>> This is state softball.

We have three games, a triple header to crown the best in class 3a, 2a and 1a from Fort Dodge.

It is number one Williamsburg and number two Davenport Assumption here on this glorious Friday afternoon on the north side of Fort Dodge.

Laura, these are two teams that hit the ball well but also do something pretty well, and that's pitching.

How do they get it done?

>> I will tell you, these two pitchers, Lea Maro and Peyton Driscoll, number one, number two and three as far as E.R.A.

is concerned.

If you look at the rest of their lines, the number of hits they get up, very similar.

Number of batters that they walk, very similar.

Opponents' batting average, very similar.

That's what we're going to see, two really locked down pitchers today.

Matter of fact, in the tournament Maro has struck out 15, Driscoll 22.

Both only walked two.

>> Neither of the teams are strangers to Harlan Rodgers complex.

In fact, Davenport Assumption are on their eighth trip to state.

Eighth consecutive time led by Jesse Wardlow with batting.

Look at the stats.

You mentioned Lea Maro, the pitcher for Assumption.

For Williamsburg you will see a similar scene.

>> The strikeouts do, but you know the other thing, we are talking about pitching.

I think speed is going to play a part in this ball game.

We've seen both of these teams put down a lot of bunts and use their base runners very, very well.

Test.

Test.

Test.

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪>>>Good afternoon.

What started as a bet has become a long tradition between Iowa and Minnesota, and this is a good tradition, too.

It is state softball.

We have three games, a triple header to crown the best in class 3 A, 2 A and 1 A.

From Fort Dodge it is number one Williamsburg and number two Davenport Assumption here on this glorious Friday afternoon on the north side of Fort Dodge.

Along with Laura Leonard, I'm Paul Yeager.

Glad to have you here with this game.

Laura, these are two teams that hit the ball well.

They also do something pretty well, and that's pitching.

How do they get it done?

>> Well, I'll tell you.

These two pitchers, Leah Maro and Peyton Driscoll, number one, number two and three as far as E.R.A.

is concerned.

If you look at the rest of the lines, the number of hits they get up, very similar.

The number of batters that they walk, very similar.

Opponents' batting average, very similar.

That's what we're going to see, two really locked down pitchers here today.

As a matter of fact, in the tournament Maro has struck out 15, Driscoll 22.

Both only walked two.

>> Neither of the teams are strangers to Harlan Rodgers complex.

In fact, Davenport Assumption are on their eight trip to state, 13th overall, eight consecutive times they've been led by Jessie Wardlow with batting.

Look at those stats.

You mentioned Leah Maro, the pitcher for Assumption.

For Williamsburg you will see a similar scene.

These two teams are not only into some colors but they have similar dna.

Fourth straight trip, sixth overall.

Elle Ridgeway huge at the plate and Peyton Driscoll, a look at her stats.

The one that stands out to you, Laura, the most, I would guess strike YOUPTs?

>> The strikeouts do, but we are talking about pitching.

I think speed will play a part in the ball game.

We have seen both teams put down a lot of bunts and use base runners very, very well.

>> And now it is time to meet the team.

Let's go upstairs to public address.

>> Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, softball fans, and welcome to Rodgers sports complex and this 3 A championship game between the visiting team from Davenport, the Assumption Catholic Knights and the home team, the Williamsburg Raiders.

Now let's meet the teams.

First of all nonstarters and assistant coaches.

First of all for visitors, from Assumption Catholic.

Number one, Madison Edwards.

Number 3, Ellie Casel.

Number 8, Mercedes Rangel.

Number 9, Ava Poston.

Number 12, Erin Robbins.

Number 17, Molly Roe.

Number 18, Molly Riley.

Number 31, Sophia Hillebrand.

Number 36, Lexie Pilgrim.

Number 37, Sophie Miller.

Your assistant coaches, Allie Timmons.

Sydney Roe.

Zack Murphy.

And now here's your starting line-up for the Assumption Catholic Knights, leading off playing center field, number 2, Jessie Wardlow.

