>>> The spotlight is on the Iowa girls, the site of the Iowa girls athletic union state softball championships.

5 A has a champion, 4 A has a champion, we've got three more to go today on our final day of coverage in 2024.

Here on Iowa PBS.

A gorgeous day for softball, it's a rematch of last year's Class 3 A championship, it's Davenport Assumption and the Williamsburg Raiders.

Hello, everybody, along with Laura Leonard I'm Paul Yeager.

Glad to have you here on this final day, Laura.

It's pretty easy when we're just copy/pasting the names, but the players have changed tremendously for these two squads.

Are you surprised they're back?

>> Not at all because both of these programs have great feeder programs, they have the championship pedigree that they have built upon over the last three years.

Davenport Assumption eight of the last nine championship games that they have appeared in and Williamsburg, they are defending a title, so they want to continue on that dominance that they have had here in Class 3 A.

>> Here is how they got here, as Laura mentioned, Assumption eight of nine years they've been in the title game, nine years here at state.

Coach Edwards says, hey, we have ten coming.

Senior pitcher Molly Roe, two complete games.

Charlotte Nigey a game we have heard a lot has been big for Assumption.

>> In nine trips they have never finished lower than third.

>> And for Williamsburg, Laura.

>> They have six start THAERS returned, that's where that nuclear came from.

talk about speed, we are going to talk about it all game long, they have a lot of speed on the base pads, can a Ken NA Hughes, Ava Hocker are the main suspects.

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♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >>> The spotlight is on the Iowa Harlan and Hazel Rogers sports complex.

It's the Iowa girls softball tournament class 5A, that's pleasant valley hoisting up a trophy and Carlisle late last night in 4A.

We have three more to go today on the final day of the 2024 season.

It's championship Friday, Davenport Assumption and Williamsburg Raiders.

It's a rematch of last year's Class 3A championship here again from the field.

Along with Laura Leonard I'm Paul Yeager.

Glad to have you here on this day, Laura.

Copy/paste.

Williamsburg/Assumption they are familiar with being here at the state tournament.

>> They are.

Eight of the last nine times Davenport Assumption has been in this championship game so they are looking to do better than the runner up finish from a year ago.

Williamsburg the only defending state champion to be in the field this year in the tournament, look to go defend.

They've got a lot of speed.

They've got a lot of experience, this is going to be a fun one.

>> The defending champs, Williamsburg, they're fantastic as well, but let's talk about Davenport Assumption.

In their nine trips they have never finished lower than third, winning four titles.

>> No, I mean, they are so good, it's just -- it's not a state tournament if they are not in it.

They have a good senior in the circle in Molly Roe and they have good power in the middle that have lineup in Nigey, Boynton, they knock the runs in.

>> And for Williamsburg they are six starters back from last year's team that won the title.

>> And talk about speed, that's a big part of their game, you can see that they have set a record this season, they've got three runners and three players that have accumulated 60% of their stolen bases.

Jersey Metz has been solid in the circle.

>> Let's bring in Mr. Tim Fitzpatrick, he will introduce the two players and coaches for the teams.

>> Softball fans, welcome to Rogers sports complex and this 3A championship game between the visiting team from Davenport, the Assumption Catholic Knights and the home team, the Williamsburg Raiders.

Now let's meet the players and coaches from both teams.

First of all, from the visitors, the Assumption Catholic Knights here are the nonstarters.

Number 1, Reese Graw.

Number 3, Allie Casel, number 6, Kasyn Kurtz.

Number 8, Emme Nigey.

Number 10, Brianna Biemann.

Number 11, Hadley Edwards.

Number 13, Lily Ohland.

Number 18, Shaine Timmons.

Number 32, Harper Miller.

And number 37, Laura Lippincott.

Your assistant coaches, Allie Timmons, Zach Murphy, Sydney Roe and Izzy Krogman.

And now here are your starters.

For the Knights from Assumption Catholic leading off, playing left field, number 12, Sophia Caudle.

Batting second doing the catching number 7, Charlotte Nigey.

Batting third at shortstop number 27, Marissa Boynton.

Cleanup hitting for the Knights, number 9, Kennedy Kane.

Batting fifth playing first base, number 15, Kathryn Snyder.

Batting sixth in right field number 16, Addie Williamson.

At second base number 20 Bella Stoffregen.

Number 8 doing the pitching number 17, Molly Roe.

Batting in the ninth position center fielder number 26, Madison Edwards.

And your flex player at third base, number 36, Lexi Pilgram.

Head coach for the Knights, Tyler Edwards.

Now let's meet the players and coaches from the home team.

For the Williamsburg Raiders, here are your nonstarters, Keston Spratt, number 1, number 4, Sloane Curtin.

Number 9, Clarissa Suhr.

Number 12, Kaylin Becker.

Number 15, Ava Hocker.

Number 16, Lilly Ness.

Number 20, Kiley Allen.

Number 21, Mya Simmons.

Number 22, Braylee Plotz.

Number 24, Makenna Capper.

Number 25, Abby Batey.

Number 27, Jordyn Skaggs.

Your assistant coaches, Jacob Holub, Carly Campbell and Gwen Mews.

And now here is your starting lineup for the Raiders of Williamsburg leading off playing center field number 13, Shannon Finn.

Batting second at shortstop number 3, Carly Rich, batting third at first base, number 8, Taylor Pitlick.

Cleanup hitter for the Raiders in left field number 6, alley Gorsh.

Batting fifth at second base, number 2, Taylor Sanchez.

Batting sixth doing the pitching, number 17, Jersey Metz.

Batting seventh the designated player number 7, Baylie Von Ahsen.

Batting eighth in right field number 5, Kalon Spratt, batting in the ninth position at third base, number 11, Makenna Hughes.

And your flex player doing the catching, number 14, Ashlynn Fuhrman.

Head coach for the Raiders, Adam C. Berte.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, turn your attention to the home plate area, the umpires for this championship game as assigned by the Iowa girls high school athletic union, at first base, Allan Hermsen, at third base Casey Conover and calling the balls and strikes this afternoon, Jeffrey Niehaus.

All right.

Who is ready to win a state championship?

[ Cheers and Applause ] >> We have our lineups.

We have our diamond.

We have our beautiful weather.

We have a championship atmosphere here, Laura.

This is always fun and here is a look at who is stepping out into the field for Williamsburg.

Their defense in the outfield, Gorsh, Finn and Spratt, Hughes, rich, Sanchez and Pitlick.

The battery of Metz and Fuhrman to do battle for Williamsburg.

And a look at the lineup now for Assumption's batting order, which let's look at the pitcher, too, here first, Jersey Metz, Laura, what does she bring?

>> She's got a lot of spin, she's going to hit locations.

She's got a little bit of speed to it and she moves it around and hits all quadrants.

>> 22-6 on the season with a 2.55 ERA.

The lineup she is going to face for the Assumption Knights which are 27-12, they've done it with a lineup here in the Mack, your leadoff hitter Caudle, Nigey, Boynton, Kane, Stoffregen, Roe and Edwards.

>> They are tough top to bottom.

No easy outs in that lineup.

>> 84 degrees.

If you know anything about the park, the wind is blowing out.

Maybe we will have some fun.

Here are your keys for the Knights.

>> The Knights have to come out hot.

They want to put some runs up right away and then it's all about defense, all coaches talk about defense, you've got to have good defensive execution.

You cannot give your opponent extra outs and extra opportunities.

If you go back to last year's game, Assumption got down in that ball game 4-0, was not able to come back.

They threatened a little bit, but they want to jump out right away and get that lead and kind of set the tone.

>> First pitch at 2:39 on the 26th of July, 2024.

And it is to Sophia Caudle, the left fielder.

And it was a ball.

The next pitch coming from Metz, a bunt is offered and it is a strike.

>> If you get a look, if we can get a look at the backside of Caudle, her pants, she's been on base so much and has stolen bases and stolen and ripped her pants on the backside, so she gets on, expect her to go.

>> And she slaps it past a diving Hughes and Rich and into left field it's a leadoff hit for the Knights.

>> So she's going to put those baseball pants, softball pants, to use here because she is getting the sliding glove on and they're going to try to get her in motion.

>> It will be the catcher, Charlotte Nigey now who checks her wrist and she bats.

On the season a .423 hitter, 31 driven in.

Great slugging percentage there, .558.

The first pitch from Metz is a strike.

>> Fuhrman is going to keep a close eye on Caudle over there at first.

>> Checks the call from Tyler Edwards down at the third baseline, and the pitch coming from Metz is high, off is Caudle and she is going to be in there for a stolen base.

Laura, you mentioned it even before we rolled today, look for a lot of stolen bases in this game.

>> Well, you have -- that's a great jump right there.

Right away you could tell she was rocking a little bit and she was ready to go and instead of using the backside of the pants, she went in head-first.

>> You know, that's less laundry to do when you start ripping the pants in the back.

Bunt is shown, changeup, running to third, the quick cover, in time!

Rich applies the tag and Fuhrman makes an outstanding play again.

Here is the replay.

>> You can see third base coming in, charging, and good job by Rich, getting over, just running with Caudle as she's trying to go second to third.

They show bunt to draw the corner in but they had the defense perfectly.

>> Now the 2-1, swung on and missed and a whole different set of thoughts going for Charlotte Nigey.

>> You have success on the first stolen base attempt, got a little greedy, I think, trying to go second to third early in the ball game, but you take your chances early in the game.

>> 2-2, punched into right, a base hit and it's going to get a diving stop by Spratt to prevent that from being an extra base hit and it's a one-out hit for Charlotte Nigey.

>> You go back to getting thrown out to third base, base hit to the right side of the field probably puts them on the board 1-0.

As you said, Spratt had to go down to the ground to keep it from going to the fence.

>> If he's at second let alone trying from third she scores on that play.

>> Absolutely.

Absolutely she does.

>> The runner is Allie Casel at first base on the courtesy runner.

>> Number 3 courtesy.

Number 3.

>> So Casel in for Nigey who gets the one-out hit in the first.

One out so far.

Metz winds and fires.

Ball.

Marissa Boynton, two-year starter.

Coach says she's got an excellent bat, can place it anywhere.

And to me I'm just trying to make contact.

These girls can put it wherever they want, that's even more impressive.

And that pitch misses inside.

>> And part of that is understanding scouting reports and looking at where the pitchers are throwing, what their best pitches R if they're always constantly working the outside part of the plate you're going to try to take the ball to the right side.

>> The 2-0, lifted in the air towards center, going back is Finn and then coming in three steps to make the grab for out number two.

And Casel will stay at first.

There's the play by Finn who, by the way, lawyer ration and I told -- Laura, and I told her this, Finn, she is on the all tournament team for fun interviews.

You want to talk about somebody with a lot to say.

>> A lot of energy and, yes, and not only does she have a lot to say, she's got just a very interesting life.

I mean, she's done a lot of different things, she's involved in a lot of different things.

So -- and we will talk about that as the game goes on, but certainly a fun person to speak with.

>> Kennedy Kane swings and misses, the throw down to second not in time and Casel is into second with a stolen base.

Kane, a freshman, which I will elaborate on in a moment.

The 1-1.

We talked about nine years in a row coming to state.

A lot of those teams early for Assumption, Laura, were veteran squads.

For Ron Ferrell's team you had to be a junior, senior, maybe a sophomore.

This team there are a couple of eighth graders and sophomores.

That pitch is fouled away out of play.

>> Sometimes you get gaps in your grades where you might not have that continuous group of players coming in as the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors.

>> And Tyler Edwards has coached these.

She's been with the freshman, sophomore team, he has daughters on the team.

