mary's is down to their final six outs.

They will need a lot of those.

If they can do it, as we go to the bottom of the six from Harlan Rogers at Fort Dodge.

>> When Carlos Santana took the stage in 1982, the audience had no idea they would be seeing one of the most electrifying live performances of the era.

>> It is Santana and his band at their finals.

>> On the Great American recipe we are doing a recipe spot >> Oh my God.

>> Aloha.

am trying to pay tribute to the recipe but I am not sure how much he cooks at home.

>> I have ever made this before.

>> Come on.

>> I see what he is trying to do here.

>> We are not playing with you today.

>> Monday evening at 8:00 on Iowa PBS.

>> Webster County can sure give us a .

sunset.

We are on the north side of Dodge as we look to the west of Harlan Rogers.

It is a little bit to the north and west here.

Laura, the corn looks good, so do the means.

>> They looked great driving up.

All of the fields look so good.

>> Friday night at 8:00, I think I am supposed to talk about markets right now.

Kailey Phinney up to bat for Martinsville, St. Mary's.

I was only asked a couple of times this week by people in the complex that is the only reason I bring it up.

6-0, North Linn in control here in this 1A final in the bottom of the sixth.

The senior, Finley, getting her chance to hit.

Her fifth at-bat of the year.

We see her getting experience to hit.

Somebody in to try and break it.

She is just like all of the others.

Swinging a miss.

Strike three.

>> Trying to change some things up and see if you can shake something loose for your team and you bring in a pinch hitter to get some things started.

Flanagan got her again with the rise ball.

It has been working so well for her.

>> She threw it to the pinch- hitter.

She swung right through it.

>> Hughes, now.

misses.

You know, she was frustrated there with that first pitch.

I think Flanagan has frustrated everybody tonight.

The first pitch backs over just off the plate.

Not pulling the trigger on that.

Kristen are at third and Terry at first tonight.

Our umpires.

The 1-2 is high.

At this moment, I need to say there were a lot of umpires this week.

Somewhere on the field and some are in the stands.

Kathy Crayton, director of officials and umpires, they always need more.

If you are interested in umpiring, there is a great way and a huge lead.

Lot of youth tournaments, always in the need.

High school, there has been varsity and JV games and junior high.

There is always an opportunity if you want to wear it and be a The 2-2 coming to he was he was.

>> Jersey Peyton behind the plate has done a really good job of catching Flanagan.

You kind of touched on it a little bit earlier in the ball game.

She is early in her career, a second baseman.

Late last season, Flanagan needed to be warmed up and coach said go warm her up.

She grabbed the gear and went over and warmed her up yet I said I really like her.

She is quick, she has got good hands.

She can move well and she was able to catch Flanagan.

She was able to catch those high pitches and low pitches.

Things were not ticking off of her glove and she was able to do it.

So, they moved her into that position and she has just settled in really nicely.

It took a lot of work.

A lot of things that come into it but she really gloves that position now.

>> Her grandfather is a longtime track coach, Bob abided.

Coach Mudd and coach for had a conversation.

That is hit towards short.

Benesh with hat makes the play.

Again, one, two, three for Martensdale-St. Mary's.

>> High hopper with the strong arm.

She will end the inning.

>> North Linn in control as we go to the seventh.

6-0, L.Y.N.X.

>> I am part of the fighters.

I want to share not only the precious honor but the future obligations that all my companions and arms for the green revolution has not yet been won.

>> Sunday at 12:00.

>> The Iowa State fair is the biggest thing in Iowa.

>> Explore the history of Iowa's grand traditions.

>> Is 60,000 Iowans can't be wrong.

>> From its earliest days to the statewide celebration of today.

>> On top of all that, it is fun.

>> It really is.

>> Join us for our state fair.

>> Iowa PBS, August 1st and second.

>> What could be the final inning of the season.

Top of the seventh.

Ellie Flanagan.

We talked about the pitcher.

We have talked about many other things with Flanagan.

