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♪♪ >> A beautiful, summer afternoon in Ft.

Dodge, Iowa.

It is championship Friday here at the Rogers Sports Complex, the site of three state championship games today, and the Iowa girls high school athletic state softball championships, a rematch number one and number two, Mt.

Vernon and Davenport Assumption ready to do battle here in 2022.

Rewind to 2021, three matches today, two happened in season.

This was last year's title game, Davenport Assumption came from behind.

Now, Davenport Assumption pretty much has standing reservations in this community.

Laura, how do they reload year after year?

>> They have a great feeder program.

They start them off young and they know the terminology and the plays and the system.

The older players bring the younger players in just like clock work.

They show up every year.

>> Paul: Mt.

Vernon was leading in the final.

They watched the tape last year on the way home, as we talk about Davenport Assumption, they came from behind.

They won the 3A title game 4-1.

It's their sixth championship game, seventh consecutive tournament.

Sydney Roe has been outstanding at the plate, not too bad behind the plate either where she's catching this year in a new position.

Assumption does a lot of things right.

>> They really do.

They have all cylinders going, their pitchers are very good but they're always potent at the plate.

They have the hitters in the middle of the line-up that can knock the ball out of the park.

>> Paul: Mt.

Vernon trying to, as we said, they watched last year's final on the way home.

They've kind of been motivated by one thing, revenge.

Is that always a good idea?

>> Sometimes it is.

Sometimes it isn't.

I think they need to take care of business at hand today, put that behind them, come out and start strong in this ball game.

>> Paul: Let's go to public address announcer Tim Fitzpatrick for our awards presentation.

>> Announcer: The Iowa girls high school athletic union recognizes pitchers that achieved 100 victories for their softball career.

The 2021 season saw one pitcher reach 100 career victories.

This year's honoree 188 wins and 42 losses over five seasons, she owns every pitching record at her high school and ended up with 1,392 career strikeouts with eight no-hitters and 44 shutouts.

She went on to play softball at Indian Hills Community College last spring where she pitched and played outfield while studying to become a physical therapist.

A record of 108-42, congratulations to 100-game winner T.J. Stokes of Lennox.

[ Applause ] Presenting T.J. with her award is IGH SAU softball Administrator Jason Eslinger.

♪♪ Give another nice round of applause for T.J. Stokes.

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and Applause ] The Jack norton Award given to an outstanding senior perform at the softball and basketball tournaments.

The annual award is named in honor of the former information director at the IGHSAU.

Presenting the award is Jason, slinger for the Iowa girls athletic union.

The honoree is Ana Wallers, the four-time state champion for the knights, a five-year medal winner and tapped the metro winner and named captain of last year's class 3A all tournament team and class A player of the year.

She continued at Sao Paul University she had eight home runs for the blue demons last spring.

She was twice named freshman of the week and the second team big east all-conference election.

Ladies and gentlemen the 2021 recipient of the Jack North award from Davenport Assumption, Anna Wohlers.

[ Cheers and Applause ] >> Paul: It is 89 degrees.

The wind is out of the south-southwest, 18 to 26.

You can see the flag is blowing pretty much going from home plate to right center field, Laura.

We've seen this a couple during the day games since Tuesday, Wednesday, now into today.

Does the wind matter?

>> I think it's going to matter in this game, especially this first game.

We've seen the wind die down over the course of the day as we've been up here but this one, we may see there might be an all ally alleyway to the right center fence.

>> Paul: It will be hard to do with the ball and the pitchers today.

Part of the fun we get to meet our starters and non-starters as well as the coaches.

>> Announcer: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to Rogers Sports Complex and 3A championship softball game between the visiting team the Assumption Catholic Knights and the home team the Mt.

Vernon Mustangs.

Now let's meet the non-starters first of all for Assumption Catholic number 6, Kelsie Hearne, number 7, Charlotte Nigey, number 11, Leah Maro.

Kathryn Snyder, Molly Roe, number 18, Molly Riley, number 27, Isabella Soliz, and number 44, Ava Poston.

Also injured not playing, Bella Stoffregen.

Your assistant coaches, Erica Ralfs, Tyler Edwards and Allie poston.

Here is your starting line-up for the knights of Assumption Catholic, number 2, Jessie Wardlow.

Batting second, Abby Odean.

Batting third at first base, number 37, Helen Sons.

Cleanup hitter for the knights and doing the catching number 32 Syd Roe.

Fifth at short stop number one million million.

Batting sixth at second base number 10 Isabella Krogman, batting seventh doing the pitching number 31, Bella Nigey, batting eighth at third base number 28 Callie Miller, and batting ninth, the left fielder number 9, Emily Yattoni.

And your flex player in right field, number 3, Allie Casel.

Head coach for the Knights Ron Ferrill.

And now let's meet the nonstarters for are the home team from Mt.

Vernon.

Number one, Courney Franck.

Number 4, Abbie Moss.

Number 7, Taylor Franck.

Number 8, Elsa Appleton.

Number 13 Olivia Haverback.

Number 16 Eryn Jackson, and number 17, Madeleine Miller.

Your assistant coaches, Lori moss, Joelynn Winkler, Summer Brand and Libby Ryan.

Here is your starting line-up playing off left field number 12 Nadia Telecky.

Batting second doing the pitching, number 14 Jenna Sprague.

Batting third at short stop number 3 Maia Bentley.

Leanup hitter for the Mustangs at second base, number 11, Addison Gookin.

Batting fifth in center field, number 6 Ashlyn Steen.

Batting sixth and doing the catching, number 2, Kenna Rollinger.

Batting seventh, the designated player, number 15, Lauren Swartzendruber.

Batting eighth [ EXPLETIVE ] and batting in ninth third baseman number 10 Lilly See and your flex player at first base, number 9, Kameron Brand.

Head coach for the Mustangs, Robin Brand.

Now please turn your attention to our home plate area, the umpires for this contest assigned by the Iowa Girls high School School athletic union, Garr I-wax and calling the balls and strikes this afternoon, Mr. Tony Nelson.

All right, who's ready to win a state championship?

[ Cheers and Applause ] >> Ready?

>> Ready.

>> Let's do it.

Good luck.

>> Paul: The umpires are ready, the players are ready, here is the defense for Mt.

Vernon.

Nadia Telecky, Ashlyn Steen and Avery Plathe in the outfield and it's see, Bentley, Gookin and brand on the infield and Jenna Sprague will be wiching to Kenna Rollinger.

And there come the Mustangs onto the field, Laura Leonard.

What's it going to take for the Mustangs today?

>> Well, they've got to do a lot of different things and going to get a look here at Jenna Sprague.

She's been verythe circle.

She has a lot of different pitches.

She is very efficient and good and moves the ball around, spins it a bit.

>> Paul: E.R.A.

under 1.0 and given up few runs this week and all season.

The batting order that will try to get something going for the Knights leading off with Jessie Wardlow, Abby Odean the junior designated player, Helen Sons, Sydney Roe, Nigey, Miller and Emily Yattoni for the Knights.

Now Laura Leonard your keys for the game.

>> What Assumption needs to do, they have to keep hitters off-balance, keep them guessing, work it inside and out and put in a new wrinkle.

Coach Ferrill thinks if this game gets to be a chess match you might need to pull something out of your pocket.

>> Paul: If anyone can, it's him.

The pre-game tosses are done.

We've done the warmups and had all the pageantry.

Time to play some softball for Mt.

Vernon, what are their keys?

>> They need to be loose.

They need to be relaxed and forget about last year and have it be a team effort, if there's a mistake made, lift each other up.

Everybody come together as a team and try to pull this victory on.

>> Paul: Jessie Wardlow will lead things off for the Knights from Davenport Assumption.

She'll bat from the left side.

First pitch at 2:43 on this July 22nd, 2022 and the 3A title game is under way.

First pitch is a ball.

Wardlow on the season .485.

She's one that can absolutely control that bat, almost do anything she wants to, very much a multithreat player.

That pitch is a strike.

>> She can, and you can see the defense has adjusted a little bit, playing in a few steps, knowing that she can lay one down.

She can punch it.

She can do a lot of things, handleness the bat very well at the plate.

>> Paul: Sprague on the 1-1 is outside.

Wardlow pulls the bat back.

She can slap it.

Shecan bunt it.

She can hit it.

That's what you need in the leadoff spot especially for Assumption.

That's something they've done year in and year out.

The 2-1, off the plate.

The catchers are so good how they give that umpire a great look at that pitch.

>> They do a good job of moving around back there, holding it in place, trying to get that call.

>> Paul: 3-1 is punched through between third and short for a leadoff base hit for Jessie Wardlow.

>> I think we just saw a good example of what she can do.

She showed she might drop down a bunt, might slap and this last pitch, she was able to punch it through the left side of the infield to get things started.

>> Paul: Wardlow to first and things Abby Odean the designated player, you think that Wardlow is going to stay on first, that ball is bunted, diving catch made at third by See.

What a play!

>> She was in just enough, playing in a few steps and she saw that popped up in the air and she put it into an extra gear and lays out and just gets it before it hits the dirt.

>> Paul: That is a beautiful play and a pitcher's friend when you can make a dive like that.

You weren't able to double off Wardlow, but Jessie stays at first, now batting, Helen Sons.

She had the knights' only hit in the semifinal became, about six inches from being a home run.

Got it up in the air to right, trying to do the same thing.

She has 20 doubles, that double, sac flies and the throw to second and not in time.

Jessie Wardlow is there with a stolen base so now Helen Sons in a 2-0 count, knights are sitting pretty here.

>> Coach Ferrill knows exactly what he needs to do, was not able to advance that runner with the bunt, so puts her in motion.

She's got the speed and the wheels to be able to get there well ahead of the throw.

>> Paul: The 2-0 coming and that's in there for a strike to Helen Sons, the first baseman, averaging .467, one home run, 36 RBIs on the season.

She's trying to add to that total here in the first.

The 1-2.

Thought about it, laid off.

Sprague tried to get her to chase.

>> We have a great vantage point where we're sitting.

You can see the spin on the ball and how disciplined the players are off the plate.

>> Paul: Foul tip caught by Sons for the out.

>> Sprague got her looking out there but stayed far enough out that Sons could not get a piece of the bat on that pitch, it was painting the outside corner.