Chopper past the pitcher for a moment, Metz was able to collect and get and make the out.

Interesting top half of the first, but nobody gets past second base.

We had a caught stealing and a great couple of defensive plays there.

There's Metz again to record the out.

And now Assumption will head out on defense and they will send these players, Caudle will be in left, Edwards, coach's daughter is in center, Addie Williamson in right, the infield is Pilgram, Boynton, Stoffregen, Snyder is at first, Molly Roe the pitcher and Charlotte anythingy the catcher.

Molly Roe, what do you like about her?

>> I like a lot of things about her, the ERA is just under 2, she strikes out a lot of hitters and is around the plate and she also, you know -- Davenport Assumption, rise ball pitchers have come up through the ranks, we have seen a lot of them and she has a pretty good rise ball.

>> Roe on the season 17 listen 7 with a 1.81 ERA, struck out 222.

This is the lineup she will be facing.

Finn, Rich, Pitlick, Gorsh, Sanchez, Metz, Von Ahsen, Spratt and Hughes.

Finn, she is someone who is in her 15th start here at the state tournament today.

That means you've played a lot of softball and that's youth that has turned into a veteran.

What are the keys for Williamsburg?

>> Let's run, Raiders, run.

We've talked about it since the first pitch, this is a team that will run whenever they get anybody on base and they're going to try to take advantage of that.

Then they need to be one step ahead and what that means is know where you're going with the ball on defense before the pitch comes.

Just figure out in your head, mentally know what you're going to do if the ball comes to you.

So you need to be one step ahead of the action.

>> I've still tried to get one step ahead of you for years and I have not been able to do it.

>> You're catching up.

>> I'm trying.

This is year 11, we've done this state tournament for ten years now on Iowa PBS statewide and free to all 99 counties, live action for a decade now from Harlan and Hazel Rogers.

The first pitch to Finn is a strike.

The senior from the left side looks at the next pitch and she hits it foul and out of play above the trees to our left.

>> She will be the table setter for this team and this is one of those players we've talked about in stolen bases, number eight in 3A, 22nd in the state overall.

>> Finn punches it hard to third, is out.

Hold on.

>> She's out.

>> She's out.

She hit the ball out of the batter's box says our home plate umpire Jeffrey Niehaus, says she was out of the box, so Finn is out.

Watch it again.

She hits it -- >> Right on the plate, had her foot right on the plate when she was trying to make that move towards the pitch.

>> Usually you see the slapper in the front of the box.

This was in the middle.

Carly Rich to bat.

>> That's a good catch by the umpires.

These umpires have been great all tournament long.

Logged a lot of games and now here in the championship game, but they are right on top of it.

>> Carly Rich with one out is now even with a ball and a strike.

>> Those are the little things in a ball game like this that -- it's not necessarily a mistake because that happens, that's just how you hit.

You are at the plate, you are one of those slap hitters.

Got that footwork out of synch a little bit and had the opportunity to get on base, but those are the little things that you kind of have got to shore up and tweak as this game goes on.

>> Fouled out of play.

Keep the count at two balls and two strikes.

To Carly Rich, the junior sophomore.

There's Adam C. Berte.

In the coaching box down there.

And that ball misses.

Coach Berte, that is someone that grew up very, very close to this complex, played high school baseball at Twin Rivers Valley and then he played at Iowa central where he went to college and that ball is fouled.

Look out, Mel.

>> You said he learned a lot of programs, in high school and then when I moved on to Iowa Central.

Said he kind of has taken a lot of things from his experience at Iowa Central and implemented them here as a coach.

One of the things we talked to him, what are some of the things that stuck with you from -- well, the mental aspect of the game.

He said he remembers one year coming back from winter break and the coach just gathered the baseball team together and said, okay, I've just decided that we're going to win a national championship this year.

He said none of the flares -- players really FRINCHD.

They said we are with you.

They didn't win a national championship but they set the expectations.

He said that's a big part of it, getting that mental focus from the players.

>> And he talked about -- as that first pitch to Tyler Pitlick is a strike -- Pitlick playing first today and a junior.

Bats here and it's going to get down in front of Edwards for a base hit.

Coach says she is due.

She gets a one-out hit here in the bottom of the first.

>> Does such a good job of getting the barrel to the bat.

Just adjusted the hands, brought them in a little bit and dumped it in to center field.

>> So Rich goes down to second, Pitlick to first, and that will bring in alley Gorsh.

Another junior on this squad.

The pitch from Roe is low.

Nigey keeps that off the dirt.

Gorsh is a .393 hitter, a couple of home runs.

A lot of runs, a lot of stolen bases.

The 1-0 hit to left.

Rounding third is Carly Rich, the throw comes way off the line, bounces around like a pinball behind plate, nobody else is going to score.

Rich does, Pitlick to third, Gorsh to second with a one-out hit to get our game's first run.

>> Execution, good base running.

Coach Berte sending Rich the entire way, almost overslid the home plate there as that throw came in and it sailed a little bit, almost had a second run come across.

>> Gorsh, what a bomb right there.

Bullet hit down the -- right between -- perfectly between third and short.

And that is a single and then she advanced to second on the throw.

So Taylor Sanchez, talk about reloading, the freshman batting .344, three home runs, ten doubles.

I love a good doubles hitter, don't you?

>> If you can hit it into the gaps and you're reliable and you hit it on the screws all the time, those are the kind of hitters.

And she did.

>> Just like that, Laura, it's going -- going to be cut off by Caudle and two runs are going to score on a two-run RBI double -- or single for Taylor Sanchez.

3-0 Williamsburg.

>> Right away the ball gets into the outfield.

They just concede that third run as it gets out in between center and left and Caudle comes up with it and just goes right to second base to keep Sanchez over there at first.

>> Pitlick and Gorsh score and out to the circle, that's Allie Timmons, one of the assistant coaches.

If we look back in our score books, Laura, we've seen Allie Timmons in the circle for Assumption before.

>> We've seen a lot of Timmons in the circle for Davenport Assumption.

Nice to have somebody like alley out there working with these pitchers and knowing the tradition of his program and what it's like to be in this game and just a quick time-out, let's huddle, let's relax.

Okay.

Let's hold them at three right now.

Let's get outs, hold them at three runs, don't let them get any further away from us.

>> I think we should mic up -- we should mic up one of the Timmons, whether it's mom or one of the sisters.

I think they all give us a lot of entertainment there.

First pitch to Jersey Metz the pitcher who comes up to bat at the bottom of the first on top 3-0.

She is a .276 hitter a couple home runs and a good slugging percentage of .416.

The pitch is hit in the air, drifting right in front of the fence.

Not able to track it down is Snyder.

But Metz is now down 0-2 this at-bat.

>> After the little conference in the circle, Roe doing a good job of getting ahead in the count.

>> That's hit to right and it might drop, and it does.

A little blooper, into second is Sanchez, ahead of the throw Metz with a one-out hit for Williamsburg.

And the hits keep coming.

Here is that one again, just right in front of Williamson and Stoffregen.

>> Sanchez had a little trouble as she started her slide a little too early and a little slow to get up.

I've seen that a couple of times in games in the semis and here today that the runners when they're sliding they aren't getting a whole lot of slide on this dirt.

>> Coming in to be the courtesy runner is Ava Hocker and she scored one of the key runs in the semifinal game and she is fast.

>> Really fast.

I watched a little bit of this game from a year ago.

Still had it saved.

So I went back and watched it and she came in and I can't remember what inning it was, but she was brought in to run at second base and there was a base hit and I swear to goodness she was at home plate before that ball hit in the outfield.

She is so fast and turns corners and hits those corners when she is rounding the bases.

>> Baylie Von Ahsen is the batting right now, it's one ball and one strike.

If you want to watch any of the past games you can relive the excitement, visit IowaPBS.org for or dives of the championship games, watch them anytime online.

The 1-1 pitch is hit in the air foul and out of play.

Laura, normally in the postgame interviews during the quarters and semi-finals when a coach and two or three players come over to the media tent they don't normally bring a courtesy runner to the tent but they did on Wednesday with Hocker.

I think she was like we're doing what?

I'm not sure why I'm here.

Because you're fast.

>> But she makes things happen.

She said I know my role, I know what I'm supposed to do when I get into a ball game.

Her other role on the team is to be the instigator in the dugout, to get her team up and yelling and leading the cheers and she says when it's time for me to go in and run, I go in and run.

>> She scored two runs in last year's championship game as a courtesy runner.

No stranger to the stage here as the count goes full to Von Ahsen 3-2.

Already three runners in, two on the bases with Sanchez and Hocker and that pitch is fouled back straight behind the plate.

Nigey will pick it up, take a couple minutes to collect and throw it back to Roe and we will do it all over again.

>> The Raiders have certainly come on.

I said Assumption needed to have the quick start.

They didn't get that, but Williamsburg has certainly turned the tables on them and jumped out and drawn a line in the dirt and said, all right, here is what we have.

Now we're loaded up.

This could be a huge inning for them.

>> Kalon Spratt to bat, the eighth raider to come to bat here and she's on with bases loaded and one out.

First pitch strike.

>> And a good look at them there, they're playing in a few extra steps because they have to come home and shut down that runner if they get that ground ball.

>> That pitch is low to even it up.

There's a look at Spratt.

.283 on the season, but four home runs and a good slugging percentage.

Because I'm guessing she has a lot of times this season come up in a situation like this with a lot of runners on base and that pitch gets away from Nigey, out of the batter's box and she will grab it back, not far enough for Sanchez to score from a third.

Now it's a hitter's count again, two balls and a strike.

>> The look on Roe's face, she's kind of tight right now.

I know she is in a tough situation.

Needs to relax and just go after these hitters and that's -- she hit her, I guess.

>> Up on the hands.

>> She did go after the hitter.

>> She did really go after -- >> Didn't mean to.

>> Tyler Edwards is going to come out and have a quick conversation.

>> Got her on the hands.

That was inside.

As she was trying to check the swing got her right on both gloved hands.

>> Seven consecutive batters have reached now for Williamsburg.

The only out recorded was on Shannon Finn when she stepped on home plate.

Guess who is on deck, Laura, Shannon Finn, but at the plate first is Makenna Hughes.

.377 on the season, 37 runs, but she is like a leadoff hitter with those high number of stolen bases, 37 on the season.

How many times have we seen -- we will see it a couple of times today, Laura, the nine place hitter might be the second or third best hitter on the team, kind of that second leadoff.

>> You flip the lineup over, get it back to the top of the order, then you have two really good base runners back to back.

>> And she hits it to right, makes this look great.

That's going to bounce and roll Williamson is going to throw.

Hocker and Von Ahsen scores, another run, put five on the board for the Raiders.

>> They are finding all the Going with the pitches, putting the pressure on this Assumption team and they have earned it.

They are all solid base hits that they are putting out there.

There have not been any errors, there have not been any defensive mistakes, they have all been solid base hits.

>> And we are going to have a little bit of a change.

I think we're going to have a new pitcher.

Taylor Edwards has seen nine batters come in and we are going to have the new pitcher coming in.

Into the field to play, Kane is the DP, will enter the game and then now pitching -- oh, we're going to keep -- we're going to keep Roe, we're just making a swap with the DP and the pitcher -- or the DP is going in to play.

Got it.

All right.

It's now 6-0 Williamsburg and it's top of the order for Finn.

The tenth batter of the inning.

Infield drawn in.

Stoffregen is -- she might as well be in the hip pocket of Roe.

>> She's right there.

They're doing that because of the left-handed hitter up there.

This is their defensive adjustment.

>> That's a strike.