Playing second at shortstop, Number 10, Izzy Krugman.

Batting third at first base, number 32, Helen Suns.

Cleanup hitter for the Knights doing the catching, number 7, Charlotte Nigey.

Playing fifth in right field, Number 13, Abbie Odean.

Batting sixth at third base, number 28, Kelly Miller.

Batting seventh in left field, number 27, Marissa Boynton.

Batting eighth, doing the pitching, number 11, Leah Maro.

Batting in the ninth position, designated player number 15, Kathryn Snyder.

Your flex player at second base, number 20, Bella Stoffregen.

Head coach for the Knights, Tyler Edwards.

Now let's meet the home team.

From Williamsburg, here are your nonstarters.

Number 1, Mya Simmons.

Number 2, London Cook.

Number 5, Kalon Spratt.

Number 9, Sloane Curtin.

Number 12, Taylor Sanchez.

Number 14, Ashlynn Fuhrman.

Number 15, Ava HOOKer.

Number 17, Jersey Metz.

Your assistant coaches, Jacob "Hamilton"ollow.

KRARMy Campbell.

Gwen maze.

Now here is your starting line-up.

For the Raiders of Williamsburg, leading off playing center field Number 13, Shannon Finn.

Playing second at shortstop, number 3, Carly Rich.

Playing third, first base, number 42, Elle Ridgeway.

Cleanup hitter for Raiders doing the catching, number 20, Jenna Thurm.

Batting fifth in left field, number 6, Alley Gorsh.

Batting seventh doing the pitching, number 16, Peyton Driscoll.

Batting eighth at third base, number 11, Makenna Hughes.

Batting in the ninth position at second base, number 4, Rylie Metz.

And your flex player in right field, number 7, Baylie Von Ahsen.

Head coach for the Raiders, Adam C. Berte.

Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to our home plate area.

The umpires assigned to this contest by the Iowa girls high school athletic unit, at first base Dwayne Dunkin'.

At third base, Marc Schaeffer.

Calling the balls and strikes today, Mr. Darrell Erickson.

All right.

Who is ready to win a state championship!

♪ ♪ >> you've met the teams.

Let's see where they play in the field.

For Williamsburg will be the home team.

That means they play defense first.

Gorsh, Finn and Von Ahsen left to right.

On infield it is Hughes at third, Rich at short, Metz at second and Ridgeway at first.

Your battery is Jenna Thurm and she will receive from Peyton Driscoll.

As we get a look at Peyton Driscoll in the circle, Laura Leonard, she is someone we have seen pitch a lot of times here.

This year, 18 and 3, an E.R.A.

below 1.

Of those stats which one stands out most to you?

>> We talked a little bit about it, the strikeouts.

She has been very good at locating all of her pitches.

She has been making these hitters miss.

She has done it all season.

The regional final, 900th career strikeout.

She is piling them up.

>> It is a tough line-up to try to strike out.

There's a couple of these players, Laura, for Assumption, this is their 15th state tournament game.

Krogman being one of them.

Think about that.

These teams know what to do and there are keys to the game.

What are they?

>> Davenport Assumption wants to seed them up.

We talked about the speed game, the bunt game.

We will see it a lot from both teams.

Make them make mistakes and come out hot.

You want to get on the board first in these state championship games.

They will look to do that.

The best way to do it is get the lead-off runner on, set the table.

>> 84 degrees.

The sky is mostly blue.

A few clouds here and there.

2:38.

And for Williams.

>> They need to bunt until the opponent stops it, and they have done that all tournament long, all season long, and they need to get ahead in the count.

As we say that, Driscoll does that, gets ahead.

Throws a first pitch strike.

>> 3:38 on Friday, July 21st, 2023 in the class 3a championship game from Fort Dodge.

Quickly Wardlow is down 0-2 from Driscoll.

There is a look at Wardlow's stats.

The thing she does is get on base and score a lot of runs.