>> Paul: Sydney Roe has a chance, first pitch out and up on that one.

Roe a .525 on the season.

A slugger.

>> Laura: She was sitting at number five in 3A categories.

She's proven to be that power hitter, that middle of the line-up hitter.

>> Paul: 0-2 into center, the knights are retired.

They leave one and get a leadoff hit to Wardlow and she steals second.

That's as far as she can go.

That's as far as the knights go.

They send four to the plate so Sprague's not going to be able to do what she did in the first game or the last game in this tournament where she pitched the minimum but she'll take erasing any threat.

>> Laura: You just want to get through each inning with as minimal damage as possible, and if you give up a base hit here or there, doesn't matter if you have the defense to back you up.

>> Paul: The defense of the knights is out there, Emily Yattoni, Jessie Wardlow and Allie Casel left, center and right.

At first is Helen Sons, Krogman at second, Callie Miller at third base, Loken at short.

The catcher is Sydney Roe and the pitcher Bella Nigey.

We saw both of these pitchers in last year's title game.

What does Bella Nigey do, Laura, for you?

>> Laura: She is just so confident in the circle and she does spin the ball.

She got a really good rise ball.

We've seen that through the years from the Davenport Assumption pitchers that they throw that rise ball very well, but she moves it around quite a bit.

>> Paul: We'll look at her in super slow mo in a moment.

This is the batting order on the third base said, Nadia Telecky will lead things off, Jenna Sprague, Maia Bentley, Addison Gookin, the center fielder who made the last out, Ashlyn Steen and Kenna Rollinger, Lauren Swartzendruber, Avery Plathe and Lilly See, that's how Robin Brand's crew works.

The coach gives a five, she'll head to the third base side and they'll dig in with Nadia Telecky here against Bella Nigey, as she completes her last warmup pitch, where everybody's ready to go.

The throw down to second.

These two teams know each other, as we talked about in the open, rematch of last year's title game, very familiar, which sometimes is really fun to see.

You might get tired of playing that other team, but when you're on the downside, you really want to play that team again.

>> Laura: They've had all season to sit on it and think about it, but I think they use that for motivation throughout the season and have used it very well.

I mean, they knew what they wanted to do, get back here, get to this title game.

They didn't care who their opponent was going to be.

They saw the way the brackets fell and knew they could have a possible rematch, they were ready for it and you don't want to get too high and too keyed up, and that pitch got away from Nigey, and thank goodness these players are wearing helmets nowadays.

>> Paul: Knocked off the chin strap, that ball rose up and right into her.

I'm not 100% sure, she's rubbing that jaw and wincing.

Let's take a look at this one.

Oh, it might have gotten her shoulder, then her helmet.

>> Laura: Yes, it did.

>> Paul: You can see the chin strap gets knocked off in super slow mo, you're able to see it so Telecky to first with nobody out.

Leadoff hit-by pitch brings?

Jenna Sprague, pops up almost over the head of Miller, does an over-the-shoulder.

>> Laura: We talk about keys to the game, what you need to do.

Execution is a big part of winning ball games and both of these teams have had the opportunity to advance runners have not been able to do it and execute the bunt.

>> Paul: Maia Bentley watches the first pitch, and if Nigey was thinking Bentley would lay the bunt they threw that high, sometimes both pitchers do that on each situation sometimes what can happen on a pop-up bunt.

>> Laura: You get that rise ball.

If the hitter can't get on top of it -- >> Paul: Nigey one-Hopper to get the out.

Bentley is retired but Telecky goes to second on the sacrifice.

>> Laura: Pounds that right into the ground and Nigey able to elevate to get that.

Thought she might look at second but just going and getting the safe out to give them two outs.

>> Paul: Know your situation, a speedy runner coming down to second, you might not have gotten it, you wouldn't have gotten either, both runners would have stayed.

First pitch now to Addison Gookin.

>> Laura: You don't want to put yourself in an early jam.

Play it safe, get the out and work on this hitter at the plate.

>> Paul: Ripped foul third base line just over the camera well behind Coach Brand so she saw that one coming, just couldn't wait up on the speed change.

>> Laura: You could just see the bat speed shown there by Gookin.

>> Paul: Off-speed again in front of Wardlow to make the catch and end the Mt.

Vernon half of the first inning.

Very similar innings for both teams.

A failed bunt and a pop-up to center to end both rallies, as Wardlow makes the grab, and we've played a full inning and no score.

>> Laura: Just a little bit of slow start for both teams offensively, and I'm sure a few nerves for both of these teams.

>> Paul: A look at Coach Ron Ferrill and his squad.

Mt.

Vernon beat Lawlor Monday night.

Assumption played the first game of the day on Tuesday, they beat Ballard in a 12-2 short game and outstanding game between assumption and Williamsburg.

Williamsburg won the consolation game 11-1 over Saydel.

What a great game both of those semifinals in 3A.

>> Laura: They were fantastic and just so much fun to be able to sit here and watch those games and just the talent that all of these teams have here at State and how well and cleanly-played those games were.

>> Paul: Million million's first pitch up over her head, then Izzy Krogman and Bella Nigey.

The 0-1 coming here from Jenna Sprague.

That one's lefted high in the air, headed towards the line, very deep and it gets away from her.

It's just a long foul ball.

>> Laura: Loken got jammed on that one, able to pull it back, turn on it.

You could see, maybe a little bit of what the wind is gonna do to the high fly balls.

>> Paul: You know both of these teams were working on that in pregame, as they did earlier this week, when they played in the similar conditions.

That one's off the plate for Loken.

She'll get another pitch here with a ball and two strikes.

Nobody out in the second inning, leadoff batter is Loken, 1-2.

Swing and a miss, strike three and she's out, that's the second strikeout for Sprague.

>> Laura: The pitch before that, you could hear Tony Nelson say "bring it in about a half ball," and she did.

She brought it in just enough and was able to get Locke on it go after it.

>> Paul: That will be Izzy Krogman's turn from the right side, swing and a miss.

So the umpires are miked, you can hear what they have to say, the coaches are miked.

I love hearing the coaches speak but I also love hearing the umpires.

Zblm they work together with the catchers behind the plate.

They're a team.

>> Paul: Popped up, Krogman is out for the second out of the inning.

>> Laura: These guys have done a great job all week long, the umpires and a ton of games that they have had to do and I am going to say, we need officials.

We need umpires in the girls athletic union for softball and basketball, and I mean, what a better opportunity and what a fun way to spend a week in the summer up here at Fort Dodge being an umpire in the State tournament.

Go to the girls' union website and get in there and say hey, I would like to be an official.

>> Paul: Kathy Creighton says thank you.

She wanted to work that in and you did the heavy work for me.

First pitch is a ball.

Kathy supervises the officials here for softball.

That pitch is inside.

And it's also, this is a learning attorney for players, just like it is the umpires.

The umpires are reviewed.

They look over maybe your position, because you always hear that from the stands.

You didn't have a good view!

They're trying to get better just like players try to get better and you know, players are always looking at what am I doing, are my hands up and same with pitchers, as we look at grips and that pitch is in there on a 3-0 strike to make it 3-1.

Pitchers and batters both have the advantage of video.

>> Laura: Yes, in an end-game situation, a hitter will turn to the umpire saying did I just swing at a bad pitch?

Where was that?

The catcher will talk to him.

It's not only video and being able to see what you're doing and trying to make adjustments, but there's also end game adjustments that you can make as well.

>> Paul: When the game is on television you can also review, too, otherwise it's a little harder sometimes.

We'll have a courtesy runner for Nigey who draws the walk with two outs.

Coach Ron Ferrill makes the move and it's Kelsie Hearne, one of their versatile runners.

She takes a big breath in and lets it out.

Andy Adams, did you see that part of the game, where she has to breathe in, let's do it again.

>> Laura: Hey, you know, if that helps calm you down and sometimes it does, whatever works for your team.

Sometimes you just have to take a moment like that to just settle the nerves.

>> Paul: Callie Miller looks at a first pitch ball and there with a push in to Kelsie Hearne, she plays catcher and third base.

Coach Ferrill calls her a future star, and it starts with smart running.

High pitch chased by Miller, and she fouls that one into the net Rogers Park.

>> Laura: That's a big part of the game understanding base running and the situations and number of outs, where the ball is going to go, picking up your coach as you round second base, good softball IQ.

>> Paul: Off the hands, across the diamond, Bentley to Brand for the out and the knights are done in the second.

They leave another runner and Miller is out by half a step.

Still just one hit in this game.

>> We're going to stay on the end.

>> Hits on three.

One, two, three!

>> Hit!

>> Paul: Heard a little bit of the talk from Robin Brand she's in the title game second year in a row.

Mt.

Vernon very familiar.

We talked about Assumption how they've been here a lot, so has Mt.

Vernon.

>> Laura: And they have six seniors on the team so a Veteran team coming back from last year's loss as we've talked about early, that's some motivation for them, but you talked to a lot of the players, they want to win these games or this game for their seniors.

>> Paul: There's a look at Bella Nigey in the circle in super slow mo.

Nigey told you a little bit more about her pitching.

What did you see there, Laura?

>> Laura: She will spin the ball and you could see the good wrist action there.

She gets good push-off from the rubber, and she gets that rise ball.

She can get that ball moving, and that has really been a good pitch for her all season and all career, and you know, she said she's kind of developed a few things over the course of her career, and will throw a drop and a change-up that we haven't seen quite yet, and that rise ball.

>> Paul: Sometimes coaches come out and talk to the umpires, watch a certain contact with the rubber.

Now it's about the towel from the back of the plate.

Jenna Sprague is wearing a black towel that matches her black pants where Bella Nigey has the white towel and Robin Brand wanted to make sure that was not on the side the ball comes out to act as a distraction.

>> Laura: That's just a good pickup by the coaching staff, and you just want to make sure, not that Nigey was trying to get any kind of an edge or anything.

It's hot out there and these kids are sweating and they want to make sure, especially the pitcher wants to make sure she has a good, dry grip to get the ball to do what she wants it to do, and they just had to have her move it and tuck it over into a little bit different part of her backside.

>> Paul: Ashlyn Steen, a weak pop fly caught by Nigey for the first out of the Mt.