>> Boynton shaded over a little more towards third base.

Wide open up the middle as Stoffregen is right there.

>> And, again -- again, I think Finn stepped on the plate.

She stepped on the plate for the second time this inning.

Finn is out.

>> We will get a good look at it here.

Right there.

Just reaching out to try to get that ball on the outer part of the plate, came across and stepped right on it.

Same thing she did in her first at-bat.

>> Now two outs for Carly Rich.

She started this mess with a walk.

Pitch from Nigey is a ball.

Rich scored the game's first run, driven in by Gorsh.

Way back in the earlier part of the inning.

>> Pretty sure they got Pilgram out of the ball game, playing and starting at third, they're going to try to get her warmed up.

>> Yeah, Pilgram is a sophomore and she's third on pitching.

Williamson also is an option when you look and just I think Pilgram is the lower ERA.

So we might see her soon.

That pitch is low and it could be after this batter, if Rich is able to draw a walk.

>> You've got to be warming up in a hurry.

Probably an abbreviated bullpen session to get loose.

>> The 3-1 coming from Roe is chopped foul and that will even the count.

Now Molly Roe is a pitch from getting out of this.

Spratt at third, Hughes at second.

There is a look at the warm up bullpen.

That's exactly right, Pilgram getting her arm loose.

The 3-2.

Is a called third strike!

And Rich is down for the third out.

It's the first strikeout of the inning, but not before 11 Williamsburg Raiders come to the plate.

They lead 6-0.

There's the caught third strike.

You could hear from the dugout we've scored six before as coach Timmons really kind of let them have it right there.

Just trying to keep everybody hyped.

Here is how everybody made it to the state tournament, 3A Williamsburg and WALLARD won on Monday night, Bentonville and Assumption, and Williamsburg and Assumption both qualified.

That Assumption central game.

WAHLERT won on a walk off Monday night.

They qualified both softball and baseball state.

They knocked off Benton 7-1 in the final.

Last year that was a quarter final game and we were close to having that as a final game for a while yesterday because Williamsburg had to come from behind or at least it was even and Assumption was neck in neck this whole game.

Anything can happen.

That's why they play the games, Laura.

>> Well, we saw yesterday in the 5A and the 4 A, anything can happen.

Some wild games yesterday.

Come backs and home runs and a lot of runs put up in those two games.

So so far we've got a lot of runs put up by one team.

See if Assumption can answer.

And Assumption will come to bat here down 6-0 in the second.

Kathryn Snyder playing first, a .322 hitter.

That was a lot going on in that first inning.

>> That was.

>> So much for us easing into things, right?

>> Jump right into it.

Mentioned Snyder being a first baseman.

Was really a catcher and shortstop before this year.

They moved her over to the first base bag and has done an excellent job over there defensively.

>> And now Metz is behind 2-0.

About one of the worst case scenarios for Williamsburg would be to walk the lead-off hitter right after you scored six runs.

That pitch misses and we're a pitch away from doing that.

Snyder now goes 3-0.

And she's one of those that's also pretty quick, second on the team in stolen bases so you can imagine she's going to -- let's go back to the top of the first.

Assumption put runners on.

They have two hits already.

A couple of stolen bases.

Let's see what Snyder does as she gets the walk.

>> Good, patient, disciplined at-bat for Snyder.

It's what they need to do.

They need to get some base runners.

You don't need to get all six back right now.

You need to maybe get one or two here in this inning and see if you can start climbing back into it.

>> The pitch from Metz is a ball.

She's now thrown five straight balls.

>> Metz has been down in the zone with all of those pitches.

It seems like she's maybe having a little trouble getting a good grip, getting the good feel of what she wants out of the circle.

>> That pitch is a strike and the throw down to second as Snyder is in there safely, ball rolls into center field, Finn throws it back in, but that's the second stolen base of the game.

For the Knights as you see Snyder now at second base.

Metz on the season, she's -- well, not on the season, on the tournament she's walked six, she walked five eagles in the semi-finals, one Mustang from prairie city Monroe on Monday.

That pitch was great, the bottom fell out of T swinging through it is Williamson.

>> Good gap to gap hitter.

>> Another one down the middle.

Good pitch.

And that one is fouled away.

And a combo catch made in the stands.

For Williamson, has some power to the gaps.

On the 1-2, comes back inside and misses.

>> And Williamson right now you've got that runner at second, you want to try to get her moved over to third so you are looking to go to the right side of the field if you can.

>> The pitch is hit to the left side and that's going to get down all the way to the wall.

Finn and Gorsh grab it, Gorsh is going to throw it into short and it's an RBI double.

Snyder scores on the Williamson two-bagger.

>> Or you don't listen to me at all and you drive it into the gap.

There's that gap to gap power that she has.

She got a pitch that she could drive and just one hops the fence.

>> Did you watch any of those title games last night, Laura?

>> I did.

>> Game one, 14-11.

>> Well, here we go.

>> I'm going to stretch a little bit.

We might be here a while at this rate.

Run scores, and we've only played one full inning and two-thirds.

No, no thirds.

It's still nobody out.

For Bella Stoffregen.

>> She really worked hard in the off-season to improve that batting average.

Did a lot of work in the cage and has upped that average almost 100 points.

>> Third year that she's played second base so that means she's played at state for three years.

Good offspeed pitch is a called strike.

>> That may be the first time that we've seen that offspeed pitch from Metz and that was a good one.

Now you've got to start thinking about how she's going to incorporate that into what she's shown you so far.

>> The 1-2 is swung through and missed.

And Bella is down on strikes.

First strikeout of the game for Jersey Metz.

One away.

>> Here is coach Berte, you can hear him calling out some signs.

Now, last night they took a foul ball, it was about six inches there and hit our light.

That almost hit the camera.

Don't worry, Kevin, it's fine.

The camera is fine.

>> The netting has held up very well so far.

I don't flinch as much as I used to.

>> Molly Roe the pitcher, she's going to go to rock valley Community College in Rockford, Illinois, bats now.

And she's down 0-2.

>> Chance for her to get her team another run with that runner out at second base, a chance for her to get herself back into this ball game, get that confidence level back up.

>> The 1-1 is hit hard to the left center gap, and it's going to go all the way to the wall and we're going to have back to back doubles.

Here is the throw, tag is on the money!

Out at second base is Molly Roe.

Finn fires a missile back to Sanchez for the out!

>> Played it perfectly off of the fence.

The one hop, gets it and turns immediately as the run comes across and as Roe rounds first base, I think she got a little wide on that turn out of first base and just could not get lined up to make that straight line down to second.

What a great throw, right on the bag, right where you want to make the tag.

>> Two away for Madison Edwards.

She bats here in the top of the second.

Her team down 6-2, she hits it up the middle, Rich gloves, throws across to Pitlick and it's a ground ball out.

Not before Assumption pushes two across to eat into this lead.

So we have ourselves developing an interesting contest here in Class 3A.

As we see Williamsburg in their all black uniforms with red numbers trimmed in white, Assumption in all black uniforms with white numbers.

I think we are going to get that pitching change.

It looks like Lexi -- >> They're changing cards out there, I know that.

>> They're changing cards, that's what they're doing.

And it looks like they're going to send Roe back out.

Look at of course who is giving her the pep talk.

>> Allie Timmons.

>> And we will see Roe head back out there to the circle.

We had Pilgram warm up and let's see what Roe will do here now as we take a look at Roe in the circle.

>> A little bit more compact coming off that rubber, gets the good extension and you see the whip and the flick of the wrist as she tries to get that ball to spin.

Now she's got that first inning behind her, got a couple runs now, back on the board and so a chance for her to kind of do a little mental reset and think about how she's going to approach this lineup that really teed off on her in that first inning.

So now it's an opportunity for her to shut them down from here on out and allow her team, then, to continue to try to put runs on the board.

>> Pitlick, Gorsh and Sanchez due up for Williamsburg who put six on the board in the first.

They lead 6-2.

Pitlick had a single.

In that inning eight Raiders reached base in a row.

Pitlick on the season a .362 hitter.

Had a couple of hits including a double in the quarter final game.

A ball and a strike coming for Molly Roe.

High.

>> I think Roe just needs to kind of settle in and start getting in that groove.

She's missing a little high, a little low.

Has to start finding those zones and get it within where the umpire is going to call it a strike.

She's still -- she's battling herself right now and just needs to relax.

We saw it, coach Timmons was trying to tell her that, exactly that, go out and throw.

You've gotten us to this point.

Just dig deep and get into a groove.

>> That pitch is hit towards second.

Stoffregen picks it up on two bounces and throws over to Snyder for out number one.

Williamsburg had one out on one batter the last inning, let's see if it's a different scenario with alley Gorsh now up.

And alley Gorsh, blame her for all the BLITer and all the hair design on this Williamsburg team.

She is the hair designer as one of her teammates called t yeah, yeah, we are a bunch of glitter bombs.

Gorsh fouls the first pitch back.

>> Yeah, I think is that Finn that said that?

She said I think you may see us via satellite up in the sky we have so much glitter in our hair.

>> Same with Roe.

Both of these teams know where the glitter aisle is in the store.

The 0-1 is high to Gorsh.

Williamsburg was back here on Monday playing that first game -- or that first day of the tournament.

Chopper in the hole, hard play for Boynton and it's going to go into left field for a one-out hit for Alley Gorsh.

Similar start in this inning, the first out and then a base hit.

Good effort by Boynton at shortstop to try to get a glove on T would have been a tough throw across her body to try to get the out.

>> Taylor Sanchez to bat with one on and one out.

That pitch is high.

Sanchez had a two RBI single back in the first.

That pitch is high, so it looks like Roe is not too crazy about getting her anything to hit again.

If you do that for this whole lineup you are going to be in trouble.

You have to go after them.

>> You have to trust the defense you, too.

Now, they've been hitting solid hits and you've got to give the defense a little credit, say, okay, I know they're back there backing me up.

Allow them to do their job.

And if you end up putting Sanchez on, now, again, it puts pressure back on everybody.

>> That pitch is a strike.

3-1 now from Roe to Sanchez.

Whose defense sealed the semifinal game, made a diving catch there at second and she fouls that one out of play.

We've seen some good web gems here, too, by the way.

>> That one that Sanchez had, if that one drops that ball game is tied up.

You're going to extras.

That was one heck of a play to end the ball game.

>> Pitch is skied on the infield, drifting in foul territory and they're going to say it's the out and they're going to say it's on the transfer.

Nigey was trying to -- hold on here.

>> Did she transfer that or not?

She had control of it on the transfer, then, correct?

Yes, batter is out.

Batter is out.

>> Just a confirmation there.

Jeffrey Niehaus and Allan Hermsen combined.

She had the catch, took two steps, was clearly trying to take it out of her glove and checked that runner.

So Gorsh will stay at first.

Two away for Jersey Metz.

Pitch is low.

>> And that's thinking one step ahead, trying -- okay, if I catch that now, what am I going to do with it?

And she was thinking, hey, if Gorsh is gone too far off of first base, I might be able to double her up.

>> And the throw down to second on the caught stealing, Nigey makes the last two plays.

Catches the runner.

Great throw down to second base.

>> That really was because that was from her knees.

>> All right.

Laura, if you are feeling -- if you are Assumption, are you feeling like we've got two runs, we've made a couple of defensive plays, we're in this, right?

>> I would feel that way if I were in that dugout, I would be thinking, okay, we've weathered that storm, we've weathered the barrage of hits and runs, we've got a couple back, now we're picking it up defensively, we've cut down the running game, now we've got another opportunity at the plate, see if we can push another one across here.