>> They kind of ride her momentum.

She is a true table setter, and when she gets on they are able to move her around.

More often than not, when she gets on she will come around to score.

They know how to advance runners.

They're good fundamentally.

>> From the left side, what she is trying to do, the defense is drawn in at every corner.

That one a slap back at the pitcher.

Driscoll fields over to Ridgeway and the first out of the game is recorded.

>> It is really hard when you have a defense kind of jammed in like that to try to find an angle to try to be able to shoot it through.

That's why the defenses do that.

Usually Wardlow does a good job of reading the defenses, but it is hard to make that adjustment when you have a pitcher like Driscoll in the circle coming at you with a lot of different stuff.

>> First pitch to Izzy Krogman is a strike.

This is the fourth championship game Izzy Krogman has played in.

She played as an eighth grader.

She bats with one out here in the first.

This is her final softball game.

The pitch is hit towards short, over to Ridgeway from Rich.

Out number two.

Krogman, she just thought it was close.

I thought maybe there was an injury there.

She will head into the dugout.

>> It was very, very close.

She hustled down the line.

It was a slow roller and it was bang-bang.

>> Well, you give a listen as opposed to let your eye tell that if you are the umpire.

There, that's Dwayne Duncan at first.

First pitch to Helen Sons is a ball.

Sons does her own damage at the plate.

.420 hitter, 47 RBIs usually because Wardlow and Krogman are on base in front of her.

Bases are empty in top of the first.

Metz over to Ridgeway.

S goes 1-2-3, ball doesn't leave the infield.

Quick work by Driscoll.

>> That's what you want to do, come out, mow them down 1-2-3, give your team momentum heading into your first at bat.

>> There is a look at the fans from Williamsburg.

This is who they are -- this is Assumption's defense first.

Odean is in right.

Wardlow is in center.

Marissa Boynton at left.

Isabella Krogman is at short and Callie Miller at third.

Charlotte Nigey behind the plate.

She will be thrown to by Leah Maro as we get a look at her in the circle.

You like Leah Maro?

>> Yes, she throws a lot of different things, and I think as you have watched Davenport Assumption through the years, rise ball is their thing.

They are taught that.

They all throw it very well.

She is a good rise-ball pitcher and she will mix her pitches.

>> Leah pitched last year in the state championship game and this is the line-up she will face for Williamsburg.

Shannon Finn, Carly Rich, Elle Ridgeway, Thurm in the third spot, Gorsh, Pitlick, Driscoll, Hughes to bat for coach Adam Berte.

We have Tyler Edwards, a debut coach for Assumption.

We have a couple of twos and threes throughout the day, Laura.

It is hard to say seven years is the veteran, but that's what Adam Berte is.

>> Well, he has -- and he's really built up this program for Williamsburg.

It kind of caught fire since he has come over, and they seem to come to the state tournament almost every season.

>> First pitch to Shannon Finn is low.

Finn will bat from that left side of the batter's box.

And these teams -- that ball goes out of the zone again.

2-0.

Set up very similarly in their line-ups.

Both with very fast lead-off slappers from the left side.

Finn, 2-0 is now a 3-0 count.

>> You can see the adjustment for the Assumption defense maybe isn't as aggressive as we saw with Williamsburg, really closing in on that lead-off hitter.

In the number one spot is a slapper up there.

A few more options, a few more angles.

>> Pitch rocked to Shannon Finn and Finn is aboard.

First base runner of the game.

Finn on the season, 28 stolen bases.

So look for her to be moving and we'll see what Charlotte Nigey can do if she takes off.

That will bring in Carly Rich.

That pitch comes back in on the plate.

Nice movement from right to left as we sit behind the plate.

There's a look at Maro.

>> Well, and Finn you have to believe is going to be on the move very soon.

She does hold a season single record.

>> And she is going to get in easily as the ball gets away from Nigey, down to second is Finn.

She was going, as you said, Laura, almost on cue.