Vernon second.

It will be Steen, rollinger and Swartzendruber and Plathe will wait and bat if anyone gets on.

On a hit like that, we saw one on the hands in the last inning, a little weak pop fly.

What's that tell you about pitching and batting so far, Laura?

>> Laura: Well, right now, the Ritters are not comfortable against Nigey.

They're getting jammed.

That could not catch up to it, got in on the hands so couldn't get the barrel of the bat on it.

With the rise ball, you have to adjust, see where that ball is starting to move up the ladder, and adjust your stance at the plate.

>> Paul: Pop fly at second, dropping back a couple of steps is Krogman and she retires Rollinger so two pop flies to start.

And not many pitches either.

I mean, it's been a light workload so far for Nigey.

>> Laura: She's been pretty efficient and around the zone so the hitters are going after pitches, maybe not necessarily the pitch that they want.

They've got to be able to try to get on top of the ball and try to level things off.

>> Paul: First pitch strike to Swartzendruber, the senior designated player.

Swung on and missed.

Swartzendruber's name so long, it doesn't quite fit in the program.

Very rarely do you have a player that can't fit.

I was talking about it to Coach Brand and when I said her name, I know it.

Lauren played last year but it is a lot to say, but that's the whole beauty of everybody's a little bit different here, and oh, you're the girl, that's right.

You're the one, yes, I remember you now.

>> Laura: That's what makes it so fun, to be able to come back here and to the State basketball tournament, you remember these players.

>> Paul: Swartzendruber is out on a swing and a miss.

Three up, three down and that is the first strikeout of the game for Nigey, who had yet another efficient inning.

She threw seven pitches in the first inning and now she just threw eight.

So 15 on the game.

>> Sit on the one you want and go drive it.

Don't be surprised by it.

Go drive it.

No more popping up.

We had two small ball attempts in pop-ups, can't have it.

>> Paul: Coach Ferrill, I could see it, he's miked.

Ron Ferrill coach at Assumption who can at times be very, very energetic and let's talk quickly about pitching, this time look at Jenna Sprague.

What do you see here?

>> Laura: As I said earlier as we started the game, doesn't give us a whole lot about what she throws, how she throws it, but she will work both sides of the plate.

She will spin it and she's got a couple of different pitches that she will throw very, very well, and telling you what, these hitters right now have not been able to find a way to get on base.

>> Paul: Yattoni tries on the bunt and it's fielded by Sprague.

That play is made right in front of the plate.

That ball almost dies, but it rolls another six inches and out by a couple of steps is Emily Yattoni.

So it will be back to the top of the order for Jessie Wardlow.

>> Laura: From that play, could you see Sprague picked that up bare-handed, knew she had to get that throw over there quickly so didn't pick it up with the glove, had to reach in and make that throw.

Smart play to bare-hand that and come uhm and make a strong throw to first.

>> Paul: Sprague will continue her career going to Kirkwood which isn't that long of a road trip from Mt.

Vernon.

Go over on Highway 30 to Cedar Rapids and see what that junior college route takes her.

The 1-1 pitch, Wardlow shows bunt, swings away, slaps it into left and town for another base hit.

Jessie Wardlow is 2 for 2 and both of them have been to the left side.

>> Laura: Wardlow took a huge turn, was thinking two initially, but Telecky got to that ball quickly, and got it in, knowing of the speed of Wardlow, able to keep her at first base.

>> Paul: Do all slappers go opposite side or do you see some that can pull it?

Is every slapper different, Laura?

>> Laura: Everybody's different in their approach at the plate, and a lot of the left-handed hitters will try to dump it in to left field, but some can turn on it and take it to right field, or right back up the middle, so it just is the way that they approach it, if they're running up on it, do they want to punch it and try to punch it through the left side?

Also has a little bit to do with the pitcher as well and the speed and how you handle the pitcher.

>> Paul: We'll talk about, there's a player in our second game today that is so good with the bat, tells her coach where she's going to hit it and hopes she gets the right pitch to do it.

Some are so confident with that, as Abby Odean here is down 0-2.

The pitch, popped into the net, foul ball.

Will do it again.

Now, I said to Abby Odean, I said "You're batting second and sorry, I don't remember you last year."

She says "I was playing JV."

I said what changed?

She said "it was my mental part of the game.

Coach Ferrill knew she needed an adjustment and Odean has had an outstanding season and she swings will you that one and going down to second, Wardlow.

So Odean is able to move the runner up at her at-bat just not with her bat and Odean is down on strikes.

>> Laura: Second stolen base for Wardlow in this game.

Another opportunity for Helen Sons, who has been swinging a very hot bat.

>> Paul: Sons struck out in the first, bats here in the third.

Almost was able to hold back her swing.

She looks down, Coach Ferrill, gets the sign.

She was second in the state in doubles.

And usually a doubles hitter in softball means you can, usually ends up in the gap.

>> Laura: Yes, she's going to split the gap, so she is kind of a gap hitter to get that many doubles.

>> Paul: Helen Sons a called strike there.

Two balls and a strike, at the end of the eighth, we'll bring back one of our features of our coverage of softball the in-game interview.

Sons lifts it foul and over the netting on the third base side and out of play.

Did not do that in the CoVid year or last year, but this year, we're bringing that back to ask the coaches in-game, and I was telling, giving my normal schpeel to the coaches and I said Coach Ferrill, do you get tired of talking to me and Laura?

He says no, that means we're in the championship game.

Bentley on one hop across, gets it to Sons, nice play there and that is the third out of the inning, so Assumption again not able to get anything going after getting a Wardlow leadoff base hit, as Mt.

Vernon will go get the bats and get the helmets on, but let's find out what Assumption thinks about things.

Coach Ron Ferrill is there.

What are you seeing so far from your girls at the plate?

>> We're not executing our game plan very well yet.

I think we're still showing some nerves but you know, I think we'll settle in here pretty quick.

>> Paul: Nerves?

I don't think Bella Nigey has any.

She's thrown 15 pitches, 12 strikts.

>> She's zoned on and confident.

The outing the other day gave her confidence.

They have an obvious game plan against us.

She has to mix it up a little bit here or they're going to start getting on her a little bit.

>> Paul: Is this what you expected in this game so far?

>> It's what I expected but wasn't what I was hoping for.

Right now I was hoping for a lead obviously.

We expect a hard-fought, clean defensive game.

>> Paul: Thank you coach, Ron Ferrill, head coach of the Davenport knights.

He knew I'd ask about Nigey and oh, he was excited.

>> Laura: Well, I'll tell you, Nigey has been pretty good and, but you heard him say, she's going to have to mix some things up.

She's going to have to try to keep these hitters off-balance and she's done that so far.

She's been efficient and I think if you -- you know, she told us, she said, I did not have my best game a year ago in this title game, and she didn't.

She gave up some runs and had to be replaced and so I think she's got that in the back of her mind, as well, and she's going to bear down and come after these hitters.

>> Paul: First pitch strike.

I remember that part of the game.

There is a much shorter leash, it appears, in a championship game, whether it's basketball or softball, coaches maybe if it was a regular season game might stick with a starter, but -- this weak ground ball by Plathe back to Nigey, and the out is made at first, and that will bring in Lilly See for Mt.

Vernon.

You don't want to have to make changes, dramatic changes like that but you could argue maybe that is what allowed Assumption to get back into the game last year.

>> Laura: It's a one-game series.

A one-game effort and if things aren't working for you in whatever Department of the game, you do have to make some adjustments, and I think players understand that.

>> Paul: Lilly See pops it up and Helen Sons puts the glove up, grabs it and makes the out, and an efficient inning so far for Bella Nigey.

It's only her third pitch.

She's got two outs.

>> Laura: And Nigey is throwing to a new catcher this year as well.

So had to make some adjustments.

Had to work with Roe behind the plate, and until they found that rhythm, and they seem to be on track here in this ball game.

They seem to be working very well together.

>> Paul: Nadia Telecky fouls the first pitch off.

She was hit by a pitch up there in the face area the last time.

Well, Nigey's catcher from last year though is here.

>> Laura: Yes, Jack North Award.

>> Paul: I saw Anna Wohlors.

That one hits in front of Yattoni.

The first hit of the game in the third, on base for the second time in this game.

>> Laura: A good job of going the opposite way, got in deep on the hands, she was able to fight it off and dump it into left field.

>> Paul: First pitch to Sprague and Telecky trying to get those wheels a-movin'.

Sprague looking to help herself here.

Pretty good with the bat in her own rite.

The 1-0 is a strike.

Sprague was 1 of 2 with two RBIs and a key sacrifice fifth in the quarterfinal game against Wollard on Monday.

She bats here on a 1-1 pitch.

Popped foul and out of play, and right at Mel at first base on camera.

Hi, Mel.

>> Laura: There she is, going to try to stay warm today, have that sun in her face the entire day.

>> Paul: Stay cool on a warm day.

The hardest thing running that camera was the sun she stared at all night last night.

What did she open it, my eyes were burned?

>> Laura: I think she said my eyeballs were burned.

She's back at it today.

She's a gamer.

>> Paul: Absolutely.

Cantor loves it, he's getting a picture of Mel and she doesn't like it.

2-2 pitch is swung on and missed, strike three, Sprague is down on strikes and again, Mt.

Vernon leaves another runner on base.

That is the second strikeout of the game for Nigey, and there's Kent.

Hi, Kent.

Now we are getting a picture of you.

'S owe an top of the third base dugout.

There's Ron Ferrill talking to his team.

We'll have Robin Brand in a moment as we find you the what she thinks about this first game or first part of the game in our in-game interview with her.

Coach Brand, what do you think of your approach at the plate here so far for your team?

>> I think we've been making contact.

We just need to make a little bit more solid contact, hit that ball hard right in the middle, and these guys are going to come through here.

You got a good pitcher, a good game going.

I wouldn't expect anything less from either of the teams.

0-0 ball game in the fourth, I think that's a great game for us to get some.

We've had someone on, Nadia Telecky has been on both times and our girls will bring her around or whoever is on the next time.

You never know who will step up but they have each other's back.

I'm excited to see how the rest of the game plays out.

>> Paul: What is your impressions of Jenna Sprague's pitching?

>> She's in the zone.