>> Let's see Jersey Metz now as she throws her warm up pitches.

See how she looks in slow motion.

>> She also gets good extension and look at her turn the wrist over to get that spin.

And then she's in good position as we saw her do early in this ball game in position to be that extra fielder right up the middle.

>> Top of the order due up for Assumption.

As we go to the third from Fort Dodge.

6-2 in the Class 3A state championship game on Friday afternoon.

And Sophia Caudle, reached on a hit and then she was caught stealing.

Slaps it -- or bunts t it's fielded by second, throw to first, safe.

Sanchez to Pitlick, just not in time, because usually that lead off spot, Laura, Caudle confirms how fast she is.

>> Just ran up on it perfectly and look how quick she got down there, just a half step ahead of the throw and now they are in business.

Those are the things that you like, your lead-off hitter to do, is speed now on the base.

>> Assumption put the lead off runner in the last inning and scored two.

Let's see if they can do it again this inning.

As it's Charlotte Nigey who caught a tough pop fly or pop up and then had the caught stealing from her catcher's position.

But as Pete rose says, once you put the glove down you have to pick the bat up, you can't do one and pack the other.

Good change-up, the throw to second is not in time and Caudle is there with the stolen base.

>> That's two for Caudle.

Going to the outside part of the bag as she slides in head-first.

>> Last year at the state tournament Nigey hit her first home run of her career here at the tournament, but now coach Tyler Edwards is going out to second.

Just checking on his runner.

>> Maybe a little bit of an awkward slide.

As I said, I think it's really tough for these players to slide into second.

It seems like there's a little friction down there.

There's not a lot of loose dirt for them to get that glide to be able to slide into second so they're getting stuck.

>> Humidity is a little high today, and that one is hit hard to right, drifting back, back, back, making the catch is Spratt.

Moving up to third on the sac -- on the fly ball is Caudle.

So Nigey gets the job done in moving the runner up on the fly ball.

>> Initially when that left the bat I thought it was ticketed to go out of right field, but I think, you're right, I think it's a little heavier air here this afternoon that balls aren't flying as much as they have been all week long.

>> Marissa Boynton, the third place hit tore bat with one out.

Hits it hard to center, Finn drifting over towards right, makes the catch, the throw into the plate not in time off the line, up the line about 8 feet.

If it's online that's a heck of a bang-bang opportunity there.

>> Very close if it is online, and they just manufactured a run right there.

You get the lead off, speed on the base, and here is the throw, just up the line.

So the throw got in quickly.

>> It would have been close.

>> Yeah, you're right, it would have been very close.

But how about them manufacturing to get another run on the board.

>> And batting now is Kennedy Kane who grounded out.

Kane trying to start a two-out rally.

6-3, ground ball to third, Hughes, gloves, throws to Pitlick to end the inning.

Not before Assumption ticks closer.

They put another Talley on the board and they cut it to a 6-3 lead.

>> Okay.

Answer back.

Answer back.

Extend.

Let's go.

>> You hear coach Berte, answer back.

Because if you are Williamsburg right now you cannot just live on the fact you have six.

>> You can't settle on that.

I think we saw that last night in the 5A game.

You know, you get up with that big lead and then the other team starts coming back and chipping away.

So you can't be satisfied with that 6.

You know that you have been able to put those runs up, you had that big rally in the first, trying to get that same kind of feeling to go to the plate again, see if you can put a few more runs back and get a little more separation.

>> There is a look at the sports complex.

We already had one consolation game going on on the other diamond as you're looking down the right field side.

So there's our area.

I was looking back at some pictures in 2014, Laura, when we started.

That center set of bleachers and press box, that wasn't here when we started.

Things have changed a little bit in Fort Dodge.

>> They have done such a fantastic job of just adding -- continuing to add and build this complex and it is the perfect place to hold this softball tournament.

>> Have the double diamonds, they have the -- with great stands, warm up fields, consolation fields.

Hi, we are on cam ration everybody.

We are down here below in the shade, for now.

Sun has not been out a lot during the day, it's been more in the evening when the sun has come out this week.

A lot of hazy.

First pitch to Kathryn Snyder -- or, no -- >> Isn't that the moon, though, that comes out at night?

>> Is that what that is?

Jersey Metz here, first pitch 0-1.

Yes, the moon comes out.

We've actually seen the sunset.

>> Correct.

>> It's been cloudy, hazy mostly.

We had an 82-minute rain delay on Wednesday, lightning and rain.

Last night was the long games and the finals, but otherwise we've run a pretty much clock work tournament.

>> A lot of times we've been up here it's been sweltering hot.

A lot of humidity, a lot of heat, but this has been a perfect week.

>> Popped up for Boynton, she camps under it.

I think she had time to make a pot of coffee when she was up in the air and that's one away.

Metz is down on the fly out and that will bring in Baylie Von Ahsen.

Von Ahsen walked back in that six-run first, since then, last inning, Williamsburg in the score book went one, two, three.

They did have a hit but it was erased on a caught stealing.

And the first pitch to Von Ahsen is off the plate.

>> And the last two batters have been out by a fly ball.

So fly out to catcher and a fly out to short.

So maybe that rise ball is starting to hop a little bit for Roe.

>> That one is punched hard to center, going back and making an over the shoulder grab is Madison Edwards.

Holy cow!

What a play!

>> Those are tough to read as a center fielder.

That one was hit right at her, right on a line, and it was moving.

>> Back, back, boom.

>> She stayed right with t got the glove up, timed it perfectly.

>> Great camera work there to grab that one.

Nice work, crew.

And that's a first pitch strike to Kalon Spratt who was hit by a pitch which drove in a run.

That pitch misses to Spratt.

In the bottom of the fifth Spratt hit a home run in the semifinal game, an absolute moon shot.

Spratt is your eighth place hitter.

Spratt the vocal leader of this squad, which likes to cheer, dance.

The 2-1.

And tell jokes.

>> They like to have a practice where they all get together and they each have a cheer for every player on the team and they like to tell jokes, we will talk about that maybe a little later.

>> 3-1, is a strike.

>> I believe her cheer -- I said what's the cheer for you and hers is cowgirl, yee-haw.

They have to use the whole practice to be able to come up with cheers for every single player.

>> And yee-haws it into right field.

That's a base hit for Spratt.

Two-out knock.

>> Right out of the -- or over the outstretched glove of Stoffregen.

>> That will be Makenna Hughes now at the plate.

First pitch popped in there from Roe.

Roe gave up five runs against ELC and seven runs against Benton.

She's given up six here in this ball game.

Her ERA coming into the tournament was a very good 1.81.

And that's going to be a base hit to left for Hughes.

And that will send Spratt to second and now Williamsburg flips the lineup on two -- or on back to back hits for the Raiders.

>> Two outs, now trying to start a little bit of a two-out rally.

You have Finn up there who has been called out twice for stepping out of the box.

Know that has to probably be in the back of her mind.

She's going to try to keep that footwork in the box.

So she doesn't reach out and try to -- or make contact with the ball when she is stepping out.

>> Finn is going to continue her career at Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids.

The 0-1 is punched foul and out of play.

She leads the team in hits, runs, stolen base.

She's also one of the ones that likes the glitter.

>> She's got career records in stolen bases and hits and runs.

>> The 0-2 is off the plate.

She just wants to get on base and not be called out before she gets a chance to run to base.

Called out both times in her at-bats today.

>> That one is hit in the air and off the glove of Edwards, that will fall to the ground and two more Raiders are going to score.

Throw back to second, a little run down, the throw to third in time and out is Spratt who was trying to stretch a double into a triple.

Two runs do count, though.

It now makes the lead 8-3 as we see this again.

And the throw on the arm right as the finger of Finn touches the bag.

So she's out.

>> But does her job.

I think there was some confusion in the outfield between Caudle and Edwards.

They were both looking at one another.

Usually center fielder is the one that's the vocal leader and takes charge out there.

Just I don't think they communicated and let that ball drop.

>> They are going to rule that a double.

Okay.

I was going to put that -- I was maybe thinking that was an error.

Goes off of her glove.

But then the base running out.

Okay.

>> Well, Williamsburg did what they wanted to do, get some of those runs back.

As the Knights were kind of starting to take momentum slowly back into their dugout as they've scored the last couple of innings.

Williamsburg with the two-out rally gets a couple more.

>> 8-3 now as we go to the fourth.

And Jersey Metz with another couple of runs to work with.

Snyder, Williamson and Stoffregen due up for Assumption in this inning.

The first pitch from Metz is a ball.

There's a look at Tyler Edwards, second year head coach, he was an assistant under Ron Ferrell.

A catcher at St. Ambrose university which is just down Locust Street, well, St. Ambrose is on Locust in Davenport.

Nice pitch by Metz.

He had a lot of work you mentioned, Laura, about he was working in the feeder program.

He's known these eighth graders and freshmen for a long time.

Full-time banker, also a school board president.

He says the traditions and the technicals are the same, there's just some other changes from what Coach Ferrell had done to what he is doing but it's the same.

The recipe seems to be working.

>> I think every coach wants to have their fingerprints in one way or another when they take over a program and if you have and are taking over a program that has great tradition like they do, you don't want to change a ton, but you want to kind of tweak some things and do some things that you would like to do and you would like to bring to the program.

He said, you know, the girls have kind of had to adjust to me, I have had to adjust a little bit more to them and we've come together.

And, again, back in the state title game.

>> Coach Adam Berte to make a trip out to the circle here on the lead off walk.

>> Okay.

I will get you the defense call when we get in there, okay?

We need to pound the zone, okay?

Attack.

Let them hit it to us, we will make the plays.

Okay.

Let's go.

Let's go.

>> He said you have to attack the zone.

Let them hit T let the defense do what they're supposed to do.

It's just that simple.

Don't be too fine with your pitches.

Don't try to get too cute.

Go after these hitters.

>> I was going to say don't be cute.

Good job.

Good term.

>> How long have we worked together?

>> I know.

Have you had -- have I taken all the words today?

I haven't taken them all so far?

>> No, you have done really well, given me a few opportunities to talk.

>> New year, new Paul.

>> Well, Assumption has stolen some bases and Snyder is second on the team in stolen bases so don't be surprised if she might not take off here.

>> Addie Williamson had a double in her last at-bat, she's down 0-1 in her at-bat, the throw to second and good stop there by Sanchez.

Great call, Laura, on the steal.

So now that is the fifth stolen base of the game for Assumption.

Was that on the jump?

Or was that just speed that make that?

>> I think she got a good jump and I think all these runners have a tendency -- that's a great pitch a great offspeed pitch -- to slide to the outside part of the bag and try to grab that corner and that's exactly what she did.

Fuhrman has had the ball sail on her a little bit when she's thrown down to second.

>> Another pit.

That one just blew it on past and Williamson is out on strikes.

That's the second strikeout of the game for Jersey Metz.

One away.

>> And Metz just dug down deep, threw an offspeed pitch and then came back with a lot of heat.

>> So Stoffregen will come in playing second.

Struck out in her last at-bat.

Bats here in the fourth 8-3.

A little different look on that almost change-up, but just not nearly as slow.

As the change-up thrown to Williamson.

>> She can mix knows speeds.

>> And comes back.

Fuhrman had set up outside and that thing kind of backed up over the plate a little bit.

But it's same result, another strike.

0-2.

That one is hit hard to center, but Finn is there.

Throw back to second to double her up, not in time.

Stoffregen cannot move the runner up and it's the second out of the inning.

Snyder will stay at second and that will make way for Molly Roe.

>> Defense was perfectly set, not playing too deep.

Finn gets in and tries to get the double up over there at second.