You had a chance to ask Ellie about what is on her arm to begin kind of CD patches there.

She is a type one diabetic.

In the post game, she had Republican things.

Walk me through some of her precautions >> You can see the pump.

She is limping down to first place.

She muscled it out there, but just limped down to first base.

>> In case she goes low, exercise can drop your blood sugar, but they have snacks, Gatorade and glucose tabs.

They have whatever.

They are all ready.

I think everyone is educated in the dugout, as well, to understand what the signs and symptoms are to look for if she is going low.

They are able to manage that.

>> There is a look at Flanagan back in the dugout.

>> Swings and misses.

Sam last entered the game as the courtesy runner.

West with three stolen bases already.

Let's see if she is running at 1-1.

She is.

The throw to second is in time to get her.

Bears makes the throw in the tag is made at second.

One away.

>> Really good throw.

She came up out of the crouch and throws it right to a point at second base and Brynnly German comes right across and lays down the tag.

>> She wasn't in the pitcher right away.

But it was a quarterback throwing to a receiver.

The throw to the area.

All of a sudden, she is there to slap down that tag.

>> It seems that is the way it is taught.

Throw on that side of the bag.

It is not necessarily right at the pitcher, but to the right.

Almost everybody throws it there.

I assume that is what has been taught.

>> You throw to a spot , you throw right to the bag, if you can.

The runner is coming from that angle to the right side.

If you can throw that ball right down on the corner of the bag so it makes it easy for whoever is taking that throw, usually a shortstop to put that tag right there on the sliding runner.

>> Strikeout number six.

Campbell German gets Jersey Peyton.

>> Her fourth at-bat is a swinging pitch.

Campbell German fields and gets the out.

Now, three more outs for a state championship for North Linn.

>> Before she went into the circle, >> In the game where she cannot get the push off, she could not get her pitches to work.

They went fastball.

They tried to jam the hitters with fastballs and make it really tough on them to try and get the barrel of the bat on any of her pitches.

Might see that here.

You might see that in this happening.

>> Final go for Martensdale- St. Mary's.

Ellie Baker, Campbell and he was.

Otherwise known as two, three, four.

>> She did not take a whole lot of warm-up pitches.

>> Ellie Baker to lead things off.

Infield is in.

Baker offers at the first one.

>> You got the corners charging hard.

Let me restate that.

Bridgewater is charging in.

Munson is hanging back.

Also, the pitcher has to come in and be able to handle that.

She is having a hard time coming around.

It goes into right field.

Ellie Baker is on first base.

Mary's had a baserunner was all the way back in the first inning.

That is also the first hit.

The no-hitter is broken.

The stat that we would have said is ripped to shreds.

I wrote down on a piece of paper to ask a question.

First pitch to Campbell German is a strike.

>> I want to give credit Alan right field.

Hoover did a good job of backing up that throw.

Otherwise, that gets pie and she could be standing on third.

>> Back up the middle.

Steps on the back for one across to second.

Bang bang play.

The hit is erased.

Wow!

>> That was tailor-made .

Bennett covers the ground so quickly.

That hit was targeted for center field.

She got over there.

I mean, it was a half a step from second base.

Able to touch it and turn the double play.

>> It is up to Abby Hughes.

Swing and a miss.

Just after 9:00 here tonight on July 21st, 2023.

A beautiful week of weather and darn good softball.

We are seeing a special performance, right here, in the circle.

A one-hitter, right now for Ellie Flanagan.

Swing and a miss.

>> Just like that, Martensdale- St. Mary's is down to their final strike here in the center.

Flanagan readjusts for dramatic effect to give this an opportunity.

She has played their injury in this tournament.

It is obvious.

The 0-2.

Change-up.

>> There is the change-up that we saw the other night that just was a knee buckling event.

Could not get it across there.

>> The pitch is high.

the lynx and beat synchrony, they beat Clarksville.

They were near.

If you ask me North Linn fans, they were nearly winners there.

>> Everybody thought that was strike three and did not get the call.