She'll give it her best and these girls will back her up the entire game.

I'm really proud of all of them for having our back and her taking everyone on the shoulders and getting the job done every time.

>> Paul: Coach, I appreciate it.

Thank you so very much.

>> You're welcome, thanks.

>> Paul: Coach Robin Brand.

It's been a busy week.

Her daughter, who is an assistant coach, Summer Brand has had a busy summer, going through treatment for cancer from Hodgkins lymphoma, had treatment yesterday and back with the team today and I asked first about her daughter Kameron.

It's been an emotional time for her this year.

>> Laura: It has, and to be able to have something like softball to have a nice distraction to kind of get through all of that I think has been very helpful for them as well.

>> Paul: Sydney Roe pops the first pitch up and one out.

So Maddie Loken and Izzy Krogman set to bat here in the fourth inning for Assumption.

As we talked about, this game is moving along, as both of these pitchers appear to be locked in.

This is kind of what I thought, Laura, about this game.

Is this what you thought?

>> Laura: I kind of figured that's how this game would go but I watched last year's game, and it was runs galore, and early on, Mt.

Vernon able to get out and then the explosion of runs by Assumption late in that game.

>> Paul: Grab made by Bentley, as it's put on the nose by Loken.

Nice grab there.

Bentley has made both outs here of the inning at short.

We have to see that one again.

>> Laura: Bentley is having one heck of a day in the field.

She has made numerous plays so far defensively in this ball game, saving a couple of base hits that might have gone into the gap.

>> Paul: It's up to Izzy Krogman to keep this line moving for the knights.

They've gotten a couple of runners on with two outs so let's see if they can do it in the fourth.

The pitch from Sprague is low for a ball.

You know, the finalists have only had three combined hits and three combined runs in the semis.

Assumption won with one hit.

Mt.

Vernon only won with two.

>> Laura: Isn't that crazy?

But that's a team that executed, they took advantage of the breaks that they got.

They got the base hit.

They were able to move the runners, push the runs across and had the defense and the pitching to make it hold up.

>> Paul: Krogman hits it high and what a catch by Steen into center field.

Krogman got it into the jet stream but Steen plucked that out of the afternoon sky.

>> Laura: The defense we're seeing here from Mt.

Vernon is spectacular.

There are getting the jump on every ball.

They're timing everything.

They're getting a good read as the ball comes off the bat.

>> Paul: Not much to say there for Mt.

Vernon.

They kind of know they need to, as Coach Brand said in the last interview, square the ball up better.

That's easier said than done.

>> Laura: You saw a couple of solid hits in the last at-bat for Assumption.

They may be slowly starting to hone in on the pitches of Sprague and maybe starting to level things off.

>> Paul: You said something earlier about it made me think, in baseball that has become a major trend of the major leagues, in the minors, not allowing a pitcher to go through a line-up twice, for sure three times.

Does that apply in softball?

>> Laura: I don't think it does.

However, starting to see a little bit more of a trend in the college level, where you're starting to see more coaches go to the bullpen and bring in a second pitcher later on in the ball game, but I think in the high school level, I think you got to go with the pitcher that has brought you to this point and not necessarily go okay, they've seen you once, now we're going to to something a little different.

>> Paul: I could probably count on my hand over the, you know, near decade we've done this tournament where teams we weren't sure who was going to pitch.

Pretty much everybody has the one pitcher.

There's very few that oh, we alternate games and they trick you and say no, we're going with the girl that won in the semis.

>> Laura: There are teams that will have multiple pitchers that have two that maybe have the same stuff or different stuff but just as effective and keep hitters guessing at the plate, and so you might see a 1-2 rotation, especially as teams and conferences start going to double headers.

>> Paul: Bentley, Gookin and San Antonio for Mt.

Vernon here bottom half of the fourth.

Nigey's first pitch is high to Bentley.

Bentley made a couple of great defensive plays, you talked about, Laura, and now has to try to get it done with the bat.

Laid down the sacrifice back in the first.

Bentley is going to go to play soccer at Drake.

Her Drake teammates came over from one of the regular season games to cheer her on.

The bulldogs are always cheering for each other, aren't this they?

>> Laura: Always.

Once a bulldog, always a bulldog to back her up.

>> Paul: We'll talk about another bull dog you how that support is going.

Two balls, no strikes to Bentley.

Nigey behind comes with a pitch.

Goes off-speed and gets a strike.

Tough pitch to hit.

>> Laura: That really is.

That's low and away, off-speed, but good discipline at the plate, not going after a pitch, not being too overanxious.

>> Paul: The 2-1.

Popped into the screen for a foul ball.

Bentley, we pushed past her socks and that's what she calls superstitious, there they are.

Usually a code for superstitious socks is, Laura, she doesn't wash them.

>> Laura: You know what?

There are athletes, softball player answer I'm sure baseball players as well that have those superstitions that there's a lot of old, dirty, crusty, smelly socks at the end of the season.

>> Paul: [ Laughs ] You know that smell in August, when you go into a locker room for football.

You know that smell when you go into a locker room for basketball.

>> Laura: Oh, yeah.

>> Paul: It's a whole different level with softball.

>> Laura: When I was playing in high school my sister washed my pants one time, I got so mad at her.

>> Paul: That hits the bottom of the fence and Bentley will be in with a double to start the fourth inning for Mt.

Vernon.

Don't wash those socks yet.

>> Laura: No, don't wash those.

Keep those on.

That is keeping the hot-hitting going.

Good job of leveling it off, getting the barrel of the bat, sends it all the way to the fence and quickly gets into second base.

That's the start they were looking for.

>> Paul: The Mustangs were ready to run out of the dugout.

They thought it was a home run.

That was a rocket.

>> Laura: You could tell off the bat it was well-hit and didn't have enough elevation to get out of the ball park but it certainly had that power behind it.

>> Paul: Bentley at second, ripping it into left field is Addison Gookin.

They'll send Bentley.

Here comes the throw, the play not in time!

Maia Bentley scores the game's first run on an RBI double by Addison Gookin.

>> Laura: Back-to-back doubles and Coach Robin Brand said let's roll the dice, get the run in and put the first run up on the board and they did.

Roe was there a little offline.

>> Paul: You're right, roll the dice and you hit snake eyes.

Pitch it up in the zone to Ashlyn Steen, the center fielder who is 0 for 1 on this game.

She looks back to the umpire and says Mr. Nelson, what was that?

Ball, okay.

>> Laura: They might try to spring the hits together or try to move the runner to third?

>> Paul: Nigey spins that ball on her hip, the throw back to second, they have Gookin the throw to third, not in time.

So they threw behind the runner and Gookin said I'm just going to go to third and so now a single, a pass ball, even a possible ground ball scores another run.

>> Laura: And well-thought-out, and really good look.

I think Gookin thought -- >> Paul: Safety squeeze, it's fielded.

Gookin's caught, she stumbles and is going to be tagged out at the plate.

Loken chased down Gookin, and that play, which was fielded about I Nigey who runs her back first, throws to Loken, who was covering, and then tags her.

Ball never came out, great look, great follow by our crew to show you that exchange.

>> Laura: Really good job and a good job by Nigey.

She immediately looked over to third to see if that runner was coming on contact, got hung up right in the middle of the baseline.

>> Paul: Ball lifted, it's going to land in front of Casel and here around third comes Steen.

The throw not in time.

The Mustangs going to run a different way on an RBI sing toll right by Kenna Rollinger.

>> Laura: Well-placed hit by this Mt.

Vernon team just in front of Casel out there.

Tried to keep it in front, but when it sneaks by her, that allows the run to come home, and run number two now on the board.

>> Paul: Courney Franck is the courtesy runner for Kenna Rollinger who does her job, puts the ball in play and let the defense fall as it may.

Robin Brand pulls that card and now feels the game is speeding away in her favor.

If you're Assumption, how do you slow this train right now?

>> Laura: Well, I think you need to get an out is what you need to do, if you're Assumption, you want to be able to stop it right here, get out of it with only the two runs, but right now, this line-up for Mt.

Vernon, they are feeling pretty confident at the plate, and it seems like when one hitter finally breaks through, then the next one breaks through, then the next one breaks through and that's exactly what happened.

>> Paul: Hit in the air, playing at short and drifting back and coming in is Wardlow as Loken had the thing carrying and carrying.

Laura, that's the first time today I think we've seen the wind come into play.

>> Laura: That one got up and both players converged on it, and communicated, Wardlow able to call off Loken to pull that one in.

>> Paul: So Avery Plathe trying to keep the inning going for the Mustangs.

They lead 2-0 in the fourth.

That is down for another base hit and another run is going to score.

Here comes Franck and it's 3-0 Mt.

Vernon.

>> Laura: The confidence at the plate, they have the momentum and fire and keep the line-up moving, going to right field with it.

And the run going to come home easily with two outs.

Runners off with the crack of the bat.

>> Paul: Avery Plathe comes in big.

Now Lilly See, first pitch low to Lilly who popped up to the first base person back in the third.

Seventh Mustang to bat here in the fourth.

It's been lucky fours for the Mustangs, the 1-30, hit well toward left center and that gets down for another hit.

Coming around again Plathe's way, the throw to second, not in time.

No throw home and it's 4-0 Mt.

Vernon.

>> Laura: They are continuing to keep the runner going, two outs, yeah, you keep them going.

The throw came into second.

They were going to try to get the out there before the run scored.

The throw did not get there in time, as this ball sails on Wardlow.

She plays it well off the fence and you can see the run come across.

>> Paul: Now we have a Roe/Nigey conversation.

>> Do what you do.

>> Paul: Coach Brand says do what you do.

They're scaring up the ball.

>> Laura: They're being selective at the pitches they are swinging at and getting on top of the ball, line-driving it and getting the barrel of the bat on it, and finding the gaps.

>> Paul: We do have a little action in the Assumption bullpen, and Assumption has to make a long run from their dugout to where the bullpen area is.

All of a sudden here, Laura, flashes of last year's game, as Mt.

Vernon puts four on the board.

Popped up, hits the foul or hits the chalk line and bounces foul.

I'm sorry, hit on this side of the chalk line which made it foul.

This can tlk first hit by a pitch, then a single in the third.

4-0 your score here in the fourth.