Snyder gets back in.

Just ahead of that throw.

>> Offspeed that one just drops off the table.

Swing and a miss.

Metz seems to be after that conversation, yeah, she gave up the hit, but -- or a couple of well hits, but she's been a little better here these last two batters.

1-2, swing and a miss.

Now 0-2.

>> Twice they've gone offspeed with her.

Now you've got -- you've got a hitter that's kind of scratching their head and going, man, she's not going to come three times offspeed.

>> She doesn't.

Goes with the rise ball and fouled it back.

>> But that's the game.

That's what you try to figure out as a hitter and as a pitcher and catcher you call the game accordingly to what you think it might be, how you can keep that hitter off balance.

>> The 0-2 is popped up, playable on foul territory, the catcher, Fuhrman, that thing kept spinning on her, she had her glove and then she dropped it at the last minute to try to make it more of a basket catch.

I'm sorry, Laura, anything in foul territory to me is tough.

>> You can see her coming back and just short armed it a little bit as it was spinning back.

Thought she had it in her glove.

That's a tough one as she had to back pedal on it a little bit.

>> We will do it again 0-2.

Swing and a miss!

Third strikeout, second of the inning!

Third of the game!

Third out of the inning.

Assumption leaves a runner here but does not score and it remains a five-run lead as we look at that strikeout again.

>> Again, goes offspeed, away, down the outside part of the plate.

>> Tyler Edwards is joining us now.

Coach, six spot you give up but your girls came back, what does that say about them?

>> We had trouble settling in in that first inning but they are not going to give up.

We're used to it and we're going to keep fighting and do what it takes to win.

>> Molly Roe looks like she's settled back in, been able to hit her spots more.

What did you hear coach Timmons tell her?

>> She's great at going out there and settling her down.

She just talked about remember your mechanics, what we need to do and the game plan and execute that game plan.

>> You're hitting the ball well when you do get a chance.

WR you saying about your hitters?

>> Yeah, they've come a long way, they're going to keep fighting and let's make something happen here.

>> Coach, thank you so much.

>> Thank you.

>> Tyler Edwards in his second year.

When I told him he got to do the interview last year in the game he kind of -- I think he was both excited and nervous.

>> It's something that's not in the normal routine of every game, you don't always get micced up and you don't always have to stop in between each inning and get an interview.

It's something new for him and a new head coach.

A lot of these guys that have been here and gals that have been here, oh, you're going to mic us up again, yeah, we know we're going to have to do an interview.

First time is a little nerve-racking and he did a great job.

A veteran right there, did a good job.

>> There is a look in the dugout which is in the full sun right now as we make our way towards 4:00 on this Friday afternoon.

First pitch is gloved by Pilgram, across the diamond for an out to Snyder.

Lead-off hitter Carly Rich is out to start the fourth.

>> Good job defensively covering the ground.

You want to get that first out but we saw Williamsburg have a two-out rally so start knocking them down and getting those outs and have a clean inning and get back up to the plate.

>> Taylor Pitlick bats for the third time in the game.

A single and a ground out.

That pitch is hit right to right field, gets past Williamson to the fence, Pitlick in with a double with one out here in the fourth.

Pitlick, one thing coach says about her, she finds a way to barrel up.

She did just that right there, you could hear it off the bat.

>> It just sounded hard coming off the barrel of the bat.

Again, I kid you not, I think there's something over there at second that is -- when the runners go to slide they're sticking, they're getting stuck in mud.

>> You can see the infield.

They did a nice job of knocking down all the dust, but normally, as the first pitch to Gorsh is off the plate, normally we're, you know, more than an hour into the game, by this time we -- the field looks lighter, it dries out.

It hasn't dried out like it normally does.

So, yeah, I think the moisture is a factor.

>> And I think the other need we saw as runners were rounding third base there was a little issue over there as they were rounding third and would have maybe a little stumble or get stuck or slip over there.

They do have it in great shape, but I do think the conditions of the day have not allowed this diamond to dry out.

>> Good old Iowa weather is inconsistent.

That's the only consistent thing.

Two balls and no strikes to Alley Gorsh, the left fielder.

That pitch is a called strike.

Gorsh really can play anywhere.

Coach has had her all sort of places.

A multisport athlete, basketball and track.

Usually when you can play multiple sports you can play multiple positions as that pitch is again a strike from Roe.

>> She's been in left and center, first base, has caught a little bit this year, also pitched a little bit.

So they said she could play second or third.

So she can play pretty much any position, just say give her the glove, the correct glove and go out and play.

>> I'm where?

Oh, okay.

>> And they want her bat in the lineup, too.

>> She skies it to center and that's in a tough spot and it's going to get down.

Stoffregen made a run, the throw to third is not in time.

Hustling down to second is Gorsh on the throw so that will be a single and an advance.

Pitlick had to wait for that thing to land which was between Edwards, Stoffregen and I don't know if Boynton made back a run there.

Yeah, Bella had no chance.

That was a tough, tough play.

Edwards wouldn't have been able to come in.

And the throw, good hustle.

>> The throw was there, just slid underneath the tag.

Got the feet in before -- the throw was a little bit high, trying to bring down that glove and try to slap the tag on, but the feet got in underneath.

>> That will make way for Taylor Sanchez.

First pitch strike.

Sanchez had two RBI back in the first.

Flied out in the second.

Bats here in the fourth.

8-3 Williamsburg.

The team in black and red with a little bit of white.

They say Raiders on the front.

>> And a little glitter.

>> A little?

I think a lot.

>> A lot of glitter.

>> Well hit to center.

Back goes Edwards.

She is not going to get it.

That is a three-run home run!

For Taylor Sanchez!

>> We had a direct line on that ball when it came off of her bat, it sounded great, and it was just a missile to dead center field.

>> Edwards tried and just not enough.

I was, honest to goodness, about to say, Laura, what one thing coach Berte said about Sanchez before the tournament, said she is warming up.

I think she's scorching hot now with five RBIs on the game.

>> Said she had been hot coming into the state tournament.

She has continued to simmer and now she's bubbling.

She is hot.

>> Three-run Homer, five RBIs for Sanchez, making a case to be on the all tournament team with just her performance right here.

Sanchez in the quarter final had a home run so she has two home runs.

If you had a home run in one of the first two games and hit one in the championship game, pretty much just go write her name on the ballot right now.

>> The all tournament team.

She certainly is going to be there and maybe making a case to be the captain.

>> We'll see.

As the visit by the coach Timmons out to the circle.

And now they bat -- keep batting to the Raiders here in the fourth.

Now up by eight.

Jersey Metz to bat.

>> You know, and that message in the circle has to be, all right, let's just put that all behind us.

We have been able to come back in the past.

We still have a lot of innings.

We still have a lot of outs to work with.

Get out of this inning, get back to the plate and do some damage on our own.

We're fine right here, can't let it -- can't let it wear you down.

Put it all behind you.

I think that's what that message has to be and just let's start from here on out, clean innings, start putting some runs on the board when we get our opportunity.

>> Three runs on five hits for Assumption, 11 runs on 12 hits for Williamsburg.

Metz has a hit.

That pitch is low.

>> Looking up and down the lineup, almost everybody top to bottom has had a hit.

Rich walked her first at-bat.

>> That pitch misses.

The only one without a hit is Baylie Von Ahsen and she waits on deck and now she will make her way to the plate here on a one out walk to Metz.

>> But she walked and scored so she's been part of the action.

>> She's been part of the action.

>> But you're right, not a base hit.

>> And Hocker will come out, Ava.

Will go down to first.

>> Is second base open?

Because it's going to be occupied here pretty soon.

>> Not for long.

>> That's the trouble, you put Metz on and the courtesy runner in Hocker, she's got the speed.

>> The pitch is high.

Do you like the courtesy runner?

>> I guess I've grown used to it.

Yeah, I like T I like it.

I think that, you know, if you -- there have been some games that we've been to and that have seen when you have a pitcher or a catcher that's a good base runner, leave them in.

>> We saw Aaron GERlick the family of Taylor Sanchez there.

>> High-fives all the way around for sure.

Celebrate that one.

>> Put that one in the case at graduation.

She's only a freshman so there is a chance she might have another home run or two.

Throw down to second for Hocker.

They're going to get her this time.

Throw was to the right side of the bag and the tag -- Hocker really -- the timing was just not there for her.

>> You've got a good pitch to handle, Nigey did, and she came up and threw a dart to second base, right where it needed to be.

>> So the second out of the inning is a caught stealing.

Von Ahsen hits it in the air towards Edwards in center who gets underneath it to record the out.

Now the last couple of outs calmed things down.

Let's see what Assumption can do on the bats as they, though, are looking up on a tough three more runs scored on a three-run home run.

Adam Berte is going to join us in a moment, he's putting the headset on.

Coach, as you settle in there, looks like your team didn't take very long to settle in, you scored six runs in the first, what's that say about your team?

>> I don't know.

They just hit the ball and they did what they're capable of doing.

Kind of been waiting for a game like this for a while, so it was nice to have it today.

>> Yeah, the bats seem to be alive right now.

You talked about a couple of players needed to barrel up.

It seems like everybody is getting the barrel on the bat, is that right?

>> Yeah, maybe outside of Jersey, I think everybody has hit a ball hard, yeah.

This is what we've been looking for all season and great day to do it today.

>> What are you seeing from Jersey in the circle, then?

>> I'd like her to get ahead in the count a little bit better, she's missing with some of her pitches, but we're trying to figure out a combination that will work for her.

>> Having fun?

>> Yes, but we've got to finish it out.

>> Thanks, coach.

Appreciate it.

Just got to get him to try to laugh a little bit.

So Berte is one of two teachers in the Williamsburg school district, his wife Katherine is also a teacher, she is a music teacher, and Shannon Finn is her student.

We will probably talk about Shannon a little bit, but if anybody has to pick a Berte -- so the Bertes are well known in the Williamsburg community of schools.

Right now they're knowing the softball coach and his team that's leading 11-3 here in the fifth inning at the state tournament.

>> One of the things that Shannon Finn said, we asked, you know, softball coach Berte, music coach Berte, which -- you know, what do you like about -- and she said I choose to remain neutral.

I am Switzerland.

I'm not going to make a comment on both.

She said the thing that both of them do is push you to be your best and loves the way that they teach and they coach and that they're mentors and so she said they both do an excellent job of teachers that we can -- and coaches that we can look up to.

>> Madison Edwards looks at an offspeed pitch on 1-1 and now gets ahead 2-1.

Edwards has been busy in center, so have all the outfielders for Assumption.

They've been running a lot today, chasing down well-hit balls.

That pitch is bunted foul.

>> That ninth place hitter, needing base runners, you try to figure out a way to get yourself on base.

You've got the speed, you can handle the bat, try to lay one down.

See where the corners are playing.

They're playing back even with the bag.

>> The 2-2, hit towards short.

Rich across the diamond to Pitlick for the first out of the fifth.

>> Pounds it into the ground.

Couldn't get that high hopper to give her that extra step or two.

And Rich doing a good job of letting that ball come right to her.

Gets herself into position to make the throw.

>> Sophia Caudle to bat with one away.

She's been on base both times she's been up.

Looks at a first pitch in the dirt.

An eighth grader leading off for a team that's in the state championship game.

Coach Edwards said, you know, we've made nine, which ties a state record, but he all but guaranteed a tenth time with this young nucleus that he has.

>> He got most everybody back on this team and so with the tradition and you have to -- have to believe if they aren't able to come back in this ball game, this is going to stick with them for a long time and carry over into next season and I think you're going to see the majority of this lineup intact and maybe we will be saying that here they are, nine out of the last ten seasons they've been in the championship game.