>> She does hold a season -- single-season record in stolen bases.

See, I was saying it so fast like I was running the bases with her.

But she also is a career stolen-base leader at the school and continues to add to it here in this ball game.

>> And that's a ball to Rich.

Now it is a two ball, one-strike count.

If you are coach Berte, he is still looking to advance that runner.

He knows how precious base runners and runs are.

The bunt -- the pitch is high from Maro.

Almost trying to dare Rich to put the bat up and get a strike.

It is now 3-1.

>> You see the hitters square around like that, you do want to throw the ball up in the zone, try to get them to pop up.

But just kind of overthrew that one a little bit too much.

Feel like Maro has some nerves.

>> Hopped up on the infield.

Caught in foul territory by Nigey.

Almost worst case scenario.

The only thing worse is if Finn would have been doubled off.

That foul ball goes straight up.

First out of the inning brings in Elle Ridgeway.

>> You know, we talked to Coach Berte and we were Marvelling at the way they handle the bat and lay the bunts down.

And he said, gosh, we just felt like for four years our bunting was horrible.

It has taken this amount of time for everything to just kind of click in.

He said, "we haven't done anything different, we haven't changed any drills."

>> Ridgeway was not bunting on that.

Holy cow!

>> No way.

>> That I think ended up on the runway across the street at the airport.

Foul.

Long foul.

>> But that -- I think that goes back to telling you what practice does.

Practice makes perfect, and they have finally gotten into a rhythm where they handle the bat and know how to get that bunt down, and it has won them several ball games heading into regional play and then here at the tournament.

>> Boy, Maro thought she hit her spot on the outside part of the plate, didn't get the call.

The 1-2 now to Ridgeway.

Swung on and missed.

Pulls the string on the change-up.

Wow, what a pitch.

Two away and the lead-off runner stays at second, as Ridgeway whispers to Thurm a couple of things and lets Jenna Thurm -- wow, yeah, she got out in front of that one.

>> And had a word for Gorsh as well in the on-deck circle as well.

That's a gutsy pitch right there.

You have a hitter that is a power hitter, just launched one foul, and then you know she is aggressive.

She wants to knock that runner in.

So you throw her a little off speed and get her out on the front foot.

>> We'll see a similar pitch in the 1A game tonight when it comes to change-up that is really slow from Flanagan in the North Lynne Martins dale/St.

Mary's game later tonight.

>> I think all of these pitchers have developed really good velocity, and whatever pitch is their best pitch -- >> Ground ball is through.

They're going to wave in Finn.

Here comes the throw, it is up the line.

Not in time.

Williamsburg scores first on a two-out RBI double for Jenna Thurm.

Here it is again, Laura.

>> Able to get that runner down to second.

And then get that key base hit, as you see Finn.

They weren't going to slow her down.

She was coming around third base.

She had her head down and they were sending her the entire time.

>> Yeah, Coach Berte almost tore a rotator cuff waving her home that way.

I think we are going to see Ava Hooker, and we are, as Jenna is mobbed on her way into the dugout.

She gets the run home.

>> You are the home team, you had the momentum, getting that 1-2-3 top of the first, knowing that you wanted to strike first when you had your chance at bat.

They were able to manufacture that run.

They got the runner down to second.

They are solid, top to bottom, one through nine.

They all can handle the bat very well.

That placement for Thurm was perfect right in between short and third.

>> Alley Gorsh to bat, the left-fielding sophomore.

That pitch is strike two.

They throw-back down the second, trying to get Hocker.

Great play by Nigey.

Stoffregen covering at the bag and Nigey trying to catch the runner.

>> Hooker is aggressive.

She is aggressive on the base pads.

She had three stolen bases in the semis.

>> Fouled off behind.

Will do it again, 0-2.

As you hear the umpire ask to see the ball to make sure it doesn't have any scuffs on it.

They will throw it back to Maro.

The Raiders trying to get another run in.

They've scored once with two out.

What can they do now with Alley Gorsh?