Last year it was Assumption that had a couple of big innings and that one hit by pitch again Telecky.

>> Laura: That's twice in this ball game.

Starts it off getting hit in that shoulder and right in the ear flap of the helmet.

This time right off the biceps of the arm.

>> Paul: Lilly See stays at second.

Telecky goes to first.

Batting now Jenna Sprague.

Low pitch going to third is going to -- no, safe.

I think there was a juggle on See going to third.

That throw beat her.

We'll get a good look right here well in time, the slide.

>> Laura: You can see the ball coming out.

>> Paul: Miller had the ball the whole time she's saying and Coach Ron Ferrill asks for more clarification on the ruling and he'll go back in.

Runners move up, See to third, Telecky out on the stolen base and Jenna Sprague the two-place hitter could blow this game wide open.

The 1-0 strike.

>> Laura: This is where you mentioned it, Mt.

Vernon in this position a few years ago and could not close the door.

Assumption has a good line-up and really good hitters, so you have to come back out and you're looking after you put a four, five or six spot on the board here, you have to go back out defensively and say we have to We can't allow any of them to scratch out any more runs.

>> Paul: The pitch to spraying the 1-2, called third strike.

That's how it ends, but man, what an inning.

Let's hear what Ron Ferrill has to say.

>> Hey!

We've been in worse scenarios than this, we were down five last year and came back and whooped their ass.

Let's go, we have to be back at it here.

We can't afford pop-outs.

We have to hit it on the nose.

Last inning we had squared up balls.

Let's turn the pressure on them right now.

Every single bat matters at this point in time.

We have a good approach.

You cannot have any -- excuse me -- lazy swings.

If they earn the out that's fine but we can't give them, all right?

Everybody's towing the chalk.

Make her uncomfortable.

>> Paul: "Everybody's towing the chalk," that's a new one for me.

>> Laura: I'm not sure unless it means get up in the batter's box.

I don't know.

That I have not heard that terminology before, so they must know.

It must be Assumption terminology because they all knew and shook their head.

You know what?

He did bring up a point that they did square up the ball the last inning.

They got solid hits, right at players.

But if you can carry that swing thought back up to the plate, then you might be able to get some hits and break into this lead.

>> Paul: Last year a 5-1 Mt.

Vernon lead in the third and the fifth, law camera, the fifth, Assumption scored three runs and in the sixth they scored six.

Is it 2021 all over again?

>> Laura: Well, we've seen stranger things happen.

Mt.

Vernon is hoping not.

They are hoping they can shut the door.

>> Paul: Nigey, Miller and Yattoni up in the fifth.

Nigey who initially had committed to Toledo, then a coaching change reopened her recruiting, and ended up the DePaul, where she'll be reunited to back to Anna Wohlers.

>> Laura: We asked how did she decide on DePaul other than the fact her teammate is there, she went on campus, it's a great campus, great education, great academics, and yes, Anna Wohlers is there, and there's a lot of players that have come from Iowa softball to play at deball.

>> Paul: Squared up hit, short hops the fence.

Nigey stumbles around first, doesn't matter, she's in.

You can hear her say "Let's go" on a double and Assumption picking up like you said, Laura, squared that ball up beautifully.

>> Laura: She had a little emotion at the end of the the last inning.

She leads them up with a big double to start this inning.

>> Paul: It will bring in Kelsie Hearne again for Nigey on the courtesy run on the double, so that's the third hit of the day for assumption.

0-3-0 for the knights, 4-6-0 for the Mustangs.

Batting is Callie Miller.

>> Laura: Back going to DePaul and the players recruited on the team, Anna Wohlers and Nicole Sullivan and Sarah Lehman, graduate student last year pitched for Regina.

DePaul looks at the Iowa softball players and recruited a lot.

>> Paul: So Miller was hit in the head and she is going to have to come back to the plate.

Initially she was told to go to first on a hit-by pitch, but since she attempted with the bat, Laura -- >> I asked for the appeal, he gave me what he had.

She clearly pulled back.

That wasn't even close.

She was out.

It was coming at her, she clearly pulled back.

That barrel was clear back here.

>> Didn't look like that to me, coach.

>> The barrel was clear back here.

>> She looked like she still had it out.

>> That's a big blow.

That hurts.

>> I know.

>> All right, we have two strikes.

>> Paul: There's the conversation.

Gary Wax, the Veteran umpire seen a few softball games.

Let's see the replay one more time.

She's pulling it back.

>> Laura: I could see the argument both ways.

>> Paul: You're right.

>> Laura: Yes.

>> Paul: Swinging through it is Miller, as Coach Ferrill alluded to, that's big.

Now he has the first out of the inning.

>> Laura: You know, the thing that was really nice about the end of that conversation, is Coach Ferrill said that's a big miss.

That's a big blow, but he pats him on the shoulder and just, you know, like okay, I respect it.

I respect that we don't see it the same way, but he went back, no big argument, no big outburst or anything and just gave him a little pat on the shoulder and they went their separate ways, which is a nice thing to see.

>> Paul: Emily Yattoni swings at the 1-0 offering, fouls it back into the stands.

>> Laura: I think from Gary Wax's point of view, his angle made it, he might have been able to see what he saw with that bat maybe still up in front instead of being pulled back.

>> Paul: What he said is "In my judgment, this is what it looked like."

>> Laura: Yes.

>> Paul: What is the beauty of the three-person crew we have in the luxury in the post season by Iowa.

Swing and a miss by Emily Yattoni, now down a ball and two strikes.

Mt.

Vernon scored four in the top half of this inning.

Assumption looking to use the same script as last year and mount a comeback in these late innings.

High ball two.

>> Laura: Assumption want to push this one run across.

They got it started off in the right direction to start this inning.

They want to be able to take advantage of this and push that one run across, maybe get that rally going.

>> Paul: Sprague trying to pull in on that, determined outlook she has on the game.

A little bit of, almost broke in on her just a little bit at the end.

Yattoni didn't get a good swing at it, fouled off enough to get another chance here.

One out, one on.

It's Hearne at second.

The pitch to Yattoni is high and it's now two on and one out, top of the order.

Here comes Jessie Wardlow.

>> Laura: That was a really good, patient at-bat by Yattoni.

>> Paul: Especially from your ninth place hitter.

>> Laura: Coaches like the number nine hitter to be the second leadoff, pop that line up and over the top.

This is where Assumption could do some damage.

>> Paul: Jessie Wardlow, we talked about her multi-threat.

Will she punch it again to the left on the slap?

That might be a little harder to score another run, taking a couple of steps in out there is Telecky.

>> Laura: Infield has not made that drastic adjustment as they did when we saw her lead off the game.

>> Paul: Is that because there's runners on base?

>> Laura: Yeah.

You want to cover all your angles and get to the base you need to get.

You're not far out of position.

You're in your normal position.

You have a force-over at third, you have a force at any one of the bases.

>> Paul: The 1-1.

Fouled back.

Wardlow, who switched numbers this year, she took her sister, Olivia's number.

Olivia now a Cyclone.

They played three years together.

You know, it's different in every family.

We do need to finish this story with your sister, we'll go tote that in a moment but sisters, sometimes, ugh, I have to hear about her again.

That was my first question to her.

What's it like to be this team is your own?

Well, I played three years with my sister and yeah, it's different.

It's me now.

>> Laura: Yeah, and she said that but she said she wanted to switch numbers because she looks up to her sister and wants to play like her sister.

I would say she's doing that this season.

>> Paul: Jessie battles back on a three-ball two-strike count.

Another full count.

Sprague trying to grind through this Knight line-up with one out in the fifth.

Hit right up the middle on the nose.

Ferrill has to hold one, excellent throw from Steen.

Wow!

Bases loaded one out and Abby Odean due up four the knights.

You want to talk about squaring up a hit here, Laura, watch this.

>> Laura: Runs up on it, Ken the hands back and set it up the middle.

Great throw by Steen to keep runners at their spots.

>> Paul: Odean had a big game against ballard.

What can she do in the championship game?

She falls behind on the first pitch.

Sprague places it perfectly.

>> Laura: Coach Ferrill told us Owould go against Anna Wohlers in practice.

Odean more often than not would beat out Wohlers in that contest so she has the capability of launching a pitch, sending it out of the ball park and tying it up.

She has that kind of power.

>> Paul: Ohio girls high school state tournament class 3A.

One swing could make this interesting.

Sprague laced one on the outside.

Abby Odean the designated player takes a breath, one foot in the box, now both feet in.

Hit up the middle off the glove.

Here comes the second, throw from Steen is late and it's a two-run single for the knights and the lead's cut in half!

>> Laura: Right before this inning started we heard Coach Ferrill say we've been in this situation before.

Remember a year ago we were down five and able to come back?

That's the kind of answer that you want from your team when you give up four runs.

>> Paul: So Wardlow moves up on the Abby Odean, so the two will be on.

>> Danger is on.

Let's shut them down.

We have one down right here.

>> Paul: You're up two.

>> You got to read it though depending on the time.

>> Paul: Well, Robin Brand walks back into that dugout.

Trying to just remind, yes, we're still up two, but it's two on for Helen Sons.

One out.

First pitch, ball.

Soliz in for Odean down at first.

>> Laura: Wanting to get some speed on the bases.

>> Paul: There's a look at Soliz.

>> Paul: We talked about it before, she finds the gap, speed on the bases.

Coming in to make the grab is Telecky, throws ahead to the third base, no go from Wardlow.

Sons is the second out of the inning, that will bring up the ever-dangerous Sydney Roe.

>> Laura: Syd Roe number three in 3A in total RBIs.

>> Paul: Hits it well toward center, up in the air, over and gone!

Home run Sydney Roe.

Can you believe it?

The knights have taken the lead 5-4!

>> Laura: Add three more RBIs to that total, and she went up there with first pitch mentality, swinging at it, get it out to right center field.

Gets that toe down, waits for it, timed it perfectly, and you can see Steen go back and watch it sail out.

>> Paul: Wow!

>> Laura: Wow is right, because this is -- >> Paul: I don't know what more you can say on a play like that.

>> Laura: If I remember, didn't Anna Wohlers hit a big home run last year in that ball game, in that championship game?

I think it was in the sixth inning?