>> And their opponent could be the team they're playing right now.

>> Right.

I mean, with he could see this rematch for a third time.

>> I mean, in our ten years of doing the coverage, I mean, all but one Assumption has been in this 3A title game.

>> Right.

Right.

And that -- that is tradition and the players and the young girls that have come to watch these players growing up and saying I want to be like that, I want to play in that championship game, that is all built in and, yeah, winning is great and getting to state titles is great and that's what these young girls want to do and all these feeder programs, they want to be a part of that.

>> Caudle who was first team all conference in the Mack, not an easy team to do for an eight grader.

She slaps it to Rich who has to charge, throws it wide of first, covering is Spratt, to throw it to second, but not before -- might as well call it a double.

It was an error with another error that allows her to go to first -- or to second.

>> Slow roller, you have to hurry that throw with the speed going down the line and Rich kind of just threw that one into the dirt.

Caudle cruises into second base after the errant throw.

>> They're going to call that a hit and then an error.

So that's our game's first error coming here in the fifth.

So that's good clean playing in the state championship games.

Charlotte Nigey up.

1 for 2.

Tried out into third, had a single back in the first.

Nigey is a name we've said in those years that we have had Assumption, Laura, Bella, her sister -- you remember Bella as a pitcher.

>> Oh, yeah, very good pitcher, no you at DePaul, took her career to the Chicago area.

>> And the thing about Nigey is listen to who she's worked with as a catcher.

The 1-1 coming.

She cites Anna WOLLERS as one that kind of helps her when she's had conversations with and admired her play.

>> That's a good one.

>> That's a really good one to learn from.

Anna was -- not only was Anna great with the bat, she was fantastic at the plate, behind the plate.

Pitch goes high.

>> But that's part of both of these programs.

You have those players that you admire, that you look up to and you're at that same position that they are and so you kind of latch on to them and you want to learn from them and all the older players have been really great at helping the younger players come in, the freshmen, the eighth graders that come into this team, show them what Williamsburg softball is all about.

Davenport Assumption's softball is all about.

That's what the older players do is help just kind of keep things moving and turn things over, hand it over to the next set of players.

>> 2-2 to Nigey.

Backs up on the plate for ball three.

And Fuhrman smothers it to prevent Caudle to advance on a base on a good play there behind the plate.

>> Here is what coach Berte said.

He said I wish that Jersey would get more ahead in the count.

She hasn't.

She's been battling that, going full count again.

Throwing a lot of pitches.

>> And that pitch misses and it loads -- or it puts the runner on to put two aboard.

And now Fuhrman is going to jog out.

I think we're going to have a courtesy.

We are.

It's going to be Casel.

Allie Casel will run.

So Nigey will go get the catcher's gear on.

She's probably hopes to take it back off, as long as they're still batting in this inning.

One away here for Marissa Boynton.

Marissa's sister Allison, pretty good pitcher, plays at Davenport north.

So when sisters have to battle in conference play, that's always fun.

Do you put one parent on one side and one parent on the other or one set of family?

>> I think everybody has a way of figuring things out.

As this one sneaks by FURMen.

>> Does get away, yeah.

And that will move up Caudle to third and Casel to second.

Or you could be, you know, coaching against your daughters.

Remember that?

Johnston years ago.

>> Oh, yes.

The WILMAS family.

Brooke, I believe h a pretty darn good game in that one.

>> Brook, I don't think -- >> I don't think she was in that game.

You're right.

>> If she was she was an eighth grader.

>> It was two the older daughters.

>> Winds and fires and misses.

And Fuhrman kind of asked where did that miss?

I did not hear the answer.

Because I was curious myself.

The 3-0 misses as well.

Now the bases are loaded.

>> I just looked over the dugout and thought this is a time for coach Berte to come out and he did, he opened up that gate and we will get a chance to hear what he has to say.

>> Wherever the easiest play is you can take that.

If it's you or you, feel free to go home.

Field it clean, get it to a base, okay?

Get outs.

Just outs anywhere, doesn't matter where.

Let's just get out of the inning.

>> I've got to remember that one, get out anywhere.

I like that.

>> And you do.

I mean, you've got the big lead, you've got bases loaded, you've got a lot of options.

If you give up a run, that's fine.

Get the out.

You've got a few runs, you've got a little wiggle room here with the 11-3 lead.

>> But not a ton if Kennedy Kane can do some damage here.

11-3, but this game is far from over.

>> She's got power, got those quick hands that she can get the barrel through the zone and put a charge into one.

>> First pitch to Kane gets away and that's going to allow a run to score.

Caudle just sprints home and that makes it 11-4.

Takes the force out, so Casel to third, Boynton to second.

>> Caudle showing a little emotion as she comes across home plate.

This one sneaks by Fuhrman and Caudle helped start this rally.

>> The 1-0 is hit hard to right, over Pitlick's head into right field, Spratt up with it, throws home on a line, but not before Casel scores to make it 11-5.

>> Kane taking that ball to right field and slowly they're starting to chip away, stringing some base hits together.

>> We're going to have coming in to run is going to be Laura Lippincott and she is a pinch runner.

>> 37, pinch runner.

Pinch runner.

So Kane gets the job done getting the runs home and now Lippincott's job is to score.

>> And runners on the corners, so she was check that go wristband to see how they are going to handle this.

>> Metz has missed a lot of pitches in that same spot, Laura, have you noticed that in this building?

>> Down and in.

>> Down and in.

>> She's missing down and in.

She had that issue a little bit earlier in the ball game.

>> You're kidding me.

Okay, get this.

Last night's 5A title game was the highest scoring title game all time, 25 combined runs.

Take a look at that, pitch as Lippincott goes to second, the 1-1 coming from Metz.

Spins in for a strike.

The 4A title game set a record for highest scoring, 13.

We've already broken the 3A title game record for combined runs, 16 so far.

Assumption/Mount Vernon in '21 was 22 runs, Mount Vernon/Assumption 22 runs.

Down the line and that is a foul ball.

I'm not going to say inches, I'm going to say inch.

>> Yeah.

Maybe a quarter of an inch.

Boy, that one was so, so close and what a great job by Jeffrey Niehaus behind the plate.

>> Just -- >> On the other side of the bag.

>> Pitch misses.

2-2 to Snyder.

This might be one of the best stats Chris has ever given us right there.

2-2 the pitch, low, gets away from Fuhrman.

She keeps it in front of her.

And I think things are speeding up just a little bit in the heads of Williamsburg.

>> Taking a minute here as Fuhrman, I think, got that ball bounced up off of her shoulder and she's trying to stretch that out, seeing if she has range of motion.

>> Right there off the left upper arm.

>> And as a catcher that's when you get down on those shin guards, you slide over and you block it.

>> Here we go.

>> Fuhrman offered a couple of times to take some water, she says, I'm good.

I'm good.

>> These are the ones that as a catcher -- boy, catchers are so tough.

And she did all the right things, all the fundamental things that you do as a catcher, you slide over, you block it, keep that runner over there at third.

But you also have some battle scars to show for it as well.

She just needed a minute or two to try to get it stretched out because that -- that's going to be sore.

>> Yeah.

>> As this game goes on and especially after the game.

>> Three balls, two strikes, the pitch, fouled into the net.

We will do it again.

To Snyder.

Boynton at third, Lippincott at second.

Snyder at the plate.

>> Snyder a couple of RBIs in the semifinal game.

A chance to get two more.

>> Fouled off right in front of us.

And this will be pitch number nine coming in this at-bat.

It's also one way to help your team.

That one misses.

That pitch she's landed that one twice, but hasn't got the strike either time.

And it's a one-out walk to load them up for Addie Williamson.

>> That's three straight walks for Snyder.

>> Williamson had a double back in the second, struck out in the fourth.

>> As we talked about before, infield is going to be drawn in just a little bit, but you just need to get an out.

As we heard coach Berte say, get an out anywhere.

>> That pitch is fouled back.

It will even up the count at 1-1.

Okay.

You are at 11-5, you can still kind of trade some runs for outs, right?

>> Oh, I think so.

>> Even in the fifth?

>> I think you could -- you could trade a couple here in this inning.

>> Just got to get one.

As another pitch misses in.

And low.

>> And that's where she's been missing.

And it's -- again, I don't know if it's moisture that she's having trouble getting a grip on the ball to throw that pitch where she wants to throw it.

>> This is the most humid of the days we've had here at states, so, yeah, that absolutely could be -- you haven't had that experience of the way the ball feels, right?

>> You're right.

I mean, it could be, and I know she's got a little rag in her back pocket trying to keep those fingers dry.

>> Another walk and that drives in the sixth run of the game for Assumption.

>> And credit Assumption for being patient at the plate.

>> We are going to have a pitching change.

Coming in to throw is going to be Sloane Curtin, the sophomore.

Let's tell you about Sloane.

She's a sophomore, this will be her 21st game appearance, 48 2/3 innings, 25 earned runs, an ERA of 3.6, struck out 29.

Has walked 12 on the season.

Her record is 3-3.

Had a couple of saves.

And this is a big one, big opportunity here.

I don't think that Metz is done because we've seen it at times where you might just -- somebody needs to get out of the inning and you make the change.

>> Yeah, and then you go back to your starter.

You just have to see how effective Curtin is going to be here.

She's got the experience, she's had -- as you had mentioned quite a few appearances here this season, so comes in at a difficult time, bases loaded, only one out.

And a team that is starting to feel confident at the plate, they're being strategic at the plate as well, making her throw -- especially making Metz throw a lot of pitches, I think that they're going to probably take a look at a couple here from Curtin just to see what they're going to get.

Maybe see if she has some nerves coming into this ball game and get another walk out of them.

>> I get you would call it that would steal another run, but it would get another run here.

11-6 in the fifth.

Three runs in here in this half of the inning.

Bella Stoffregen 0 for 2 tonight -- or this afternoon.

Let's see what the gritty player can do with one out.

First pitch spins in for a strike.

I think she's taking all the way there, Laura.

>> I think she was.

You can stand up there and you can simulate the timing of a pitcher, but when you really step into the box, I do think she was taken all the way on that one.

Now you have to be ready.

You've got to battle up there.

>> The 0-1, again, same pitch, this time fouled off from Curtin.

>> But has gotten ahead in the count now.

>> That's the thing about the hard ball sports, getting ahead as a pitcher, so key.

More times than not.

The pitch, outside.

>> Just watching Curtin throw, her spots and wherever Fuhrman is setting up and holding the glove, she is hitting it right on the nose.

>> Sloane Curtin fires, the 0-2 -- or the 1-2, misses to even the count at 2-2.

Didn't miss by much.

>> They haven't gotten that call all day right down there around the knees.

They've been tinkering with it.

They've been going after it, but just have not been able to get that call.

>> The pitch is a strike three.

>> And they did stay down in the zone on the outside part of the plate and Stoffregen right there right at the knees, they brought that pitch up just enough to be able to get it at the lower part of the zone.

>> It's up to Molly Roe.

Offspeed hit, foul, and out of play.

This is the ninth knight to bat in the fifth and coach Edwards calls a time.

He's going to come to the umpire.

>> We entered 16.

>> No.

She's in there now.

>> We're good.

We're good.

Thank you.

>> Substitutions and the reenters.

A lot for coaches to juggle.

>> It is a lot to remember and I know you have your lineup card and you're making your marks on it, but sometimes you don't always get things put down on paper.

>> Roe 0-1, hits it foul down the right field line.

And, again, Curtin gets ahead in the count.