Peyton turns around and asks where it was.

Hughes goes first.

It looks like we are going to have a runner.

We are.

These teams have sisters, cousins.

They are all related, usually.

Lots of them on the team which makes them fun too.

Sometimes high school is the first time they have had a chance to plan the same field because they have been on other teams for their youth years.

>> It is certainly a family affair, softball is.

>> The pitch is a strike.

A strike to Sydney Bears.

The 0-1.

Hit towards Mackenzie Bridgewater.

Catches it for the final out for the second time and the third title in five years in class one a.

>> How fitting was that that Bridgewater gets that final out.

She played so well defensively all game long.

Right there on the right side of the field and at one point she had seven or eight players.

She was fielding everything over there.

Very tremendous asset you have a solid defense behind you.

>> There is a look at the two teams exchanging cousin trees after the game.

>> This Martensdale-St. Mary's team is young.

They have a lot of players coming back.

They have a good group to break on.

They are going to deal with teams that are very tough next season.

They do not lose and a lot of this lineup.

They are going to be .

much intact and ready to make that track back up here.

>> There are three teams that really have a lot coming back.

Two of them where the maroon color.

We will take their notes for next year and sort them out.

There is a good chance we are going to see these teams again.

>> These two teams on the field.

>> The pink shirts are handed out and the hugs are happening.

We will get ready for the all tournament team and the trophy presentation.

>> Presenting the tournament team metals, the Swanville Representative, Andy Hill.

>> Here is your tournament team for 2023.

From North Linn, Skylar Benesh.

From Martensdale-St. Mary's.

Ellie Baker.

From Clarksville, Kaylynn Hardy.

From Wayne, Izzy Moore.

From Clarksville, Rachel Barnard.

From Wayne, Devin Davis.

From North Linn, Jersey Peyton.

From Martensdale-St. Mary's, Sydney Bears.

From North Linn, Mackenzie Bridgewater.

From Martensdale-St. Mary's, Campbell German.

Your 2023 class one a Alterman team captain, from North Linn, Ellie Flanagan.

>> She is injured in a regional semifinal.

She does not play in the regional final.

She goes through therapy almost every day for several days to get it out in this tournament.

No hits in the first two games until tonight.

She came up huge in the circle.

The bat did not hurt her case either for all tournament captain.

>> Not at all.

She came through tonight with the bat and had that no-hitter going into the seventh inning.

Gave up just the one hit here in this championship game.

That is .

impressive.

baseline after that last hit.

She was limping .

badly but gutting it out.

Got back in the circle.

Got the final three outs to win the championship.

>> There is a look at your Alterman team.

Congratulations to all of them.

We will see some of those players play on.

We get to see it her play again next year.

Kenzie Bridgewater and then the Germans.

There is talent we still get to see.

So, watch this game tonight.

Right some names down and keep an eye on them next year so we are all cut up today.

>> Certainly, we are going to see both of these teams back as well as a couple others that you had mentioned.

This class is .

fun to watch.

There is some good softball being played at 1A.

>> Congratulations to you Emily Wood and The Blue Devils on an outstanding 2020 softball season.

now, North Linn please complete your bracket.

Presenting your 2023 class 1A estate softball champions.

Head coach Chad Spore and the lynx of North Linn.

>> Once North Linn broke through, it has become a powerhouse.

North Linn, your champion tonight in 1A.

That completes our triple hitter coverage today.

Two games yesterday.

Flanagan puts that trophy in the air.

She is now like her sister, in fact, she is one better.

>> What a performance.

We talked about it all week long.

They have not scored runs.

They haven't given her run support.

They have been just good enough to advance.

Tonight they came out and scored a lot of runs.

They got those runs and they gave her the support and she came through in the circle.

>> Centennial is your five a champ.

Regina, who won two a.

For everyone here at Iowa PBS, thank you so very much for making us a part of your summer.

We will see you in the fall.

Thank you for watching.

So long from Fort Dodge.

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