>> Paul: It was in the sixth, a two-run Homer and that was the last runs they scored but yes, the catcher's position -- >> Laura: Producing.

>> Paul: We've got, we've had big plays by Assumption catchers over the year, and we have a little presentation there, that jean Berger is going to make.

That's a collectible is the difference in the ball game, I one-run lead for the knights.

>> Laura: All tournament long, balls have been returned, but that's one that's going to go to the family.

>> Paul: Emma Valina is had big games for the knights.

>> Laura: You're right.

>> Paul: Just, it's something about that position that's a huge hitter for the knights.

That one's hit in the air, up deep, up against the wall, Telecky great play to get the out, and to end the threat on Maddie Loken but not before four the knights come with five in the fifth.

>> Go get it.

>> More runs on three.

One, two, three!

>> More runs!

>> >> Paul: Eight Knights go to the plate, five of them score in that inning.

>> Laura: Coach gave them a pep talk and they barrelled it up, line it out there, get on top of the ball, and they did all of those things and were able to scratch and claw and get the lead back.

>> Paul: We're stretching here.

♪ In the old ball game ♪ Tim Fitzpatrick leading us in what he does on every game that he is on the mic.

And he has his own twists to make the game interesting.

Olivia!

And does the stretch and he'll sing and he's up there trying to keep the crowd loose and it's a full-game experience at Harlan Rogers.

It's Maia Bentley, Addison Gookin and stn continue.

You didn't hear much from brand bpd.

You think her players, they know the situation, right?

>> Laura: You know the situation, because this is exactly what it was a year ago, and they don't want to have the same outcome, so they know what they need to do, and they're going to lead it off here with Bentley, who got the inning started for them in the last inning, and so she knows what her job is.

She's having a great game.

The dirty socks need to come through again for her.

>> Paul: Okay.

The dirty socks, your sister, you were mad at her for washing your pants?

>> Laura: My uniform pants.

We had a game and we had a game the next day.

Yes, those should be washed, I get it.

They still had a lot of hits left in them, and I'm pretty sure that next game, I might not have gotten the hit, she might have washed the hits out of my pants.

>> Paul: Leah Maro more than 73 innings pitched, E.R.A.

of 2.48, she's 11-5.

She pitched Tuesday against ballard and she pitches here not an in-inning replacement but in-game replacement so again to last year's title game.

>> Laura: She game in the ball game and was able to close the door, now comes in, in late innings, and is this that little bit of wrinkle, different wrinkle that Coach Ferrill has pulled out, showing them another pitcher?

>> Paul: Ground ball hit toward short, it is Loken to Sons one away, so Maro goes to first to the one spot, Nigey is out.

Helping us out, hand signs, sometimes he writes things down and spells them out clearly for me because I don't always understand.

Same with our truck who is keeping you entertained and informed, Maro's pitch is in the dirt with one away here for Addison Gookin.

>> Laura: Maybe that does go back to what you were asking earlier, seeing the pitcher the second time through the line-up and Mt.

Vernon was able to hit Nigey, so maybe -- >> Paul: And right on cue, a base hit up the middle.

That gets all the way to the fence, hustling in to second and standing up without a slide is Addison Gookin.

New pitcher, same result.

Back-to-back doubles for Addison Gookin.

>> Laura: She didn't have any trouble adjusting to the new pitcher.

I was thinking maybe they have to see something, they're going to see something different, maybe a little different speed, different spin, but Gookin able to step right up and laced one right back up the middle, all the way to the fence.

>> Paul: The tying run aboard with the go-ahead run at the plate.

Ground ball back to Maro.

Looks at third.

Gookin is caught between second and third, goes back to second, gets under, so a fielder's choice keeps both players for Mt.

Vernon on the field.

Steen is aboard, and that will bring in Kenna Rollinger, as we look again, playing with a little hot box on a hot summer day.

>> Laura: Second rundown Gookin has been in, here in this ball game but the throw is high and Gookin got the hand in under onto the base.

>> Paul: One out here in the fifth, Maro's pitch is in there for a called strike.

So if you went and took a break after the top of the fourth, you missed a lot.

Nine runs.

We go from really fast to a whole lot of offense.

Off-speed in the dirt, swung on and missed but the runners are going to move up.

As Roe blocks it, keeps it from going to the back of the screen to prevent further damage.

Gookin goes to third and Steen goes down to second.

>> Laura: A different mindset.

Defense will adjust a little bit on the infield.

As a hitter you're thinking if I can get something and hit it to the right side, that will help push that run across or get a fly ball, get that sacrifice fly.

So couple different thoughts.

Two strikes so you have to shorten up with your thing.

>> Paul: The 1-2 hit towards the right side.

Man, that would have been huge if that was about ten feet to the left, but instead it goes foul.

Rollinger lives to see another day.

Swartzendruber on deck.

Has a look at Steen at second.

She represents the go-ahead run.

Popped up foul again, and out of play.

>> Laura: Taking a deep breath, and we asked her, hey, is there any funny team stories that have happened throughout the course of the season?

She's like, oh, yeah, the other night in the dorm, she goes eh, no, I think I'll put that back in my pocket.

So you know, some things happened throughout the course of the season that keep things fun and light and help with team bonding.

>> Paul: Since they've watched the game last year on the way home, and on this year on the way up to Fort Dodge from Mt.

Vernon, they knew pretty much anything they told us would be on the air.

That's experience there.

The 1-2 is low, great stop by Roe going down to both knees to keep that one blocked.

>> Laura: Roe is doing a great job keeping the ball in front.

>> Paul: This at-bat she worked extremely hard just like Rollinger has to get another pitch and maybe catch a mistake from Maro.

The 2-2.

Battles all the way back from 0-2, as we approach the 4:00 hour here and the 90-minute, about an hour 20-minute mark of this game.

Low and the bases are loaded, ball four.

>> Laura: That was one heck of an at-bat for Rollinger.

She fouled off a lot of pitches, waited it out, able to get the base on balls.

>> Paul: Going to first is Courney Franck.

She'll run there.

We're going to have a pinch hitter for Mt.

Vernon, that is going to be the flex, Kameron Brand.

Brand who is playing first, now gets a chance to swing.

In place of Swartzendruber.

Got it all?

>> Flex for the D.P.

>> Paul: Because that's Swartzendruber's position so that's how it works.

>> Laura: One out, infield drawn in.

You're going to come to the plate to get the hard force.

>> Paul: First pitch strike.

Brand probably taking the Kameron, the younger sister of the triplets, two boys and a girl.

Summer we talked about in the dugout.

After her treatment yesterday.

That one is off the plate and the count is even at a ball and a strike.

You know, men, women, whoever coaching, they love their players.

They have an affection for them, but it's tough when it's your kid, too, and you've grown up with a lot of their friends.

As Brand fouls that one back into the net, and Summer only a junior, but you know next year will be a tough campaign.

>> Laura: Yeah, it's a different dynamic, and you're right.

A lot of the players are probably over.

They're all friends and you know, you have to be coached sometimes.

You have to be mom sometimes.

>> Paul: The 1-2 is bounced.

And Maro was trying to see how aggressive Brand would be at the plate.

She's pretty loose.

She'd pretty funny.

Fouled into the net.

Will do it again.

Again, one of the multi-sport athletes.

Runs state track, good volleyball team, lots of good athletes, lots of state experience, trying to come up big on this stage right now.

Bases full of Mustangs here, one out in the fifth.

Gookin at third, Steen at second, Franck at first.

The pitch hit in the air towards right, and caught.

Here comes the throw.

The run is not in time, we're tied at 5-5, all the runners move up on a sacrifice fly by Brand.

I'm not sure why you catch that but you do to get the out but the game is tied.

>> Laura: I think instincts kick in, and yes, I mean maybe could you say let that drop, give her another pitch, but the momentum of nimgy out there in right field going away from the play, so she had to catch that and right herself and try to make a solid throw in.

>> Paul: That is a new fielder, there's Nigey, who was just done pitching.

Whether she -- yeah, yeah.

There's always a lot of moving pa, in this game.

So Gookin scores to tie it up at 5-5.

Steen goes to third, Franck at second.

And Brand is retired.

So now two outs here in the fifth for Avery Plathe.

We're going to walk Plathe intentionally to put the force back into play and have Lilly See.

>> Laura: Coach Ferrill electing to load them up so they can get a worse at any base on a ground ball.

>> Paul: See watches the first pitch go for a strike.

See with a double in the fourth, all tied up at 5-5.

So we're back to where we were about a half hour ago, tied up again.

The 0-1.

Hit up the middle, base hit!

That will get through, two more runs are going to score.

The throw is cut off by Sons and it's a two-out two-RBI single for Lilly See!

>> Laura: Boy T shot right back up the middle and Maro couldn't get the glove over in time to get that ball that was ticketed for center field, just right underneath her glove.

Krogman gives a good effort.

The throw comes in, they cut it.

>> Paul: So Plathe goes down to second, top of the order.

Swung on and foul.

Oh, that's a fair ball, because it went in -- it was not touched in fair territory -- or foul territory so yes, that is a legit hit but Robin Brand is arguing that it hit the bat or that it hit the batter.

>> Here's the deal.

Here's the deal.

I know, here's the deal.

I was blocked by the batter, I did not see it.

Look, we pregamed this.

If I didn't see something, then it's up to them to kill it and if they didn't kill it, then we have nothing.

>> Okay, because it hit her.

>> We're going to go with the out.

>> Laura: So they're saying they can't appeal that because they talked about it as an umpiring crew.

If they didn't kill it in the field, then they're going with the out.

>> Paul: We've had an action-packed last couple of innings here.

It was moving along, a pitchers duel, great defensive battle, but Mt.

Vernon pushed a couple of ones across in the fourth, four of them and it was hit after hit.

It was Maia Bentley led things off, Addison Gookin with another double and Rollinger a double and then a Plathe single and a Lilly See double.

Four runs came in in the fourth for Mt.

Vernon, they took a 4-0 lead into the top of the fifth.

Assumption said we can do it, too.

It was a double by Bella Nigey and then a walk and single by Jessie Wardlow, Abby Odean and the huge three-run Homer by Sydney Roe gave the knights a 5-4 lead.