Nothing and 2.

Roe is 1 for 2 with a single back in the second.

Roe was in trouble a couple of times pitching.

Can make this thing real interesting here if she can find some open field.

The 0-2 is hit again, foul to the right side.

>> They have continued to stay away and stay away and she's trying to take that pitch to right field.

Just a little bit behind.

>> Pitlick at first, knows it might be coming her way.

Spratt in right field.

Sanchez at second.

The pitch from Curtin, low, hit, and it's going to fall.

No, it is going to go off the glove of Finn.

It's going to get past Spratt.

Lippincott scores, Snyder scores, the throw at the plate, Williamson scores.

It's a three-run RBI base knock for Molly Roe.

And it's now a two-run game.

>> Finn had a long way to come and it goes off of her glove and Spratt who was there to back up, it careens off of Finn and gets away from everybody and that clears the bases.

>> They're going to give that a double?

Okay.

An advance on the throw to third and now we're going to have -- I think we're going to have a pinch-hitter here and it is going to be Brianna Biemann, the freshman, is going to swing the bat for Madison Edwards.

>> Hadley.

Hadley.

>> Number 11.

Sorry.

>> Number 11?

>> Yeah.

>> We're going to have Hadley Edwards come in.

So one coach's daughter doesn't swing the bat and the other one goes in to run.

>> Number 11 courtesy.

>> So this is Hadley Edwards who is an eighth grader.

And Biemann is a freshman batting here.

Got that all, Laura?

>> I'm writing it down as we speak.

Now I know how those guys felt last night making all the changes in those games.

>> Oh, my goodness.

>> Hallie and Brad did a great job of keeping track of all the changes.

>> First pitch, getting ahead.

>> Coach Edwards looked down at Biemann, just said, yeah, good swing, good swing.

Keep your nose on T you're all right.

>> So Biemann pinch hits here in the fifth.

Two outs.

That one is swung on and missed.

In limited action Biemann is perfect.

>> She just needs a base hit, a little contact right back up the middle.

Doesn't need that home run ball.

Would love to tie it up, but if she can just make contact and put it in the outfield.

>> In her second at-bat of the season in varsity, yeah, that would be something.

>> Yeah.

You have those thoughts as you're going to the plate and the position you're put in, you're brought in as a pinch-hitter and you've got to think it through.

You can't -- can't get too tight about it, just got to get up there now and make contact with two strikes.

>> Curtin's pitch, swing and a miss!

Wow.

What an inning.

What an inning indeed.

Six runs on the strikeout to Biemann.

That was the tenth batter of the inning.

Lawyer ration I mean, two six-run innings, one for each team this game.

I mean, really.

>> Just when you think one of the teams has it in hand, the other one comes back and makes it close.

>> I think we need to stretch, don't you?

>> I do.

♪ Take me out to the ball game ♪ ♪ Take me out to the crowd ♪ ♪ Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack ♪ ♪ I don't care if I ever get back ♪ ♪ For its it's root, root, root, for the ♪ ♪ If they don't win it's a shame ♪ ♪ For it's one, two, three strikes you're out ♪ ♪ At the old ball game ♪♪♪ >> Mr. Tim Fitzpatrick leading the tunes.

Here as we go in the middle of the fifth.

A six run first for Williamsburg, a six run fifth for Assumption.

It's been a couple of runs scored in between there.

9-8-0 for Davenport Assumption, 11-12-1 for Williamsburg.

Due up for the Raiders, Spratt, Hughes and Finn.

Eight, nine, one.

As we are now on a little over two hours on this game.

First pitch -- or getting to be two hours, sorry.

2:39 was first pitch today.

We didn't start this one at 2:00, we started it at 2:30.

Back out to pitch, Molly Roe.

Spratt was hit by a pitch in the first and had a hit in the third.

That pitch is high.

Spratt had a home run in the semifinal, had a home run a couple of weeks ago here in the Fort Dodge tournament, kind of proved she could do it.

Let's see if she can hit another one here.

That one is low.

If you are Williamsburg and you can get this lead runner on you think you're maybe going to be okay.

Let's see on 3-0.

That misses.

So there you go, put the lead off runner on, maybe things are back for Williamsburg.

But Assumption is thinking, oh, seriously, can't we just get the lead off once?

>> Yeah, I mean, if you are sitting in both dugouts, Williamsburg side you're going, all right, here we go, we've got to rally, we're going to get those runs back.

And over on the Knights' dugout you're going, all right, we've got to get out of this.

We can't let that walk come back to score.

>> Makenna Hughes, the junior playing third multi time medalist at state in track, 4 X 1.

They were state champs in the 4 X 1 in '22.

Runner up in '24.

If you can get Hughes on base she's just going to keep running.

Batting with a 1-1 count.

That pitch is high.

>> She's second in 3A in stolen bases.

I don't believe she's been thrown out yet this season.

So that is speed right there and that shows you why she's a 4 X 100 champ Sprint medley.

She's got speed.

>> That's unfortunate for Hughes.

>> That came right down on Nigey and I'm not sure if it got her on top of the knee, on the foot.

>> I think we have a look at it.

>> Just came off the bottom of the bat.

>> Yep.

Oh, right on the inside left leg.

Both catchers, Fuhrman and Nigey have had some shots.

That catcher's position is tough, Laura.

>> It is tough.

>> Especially when you are on game, you know, 50, 55.

>> A lot of catchers -- it's more like 40, 45.

>> A lot of catchers don't -- they don't get breaks throughout the season.

A couple good things happened there, a good job of base running, allowing that base -- or the ball to go by.

Not getting hit.

Spratt waited for it and then Stoffregen just waited for it to come to her, didn't panic, didn't allow the runner in front of her to distract her at all.

Picked it up and got the out.

>> Top of the order.

Shannon Finn.

First pitch strike.

Finn we talked about a little bit as a singer.

She sings soprano, too, for Mrs. Berte and she sung the National Anthem at the state football championships before.

I said which one is more nerve-racking, singing in a national championship or playing?

She goes, oh, playing by far -- or singing by far.

>> Singing.

>> She said playing is so much easier, I'm in my element, singing is a one time thing.

>> She is a wrestler and then she told us that, well, before I got into wrestling I was a boxer.

And we both kind of went, what?

Tell us about that.

She said, yeah, I had a couple of fights and, you know, I was a boxer and then during the pandemic kind of went away and wrestling kind of caught my eye and I love it.

>> The 2-1 is punched to short.

Over is Boynton and the throw back to third not in time.

Snyder came back across the diamond.

So Finn moves the runner up to third with two outs.

>> So Finn is out, moving up Spratt to third.

Carly Rich to bat.

Roe had a back injury last year, has worked real hard to get back from it.

That ball spins away from Nigey.

>> Kept her out all of last year for the most part and worked really hard on coming back, worked on her mechanics.

I feel like she's come back even better and even stronger.

>> She bends at the waist, looks in on the 2-0.

That's hit on an awkward hop to short, not in time.

Kind of had a weird spin off the bat and Boynton, who didn't charge it particularly hard, had a really tough chance to throw out Rich.

Let's look at it again.

>> Gets pounded down into the ground, that second hop right there is what really cost her, but those are ones that are the tweeners, do you charge it and try to short hop it and throw on the run or do you let it come to you?

And that time she let it come to her and with the speed going down the first baseline of Rich she was able to beat it out.

>> Spratt scores to make it 12-9.

So gives Williamsburg another run.

And Taylor Pitlick to bat.

2 for 3 today, a single, a double, a couple of runs scored.

I think weren't you one player short?

Wasn't Clemens short of -- a triple short of the cycle last night?

>> Yeah.

Except when she had the chance to hit the triple then she hit another home run.

>> She hit another home run.

Pleasant Valley.

The winner of the cooley scholarship.

Pitlick swings and fly ball caught by Stoffregen to end the inning, but not before Williamsburg is able to push another run across and as -- hard for me to say in a 12-9 game, every run matters.

>> It does.

It does.

>> You know this, game, Laura, has been full of highlights.

I have no clue how we're going to be able to keep up with t but we're going to try.

Great work in the truck here, early on for Williamsburg they scored six runs in the first, they batted around and it was big hit after big hit.

Gorsh had one, Sanchez had an RBI double and a double by Hughes that kept scoring runs and then again and then it was a home run that time by Sanchez.

She's had a single and an RBI.

And then in the fifth is when it got crazy for Assumption.

They sent ten to the plate.

Lots of walks.

There was a pitching change.

Really not a lot of hits.

There was one by Kane and then it was off the glove that got past a couple of runs that allowed three to score there.

It's the timely hits when the bases were loaded that makes it 12-9.

9-8-0, look at that, crooked numbers, Laura.

2, 1, 6, 6, 2, 3.

Is that Jenny's phone number?

I'm sorry.

Not quite.

>> 867-5309.

Ricky, don't lose that number.

>> Good combo of both.

Great work there in the truck.

I've been told I'm to name everybody in the truck but one and I will see if I do that as the night goes on.

Sixth inning we go.

This is a good one.

Good, good game.

Top of the order for Assumption.

They start with Sophia Caudle.

>> She has kind of been the ignitor for this team in that lead off spot.

>> Been on base in every at-bat.

Three singles each time.

Caudle just in this game making a case for all tournament.

She had two hits back in the quarter final game.

Eighth grader, a ninth grader, sophomore, ninth grader, ninth grader, eighth -- you know, just such future for Assumption.

But I think if you ask every one of the players the future is right now.

We are in the title game, down by three here with six outs to go.

>> And they know what they did in the last inning, you've got the top of the lineup up.

This is a great place to start things off to try to make that rally.

>> And a called strike on 3-0.

We've already set the record for the 3A title game most runs, that was 15.

We're well past that.

We're approaching 5A title game right here.

The 3-1 is bounced in there and it's a lead off walk for Sophia Caudle.

>> See if they put her in motion.

She's had a couple of stolen bases so far back in the first and the third.

>> And Sloane Curtin back to pitch for Williamsburg here in the sixth.

She came in in the fifth, she had done well at getting ahead of the hitters but that time she fell behind to Caudle the whole time.

First pitch is swung on, could be two, quickly thrown to second, over to first, double play.

Pitcher's best friend.

Rich to Sanchez to Pitlick, 6-4-3, twin killing here two, away in the sixth.

>> Just exactly what you wanted, your defense able to turn it, get the quick flip over to second and the good turn at second base to get the twin killing.

>> Nigey grounds into the double play to lead to Marissa Boynton.

So if you are Assumption now, now with two outs you've got your third place hitter.

First pitch offspeed, is on the plate for a called strike.

You are looking at three, four, five here.

You would normally say you want your middle at a key time, but everybody can hit for both these teams.

>> Yeah, both of these teams solid top to bottom, have power, have speed, have those gap hitters that we've talked about.

And all of them in this ball game have come through at key moments.

>> Boynton, the pitch, chopper, right back off of the glove, Sanchez recovers off the flick, the Nick, the tick, doesn't matter an out either way.

Sanchez to Pitlick out three.

What started promising for Assumption dries up after a double play.

We go to the bottom of the sixth.

Still a 12-9 ball game in the Class 3A title game.

I will tell you what, this is a game I think you're going to want to watch over and over again.

We are 3 for 3 on great games.

You can watch everything online at IowaPBS.org/sports.

Share these moments with your family, friends and neighbors.

Maybe you are a coach that scouts, I know the umpires were clipping off last night's triple play.

Coaches are going to use certain plays to say this is what you do, this is what you not.

That's what it's there for.

That is what's been so fun over the years, Laura.