And then on a sacrifice fly in the inning we just finished in the top of the fifth or the bottom of the fifth, Swartzendruber and then another back-to-back single led to an RBI by Lilly See.

So I think I got everything in there, close.

7-5 is our score as we go to the sixth.

All of a sudden, Laura, we've had two completely different games here.

>> Laura: We have.

We've had the defense and the pitching in the first four innings, and now all of a sudden the bats have come to life.

>> Paul: Let's look at the last play.

And it rolled foul.

It has not been touched yet, but you can see the thing spinning and as soon as it hits the chalk, it's a fair ball.

Helen Sons alertly grabs it and runs the ball to first.

Here's another look.

And Telecky thought it hit her, so she didn't run it out, and it went -- that is the perfect textbook and I'm guessing we will see that with many coaches talking about that and umpires at clinics this next year.

>> Laura: Yes, and it did look, just the reaction of Telecky looked like that ball maybe calm came off of her shin or foot and she stopped but the right reaction by Helen Sons at first, let that ball come in, back into play because you're right there and you can tag the runner and run to first base.

Tony Nelson didn't see it, it went on as it was supposed to.

Assumption able to get out of the inning.

>> Paul: The knights top of the sixth, back down by two, leading off is Isabella Krogman, Bella Nigey and Callie Miller due up for the Knights.

The 1-1 pitch is hit well in the air towards left.

Back goes Telecky making the grab, takes two steps, uses the fence as a brace and throws it back in for the first out.

Great defensive play.

>> Laura: The defense has picked up, Mt.

Vernon getting a good jump, going with it, keeping her eye on it, fading back towards the fence.

Krogman gone, first strike to Nigey.

Walked and had a double so she's 1 for 1.

One out in the six-th.

That pitch catches the zone, Nigey is down 0-2.

She's 1 for 3 and an RBI in the quarterfinal.

Asks for time and gets it.

>> Paul: That pitch is hit, two-hopper to Bentley across to Brand, two away.

>> Laura: Hard-hit ball.

Bentley came up on her but stayed right with it.

She's had a really good game.

>> Paul: Kelsie Hearne will swing the bat.

She's been in -- >> One, five.

15!

>> Paul: Kelsie Hearne came out.

>> Umpire, 15.

>> Paul: Tony Nelson said 15, so that's Kathryn Snyder the eighth grader, another versatile defender, and she's waiting for a couple of tough players to graduate so she can get a chance, so a look at the future here.

Got some good speed and so coming in to bat is going to be Kathryn Snyder.

>> Laura: At this point in the game you look at options, what you have on your bench, see if you can get somebody to get that key base hit, get things rolling.

>> Paul: There's a look at Snyder.

Bats with two outs here in the sixth.

The pitch.

Swung on and missed right on through the zone there.

As Sprague -- >> Laura: Gets her up in the zone and Coach Ferrill said keep your chin down.

Your head was pulled, it was way up.

She did.

She saw another rise ball there and she stayed off of it.

>> Paul: Went right back to that same pitch.

Same pitch, this time just a little bit lower and Snyder is swinging through that one.

>> Laura: That was a tough one to hit, a little bit lower in on the hands.

>> Paul: Strike three, and that is the fifth strikeout of the game for Sprague.

>> Top of the order.

Top of the order.

No, Jenna, here we go.

Someone.

>> Paul: Law camera, we're missing one person from the Iowa high school girls athletic union this week one close to both of us and many people here Lisa brinkmeier, played at hUBBARD Radcliffe and played at Drake in bobl part of the union staff handing out trophies and directing teams in basketball.

She's doing introductions and she's been the Administrator on sports but she's battling brain cancer.

It's been a tough go for her, but there's a way that people are getting a chance and you and I, Laura, are both part of Brink's bench.

What does Lisa Brinkmeier mean to so many?

>> Laura: Credit Stacy Evans coming up with this idea, she played with Lisa at Drake.

She's's our leader, everyone's leader.

One of the most genuine people you will meet and she is an Iowa girl through and through, all the way through hUBBARD and Drake in the state of Iowa and at the union and we all want to be on Brink's Bench.

I don't think you could ever have a better leader than Lisa brinkmeyer.

>> Paul: This shirt is available and today is the last day you can order them if you want to be on her bench.

We saw them here this week and Lisa, if you are watching, we wish you continued improvement and good health and get your tail back here.

>> Laura: We want Brink back here and all the championship events, she is going to bat tell and fight hard.

>> Paul: Casel, the throw in is a double, and Jenna Sprague almost like Lisa's willing so long.

I think she wanted us to stop talking about her and get back to good softball, the humbleness there.

The new player in right is Molly Riley.

Sprague is going to be replaced on a courtesy.

Elsa Appleton will go down to second.

El is ais a sophomore, so she's go in place of Sprague.

Maia Bentley batting with nobody out and Mt.

Vernon looking to add a little bit of insurance here.

Hits it to left and it's going to go out of bounds and be a foul ball.

Bentley who had a huge hit in the fourth who started all this.

It's all her fault.

>> Laura: Her team appreciates the double she had to start the scoring off after we had gone scoreless through the first few innings.

>> Paul: Maro's pitch out of the zone and evens it off at a ball and a strike.

Bentley, Gookin and Ashlyn Steen up for Mt.

Vernon.

Bentley 1 for 3, but that double was huge back in the fourth.

>> Laura: Sometimes it's one hit like that, that wakes up the dugout and helps them shake things out.

Everybody goes up to the plate relaxed and starts hitting the ball, and that's what happened for Mt.

Vernon.

>> Paul: There is something about that, that you see the, you expect it out of say your three, four, five, but sometimes when it's the other players that really is, you go out on that off-speed pitch goes right up the middle and Appleton waved on to score.

The throw to second cut off by Sons, the throw not in time and it's a double for Maia Bentley, and you hear "let's go" again from the Mt.

Vernon crowd.

Another run across, 8-5.

>> Laura: Just some timely hitting and the timing is there, right back up the middle, and again, Coach Robin Brand sending the runner, not even hesitating.

>> Paul: Dpookin fouls the first pitch into the net.

Ten hits now banged out by Mt.

Vernon.

So whatever offense wasn't there yesterday or Wednesday in the semifinals is back today on Friday.

>> Laura: This game is crazy.

Can have 10 1-0 and push off run run and games you explode for eight, ten runs.

It depends.

There's so many little factors that come into play in each and every game.

>> Paul: Gookin comes in the right side, down 0-2.

The pitch winds, off the plate.

Coaches will tell you, Laura, actually they won't tell you this but you know this is what they're thinking is yes, getting to the state tournament is a good thing.

Just getting into that finals, anything can happen.

>> Laura: It can.

It's very much like the regional final.

It's a one-game series.

You have to be able to execute.

>> Paul: Gookin leaves the park as that ball goes up over, over and out!

That one absolutely got into the jet stream!

Home run for Mt.

Vernon!

>> Laura: What a shot, and that one did, she got all of it, but had a little wind behind it, and it sailed out of the park, and they were looking for one insurance run.

They've gotten a lot of insurance runs here in this inning.

>> Paul: I looked up and thought no, that's going to stay in.

I think so did, ward Loy thought, too, and that thing kept on going and nothing better than running the bases.

>> Laura: Wardlow kept tracking it and you could see her, she thought she had it, it was on pace and it kept sailing and sailing and we'll have some changes.

>> Paul: Nigey will come back in.

Casel is going to right.

Those are the two changes, as Maro goes out.

Let's look ahead briefly, this inning's not over yet.

There's still nobody out for Mt.

Vernon, but Assumption will have up the nine, one, two.

So they're trying to limit the damage here, keep it at five.

So Ron Ferrill goes out to the circle.

>> Got to be on those edges.

>> Paul: We were playing chase earlier.

Now it's like me playing chess again my son, it's over quickly.

>> Laura: Ha, ha.

We talked to Coach Ferrill he said we expect it will be a 1-0 game, a 0-0 game.

We might have to pull some surprises.

It will be a chess match.

He said I know Coach Brand will pull some chess pieces one way or another.

I'm going to have to do the same, and make some things happen.

I think his move was to switch pitchers, and the Mt.

Vernon hitters were able to time it and continue the hitting barrage that they had in the fourth inning, continue to carry that over against Maro, so thus he makes the change here back to Nigey.

>> Paul: I'm not saying it's over.

I'm saying it gets out of hand quickly when I play checkers against Noel or chess against him.

This is -- but how many times, Laura, this is like in Assumption's quarterfinal game and there's the home run ball chased down and it goes back to the family of Addison Gookin.

That one's going to go in the trophy case at home.

Right on down the line.

That's a keepsake they didn't expect today that they get to take home.

>> Laura: But welcomed.

>> Paul: But welcomed, exactly.

Now batting is Ashlyn Steen.

And Bella Nigey is asked to flip that towel back over to the the back.

We are at now 93 degrees.

It's gotten a little warmer again.

10-5 our score here in the sixth.

Fouled away and out of play.

The bottom of the third 5-3.

We have a foul ball that came back, oh, a ball out of the bullpen area.

And then assumption didn't score in the sixth, and Mt.

Vernon has already pushed two, three across.

Every hitter that's come to the plate has scored.

Swung on and missed by Steen, and she's down a ball and two strikes.

>> Laura: When we talked to Coach Brand the other day, she said you know, we started the season with maybe one or two players because they have so many multi-sport athletes, kids that were in track and tennis and golf and all different sports, and she said "We did not have our full team ready to go until the day of the first game against Vinton Shellsburg" on May 23rd.

>> Paul: The 23rd.

>> Laura: She lets them have a little freedom and do what they want to do because there are many multi-sport athletes.

She lets the players drive her and dictate her on how they're going to approach the season.

If somebody needs a break, I gave them a two-week break.

If they want extra hitting, we do that.

She lets the players dictate a little bit.

>> Paul: When you have multiple sports, you do need a break at times.

>> Laura: Yes.

>> Paul: Whatever your sports love is, whether it's Maia Bentley is soccer.

Jenna Sprague she plays golf.

She was golfing on the Lisbon team in the sharing agreement for golf.

They went to state.

She needed a little time.

>> Laura: Some kids that are running track, they all just need a little bit of a break.

>> Paul: It gets into the air, Loken thought it was going to be on her right and then it goes away from her on the left and that's going to drop and put Rollinger in with a base hit.

All right, so Rollinger will go to the bench and courtesy runner by Courtney Franch.

>> Laura: They graduated nine players from a year ago, Mt.

Vernon, and they had to rebuild and build from the bottom up.

They had players who stepped in, Abby Odean stepped up, Callie Miller stepped in and played very well for this team.

They graduated nine kids and had to find replacements.

>> Paul: Pop fly caught by Loken on Swartzendruber's hit, that will bring in Avery Plathe.

And here's another multi-sport player.

Plathe a great soccer player, according to Coach Brand.

She also has good feet, to the beat on the street.

She's a dancer.

Again, all sorts of, you know, Ashlyn Steen, she's the best singer.

She's going to do music at Simpson.

>> Laura: Swartzendruber is going to St. Andrews to be in the marching band.

It's not just sports the players are involved in.

It's all different activities.

>> Paul: 1-1 count to Avery Plathe.

Bats here in the sixth, already three in, two out.

Going on the pitch was Franck and she'll turn around on the foul ball and we'll do it again.

Nadia Telecky track and basketball.

I can't believe I hadn't mentioned this.

Nadia Telecky's mother, Paige Stamp from Lisbon.

That's punched to the right side for a base hit, and going to third is Franck on a base hit by Plathe.

>> Laura: The team certainly has the hitting shoes on and really sprayed the ball all over the field.

>> Paul: Now Lilly See will bat.

And Telecky will come on deck.

I was just getting ready for Telecky's at-bat.

I needed to make sure I got that note in.

>> Laura: Lisbon won three straight titles, '94, '95, '96.

>> Paul: First pitch to Lilly See is a called strike.

>> Laura: I'll throw in one more for Paige Stamp, had the lowest E.R.A., still holds the state record in '94 of 0.04.

>> Paul: Geez.

>> Laura: She's a pitching coach now at Cornell.

>> Paul: Sent him into overtime.

>> Laura: I might be wrong.

He's going to double-check me.

>> Paul: See down 0-2.

Nigey grinding it out trying to end this threat, get in the dugout and pull some miracles out.

Called third strike, Lilly See is out on strikes and that's how Mt.

Vernon scores but open up a 10-5 lead.

Let's hear what the knights are gonna do.

>> We talked about it all the time, you're not hitting, so calm yourself down.

We talk about it all the time.

It takes a big moment to be a hero.

It takes a big moment to be well-known.

It takes a big moment to be remembered.

All right?

This team's bleak but you score five runs here, people will talk about you forever, all right?

This is that big moment, all right, but it's going to take more than just one person.

We can't have pop-outs.

We have to do it flat, work hard for doubles, we got to string together six, seven doubles before three outs.

Every one of you can hit a double.

We need to if he cuss and do it on time.

Good approach, sit on your side of the plate, your spot.

>> Paul: 10-5 is our score here.

Want to reiterate here, it is 2022.

What was the score in 2021, Laura?

>> Laura: I think it was 10-5.

I know, this game has been similar to last year's game.

Except just kind of reversed a little bit.

>> Paul: So Davenport Assumption is going with a pinch hitter, this is going to be Charlotte Nigey, the eighth grader, is going to get a chance to hit.

You heard Coach Ron Ferrill say if you score five, they'll be talking about you for a long time.

>> Laura: I agree with that.

That would be a comeback of comebacks, if you can string together those hits, rattle this team and start pushing some runs across, everybody would be talking about that.

>> Paul: So Nigey pinch-hits, Jenna Sprague goes into the circle to work here in the seventh.

Mt.

Vernon in their ninth trip to state, swing and a miss.

Still looking for that elusive first title in only their second championship game appearance.

The Mustangs did it with hitting throughout the season.

You talked about great defense earlier in this game.

And Jenna Sprague has been well above average in pitching.

>> Laura: They have a number two team E.R.A.

Mt.

Vernon does in 3A and number six in stolen bases.

Number eight in fielding percentage.

Number five in batting average, number one in triples, number four in home runs, so they are in the top ten of a lot of the statistical categories in 3A.

>> Paul: Nigey strikes out, the top of the order will be Jessie Wardlow, that's the sixth strikeout for Jenna Sprague.

You know, we've talked to Jenna Sprague a lot over the years, Laura, and sometimes when you talk to someone over time, you get comfortable with them.

Jenna just, she is very guarded about her game, her pitches, her approach.

As coach said, I asked Coach Brand, what rattles Jenna Sprague?

She goes nothing.

I had to ask my assistants over time, is she okay?

>> Laura: She's just very fixed and focused out there in the circle.

>> Paul: Wardlow rolls over on the pitch and is out on a Gookin to Brand play and the knights are down to their final out.

It will be up to Abby Odean to keep the game going.

>> Laura: You can see the look in Sprague's eyes.

Maybe a little smile when they got the second out, turns around, gets the focus right back.

>> Paul: Just at 4:30.

Well-hit, over the reaching hands of Gookin, into center field for a base hit.

Abby Odean.

>> Laura: Odean turns to the dugout and says "we're not done yet.

Let's keep going."

>> Paul: We're going to have another change actually, I think we're going to have a pinch runner.

Yep, and so that will be Isabella Soliz.

Soliz goes to first.

That will be it for Odean if this game were to continue on this July the 22nd, 2022, just after 4:30 in the afternoon on the Friday, a championship win Friday or a championship game miracle for the Nights down to their last out and down to just two strikes for Helen Sons.

>> Laura: You have a tough out at the plate.

She can hit the gap.

>> Paul: Hit up the middle, bounces in front of Steen, the throw to second goes offline, and it's fielded by Brand and there's two on, two out for Sydney Roe.

What's she do in her last at-bat, Laura?

>> Laura: She had a big home run that gave them the lead at 5-4, looking to get her team a little bit closer with one swing of the bat.

>> Paul: Do you walk Roe here?

No?

>> Laura: I wouldn't.

You've got five runs to play with.

You just got to try to get the out here.

>> Paul: Sydney Roe first pitch ripped foul down the third base line.

>> Laura: I think if you put runners on, you got a lot of pressure then on all of the fielders, the catcher with bases loaded, one swing of the bat brings you to within one run of the ball game.

>> Paul: Sydney Roe the 0-1, again hit foul past third.

And again the Knights down to their last strike.

>> Laura: We've kind of gotten into the hands and she's fought them off, getting a good swing at those pitches, though.

>> Paul: The pitch to Roe, hit right back at Jenna Sprague, and that's how the Mustangs, the revenge tour is complete!

State championship for Mt.

Vernon in 2022!

No better way to end a championship game than a liner coming back to you.

>> Laura: I'm not sure she knew what happened when she caught the ball.

She caught it and went oh my gosh, we just won the state tournament.

That ball, quick hands got the glove up.

That ball was ticketed for center field.

Probably would have scored one run for them and really maybe shifted the momentum.

What a great job, same score as we had last year between the two teams, just a different outcome and Mt.

Vernon is the state champion.

>> Paul: Coach Robin Brand and Ron Ferrill meet there at home plate, and the 3A trophy is headed to eastern Iowa, just not as far east as it has the last few years.

It's stopping at Mt.

Vernon.

Let's see how this one ended.

As you said, law camera, I was thinking the same thing, hit on the nose, and then Sprague, oh my gosh, yes, we did!

That's exactly right.

>> Laura: And good job of hitting by Roe.

She went out and got that pitch on the outside part of the plate, and leveled it off and was sending it to center field, but Sprague right there, gloved it, took a second for her to realize but she turns to the team and goes all right, we did it.

>> Announcer: Presenting the class 3A all-team tournament medals is farm bureau board member director Andy Hill.

Here is your class 3A all-tournament team.

From Mt.

Vernon, Jenna Sprague.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Assumption, Jessie Wardlow.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Mt.

Vernon, Nadia Telecky.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Assumption catholic, Abby Odean.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Williamsburg Payton Driscoll.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Saydel, Dakota Lake.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Williamsburg, Elle Ridgeway.

From aJumpgs catholic it was Syd Roe.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Mt.

Vernon, Kenna Rollinger.

[ Cheers and Applause ] From Assumption Catholic Bella Nigey.

And your to 22 class 3A all-tournament team captain, from Mt.

Vernon Mt.

Vernon, Addison Gookin.

[ Cheers and Applause ] >> Paul: You're Addison Gookin you have a two-run Homer, that's how you get to be the captain of the all-tournament team.

>> Laura: A lot of talent on that team.

They've had outstanding performances all week and that's why they're on the all-tournament team.

>> Paul: She was 2 of 3 in the quarterfinals and scored the go-ahead run in the semifinals so she was a key part in all three of the wins for Mt.

Vernon, as you look at the all-tournament team.

One more big event to happe after these players.

>> Laura: Something Mt.

Vernon has been waiting for.

They felt like when they left the field last year, that fire started burning already, they wanted to get back to the spot, and their in the toe was unfinished business.

They got it taken care of.

>> Announcer: -- player will receive a commemorative softball provided by Iowa Fun Grove title sponsor.

Presenting the awards are members of the board of directors, Russ Adams, Travis Fleshner Ron Fadniss and Jennifer Donalds.

Congrat laces to the runniers up, head coach Ron Ferrill and the Assumption Catholic Knights congratulations on an outstanding 2022 softball season.

[ Cheers and Applause ] And your 2022 class A State softball champions, head coach Robin Brand and the Mt.

Vernon Mustangs from Mt.

Vernon.

[ Cheers and Applause ] >> Paul: The Mustangs rolled in this one, Laura.

Great field in class 3A, great final.

>> Laura: It was a really good final.

We've said it multiple times, it was very much like last year's contest, close in the beginning, a lot of offense late but Mt.

Vernon with those six seniors, they're able to hoist that trophy and have a lot of memories.

>> Paul: On their ninth trip to state, it gets them their first team title.

We started with a lot of emotion and great pitching and defense, then here came the offense.

Guess what?

As Mt.

Vernon crosses the un, they now have finished.

We have finished one game.

We have 2A coming up next, 1A to follow.

For everybody at Iowa PBS, so long from Fort Dodge.

We'll see you in a little bit for game two.

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