We've been doing basketball and softball here for a number of years, ten years so far, we are in year 11 for softball and do you ever go back and watch some of those early games, just for fun?

>> Do you know what, I have a fair amount of them -- again, I'm old school and I'm old so I've got the DVR.

>> Okay.

You could have said VCR.

>> No, I didn't have the VCR.

Hard to find tapes for those nowadays.

I watched last night, I watched this game from a year ago last night just to, you know, see -- there was a lot of players that were in that ball game that are in this ball game, see if you could pick up any little tidbits of information or a key play or whatever might have happened a year ago that it's just fun to be able to flip it on or go to the website and pull it up and watch it.

And you can be able to relive it if you are one of the players that has been participating in any of these games over the years.

>> And we've already had now players that were in those first few years, Laura, are getting put into the Hall of Fame.

We're seeing that.

That just means they're getting older, not us.

>> No, we stay the same.

>> That's right.

Alley Gorsh, Taylor Sanchez and Jersey Metz.

Metz's spot in the order, we will see if it's going to be her in a re-entry or a different batter.

We will see how that works out.

As we bat here in the sixth.

Pitch is high for Molly Roe.

Gorsh with an RBI and a single.

Two singles, actually.

That pitch misses again.

Coach Berte talked about offseason work is key.

We've got to get in the weight room, we've got to put that time in a way.

He says now there's just a little more of that expectation.

He talked about the story when he was in college, the 2-1 is hit to center and it's going to get down for another base hit.

So the lead off runner is aboard for the Raiders here in the sixth inning.

And that work -- I mean, here is the other thing, Laura, how about expectations.

Coach Berte talked about when he didn't see where they were ranked early on in the season he was kind of surprised how they opened up.

Not on the top.

>> Well, I think people maybe doubted what they had coming back.

They returned six starters but they lost some key players from a year ago.

>> Sanchez puts a charge into it, but it is caught by Edwards for the first out.

>> And sometimes you look at those things and you look at those rankings and you go, okay, we believe in ourselves.

>> We will see a pinch-hitter in that spot.

It's going to be Braylee Plotz.

Lawyer ration it's about -- you know, we talk about depth and expectations, when you can have pinch-hitters of a certain age they just know what is to expect and they are not eyes huge in the big stage and at the big moment.

>> Well, they have had a lot of experience here and I think, again, just the tradition of being here and the expectations of the team and it's what coach Berte said, he said we have goals, we try to win a WOMAC title every year, we try to win a state title.

Those are our goals plain and simple and I think they do a pretty good job of achieving those goals.

>> Fifth straight tournament for Williamsburg.

Trying to win back to back titles.

They lead by three here in the sixth.

Pitch to Plotz is fouled off into the net and now she's down 0-2.

>> One of the other things he said that he learned from being at twin rivers valley is, you know, we maybe didn't always play the toughest competition and when we got into post season, we would get beat.

We could never advance.

So knowing that, he tests his team.

He puts together a tough schedule, want to play the best teams possible to get them prepared for this moment and getting into tournament play and getting up to Fort Dodge.

>> Look at the three they played in mid-June, mart tins Dale St. Mary's played for a state title.

Then a win away from state.

That was in mid-June.

Then they still have to play -- they played Prairie.

Strikeout is recorded there.

They also played eventual state champ, pleasant valley, that's a brutal 3A schedule.

>> If you look at it right down there at the end of June they lost to -- a game to Grinnell, then PV, north Scott, two to Northwest, they beat west Delaware, MUSCATENE and beat prairie.

They lost six of their last eight before heading into tournament.

>> Two away after the strikeout to Plotz.

I think we have said -- I know we've said this over and over.

The teams that are usually playing on this final day have played schedules that look like that.

And it will be a story in the 1a game later today asking -- we asked coach Shelly STREEGLE when did you know this team was special?

She said freshman year.

It looked tougher as the years went on to get them to that final day.

Popped up in foul territory in front of the dugout, Nigey throws the mask, records the out and gets out of the inning.

Williamsburg leaves one, not able to score one here.

And we go to the seventh.

Three outs away from a state championship for Williamsburg, but the way Assumption is playing, anything is possible.

>> You need to make her work.

She has a lot of pressure on her.

We can't just give her outs.

Do you understand that?

Okay?

One run does not matter.

Two runs does not matter.

We need three.

Okay?

That means be smart on the bases.

We need multiple hits to do this.

Understand?

Let's go.

>> Let's go.

>> Hits on three.

>> One, two, three, hits.

>> The only thing -- the only thing he didn't say, this is our time.

>> Pretty plain and simple.

>> Yeah.

>> You can't give them -- can't give them the outs.

Make them work for them.

Need base runners.

Need hits.

One run is good, two runs, better, three runs really good and if you can get four, that makes it pretty special, but you've got to have a lot of things happen to be able to do that, and they did that in the fifth inning.

They were able to put it together a huge rally and put six up on the board.

>> And there was a look a moment ago of Williamsburg in the circle, the infield huddling, and it will start with Kennedy Kane, a freshman.

Followed by a sophomore, followed by a junior due up.

For the Knights here in the seventh, four, five and six in the order.

Kane is 1 for 3, a couple ground outs and a single to right back in the fifth.

That's the six-run fifth, by the way.

Fifth pitch is a strike.

From Sloane Curtin.

There's Kane's line for the day, scored a run as well.

The 0-1 coming.

Popped up on the infield, calling for it is Pitlick and she runs into Curtin who holds on to it and takes the hit.

What a shot and we have a time as I think Curtin is okay, just shocked.

>> Straight up the chute and you can see Pitlick calling and what a job of hanging on.

>> What do we call that, an ice cream?

>> That is certainly an ice cream cone.

>> Ice cream cone.

>> You're right, shock, you think you're pulling that one in and all of a sudden you get blasted, and to be able to hang on to that, that could have been disaster but as Pitlick came over, she was calling for t Curtin wasn't giving way and she was able to take the blow of Pitlick running into her and hang on to that ball.

>> I was watching Pitlick the whole time because she had waved it off.

I was not watching Curtin on that play.

Because I could see her shaking her arms that it was hers, but Curtin is thinking, why is it not going to be me?

It was in the circle.

But, you know -- >> Well, a lot of times pitchers just step out of the way and allow their infield to take over on those fly balls.

>> And she's not the regular pitcher.

>> I was just going to say that.

She does not have as many innings under her belt and has not really worked with this infield as much as Metz has.

>> One ball, one strike to Kathryn Snyder.

Pitch is low.

Volleyball player, hard to get volleyball in in the summer when you keep getting all the way to the championship game.

Make it to the state tournament.

Assumption volleyball has been good over the years.

Two balls and a strike from Sloane Curtin, the pitch coming.

Low.

Fuhrman goes to her knees to stop it.

>> Curtin keeps looking at the fingers, going to the Rossen bag, trying to get as much of a better grip on that ball as she can.

>> The 3-1 coming, popped up again, Sanchez goes out, right on the grass where it meets the dirt and it's out number two and the Knights are down to their final out here in the seventh.

>> Williamson taking a deep breath before she steps into the box.

Trying to keep things alive for the Knights.

>> First pitch is a strike.

>> Curtin has done such a good job since she's come into this ball game getting ahead, getting that first strike.

>> Curtin's pitch is hit hard to left and it is fair down the line all the way to the 200 sign.

Gorsh with it into second, not before Williamson is there with a two-out double.

Don't go anywhere!

What a shot by Williamson.

>> Just hugs that left field line and falls in.

Just inside the chalk and gets all the way to the wall.

>> I think we're going to run Casel, they're going to use the courtesy as the pinch runner here I think is what I heard Tyler Edwards say.

>> She's going to run for 16 now.

>> So coach Edwards pulling it on out here, using Casel.

>> Number 3 pinch runner.

Number 3, pinch runner.

Pinch runner >> Pinch runner here.

>> Bella Stoffregen, trying to extend it.

First pitch low.

And, again, good stop by Fuhrman.

>> If you are the Raiders you're thinking, okay, we don't care about that runner on second base, we just want to get the out here at the plate.

>> The pitch is a strike from Curtin.

Williamsburg and Assumption played in the title game in 2023 with Williamsburg winning.

The Raiders lead again here in 2024, 12-9.

>> Good job by Fuhrman blocking that one.

A couple of pitches have been in the dirt and she's done a good job of smothering the ball.

>> Keeps Casel at second.

The pitch is a strike.

And now the Knights are down to their last strike.

Curtin to throw, popped foul into the net and we will do it again.

>> Stoffregen able to get a piece of it and that's what you have to do at the plate now, you have two strikes, shorten that swing up a little bit, see if you can find a gap in the infield and keep that lineup moving.

She gets on Molly Roe is on deck circle and she's got some pop in that bat.

>> The pitch lifted in the air behind third in foul territory calling off and making the catch is Makenna Hughes and Williamsburg goes back to back in Class 3A!

Your champions again in 2024!

>> Right there in the circle, the big celebration, the pile up.

>> And the smiles.

>> And the smiles.

And the laughter and the tears.

Knowing that they have been a champion a year ago and are champions once again.

>> The two shake hands.

We have some formalities to do.

We're going to start our second game a little bit late.

Scheduled for 5:00, it's 4:54 right now on the 26th of July.

We will have the all tournament team, the pink shirts are going out.

The last time we had defending champs in 3A, Assumption, '17, '18, '19.

And sorry, coach Berte, but they want to best that next year and win three of their own in a row.

>> Yeah, they sure do.

They would like to be able to do it and I think they have the squad and, again, I think we may -- we may see this exact game again next season.

>> Put your Assumption and Williamsburg notes on a place that you can easily pull next year, Laura.

>> I've got them in a folder already.

>> Presenting the Class 3A all tournament team medals is farm bureau representative Brian feltposh assisted by executive director Aaron Gurley.

Here is your Class 3A all tournament team for 2024.

From Williamsburg, Shannon Finn.

From Assumption Catholic, Charlotte Nigey.

J.C. Anderson.

From Benton community, JESSA Dee moss.

From WAHLERT Catholic, Julia Roth.

From WAHLERT Catholic, Anna Rowling.

From Assumption Catholic, Sophia Caudle.

From Williamsburg, Jersey Metz.

From Assumption Catholic, Molly Roe.

From Williamsburg, Kalon Spratt.

And your 2024 Class 3A all tournament team captain, from Williamsburg, Taylor Sanchez.

>> Fans, you are welcome to greet your team by the pink and black IGA tent.

Williamsburg fans, you are welcome to greet your team on the baseball diamond behind us.

>> As you look at that team, Taylor Sanchez, I said it during the broadcast, that's making a case for the all tournament team and you said, why not captain?

>> Yeah, well, she did it and quite a tournament and what a good-looking team, too, all performed very well throughout the week.

>> Presenting awards are representatives of the IGA board of directors, Ron, Tanya, Jen and Zach.

Congratulations to the runners up in Class 3A, head coach Tyler Edwards and the Assumption Catholic Knights on an outstanding 2024 softball season.

And they punch their ticket to get here, today they redeem them as your 2024 Class 3A state softball champions.

Head coach Adam C. Berte and the Raiders from Williamsburg.

And now, ladies, if you will step over and complete your -- >> Fantastic.

That is the way this one ends.

Assumption falls 12-9.

Williamsburg back to back, Laura.

Great game.

>> It really was.

It was everything we expected, a lot of action and a lot of runs and congratulations to Williamsburg.

>> Three state championships have all set records for most runs in a game.

What's game number four going to be?

We will find out in a little bit.

Three in the books so far from Harlan and Hazel Rogers.

So long from Fort Dodge.

Two more to go.

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