That pitch misses.

>> So you go back as Elle Ridgeway struck out, but she went back and talked to the next two hitters and said, here is what I saw, here is the sequence.

Take a look at that.

You have to believe that that might have helped Thurm a little bit in her plate appearance.

>> Popped up into the net but just short for Nigey.

Communication happens a lot, especially if somebody has been up there for a number of pitches.

Laura, you talked about that, that pitch that Ridgeway ripped foul and then sees the change-up.

You know, those are two very different things and maybe she picked up a tell.

That one misses as well.

2-2.

>> Well, and that just missed.

We are sitting right here behind home plate, and it is just about an inch outside on that outside corner.

Nigey tried to frame it and bring it back in.

>> Off the hands.

It is going to drop behind the pitcher's circle.

Runner is going to come home!

And score.

Didn't make it farther than 60 feet on that hit.

Hooker was running on contact and scores from second.

>> So you come in, you are the pinch runner, and as soon as she saw contact she was not stopping.

Coach Berte was sending her the entire way.

Just that little bobble by Krogman, that was one that kind of fell in between pitcher and short stop, one that Krogman maybe could have charged a little bit harder.

But I think maybe she thought Maro was going to back up and pull that one in.

>> First pitch to Taylor Pitlick is fouled away and Krogman -- normally that's a ball that you would want short, right?

You wouldn't want pitcher to go back on something like that, it is just not popped up enough.

Normally you don't want your pitcher catching a fly ball pop-up if you don't have to.

Next pitch is low.

Throw down to second.

Nobody there.

Goes into center field.

Not quite far enough as Jessie Wardlow collects and throws back.

What do you want them to do for defense?

>> If they're a good enough athlete they have to field their position.

They're not just the pitcher.

They have to be ready to get the come-backers, come in and field the bunts.

That pop-up in my opinion sitting right here, she could have gone back and pulled that one in.

>> Okay.

>> I think all of these girls are good enough athletes that that's one that is right there, that she could have backed up and maybe pocketed that one and ended the inning.

>> And it is in a state championship game where one play adds up, and it might just be five little things that make the difference in the game between victory and defeat.

We will see how that one adds up.

The 1-2 coming to Pitlick.

The high.

The throw-back in behind, boy, they almost got Gorsh again.

I like the aggressive defense here by Assumption.

As you said, playing -- Williamsburg is daring them and they don't want to get caught, but Assumption is not going to let them run all over.

Hit in the air.

This one is going to get right at the back of the infield.

That time Krogman calls off Stoffregen to make the catch and collect.

But the Raiders score on a couple of just big plays.

>> Settle in, be patient, take your pitch.

Go with the game plan.

We will be fun.

We have plenty of time to score.

One at a time.

>> Tyler Edwards in his first state championship game as a head coach, he knew he wanted to be a head coach when Assumption lost last year in the title game because he knew how his -- the girls battled back and thought, yes, this is something I want to do, and he is getting an opportunity to coach in his first season.

Inherited a heck of a good roster, and they're off to a good start this season.

Now they just have to kind of -- they're in the spot like they were last year, they're down and have to battle back.

>> I like the calm demeanor as well as far as let's just settle in, let's take advantage and take what we get.

>> Williamsburg beat Albia Monday night.

Assumption beat Sadell and waller was over bent community with home runs in that one.

Assumption beat waller to earn a birth here.

Estherville was sent to the third place game.

In the third place game Estherville beat waller 4-2 earlier today.

Here it is 2-0 as we go to the second.

Williamsburg, 2.

Assumption, 0.

Due up for Assumption it is Nigey, Odean and Miller.

First pitch from Peyton Driscoll is a ball.

>> And it is early, and you heard Coach Edwards say, we have a lot of time to score so let's get them back one at a time.

I think just that thought process when you get up to the plate is, all right, let's set the table, let's get on, let's try to get one back here if we can.

>> Williamsburg and Assumption played earlier this season at a tournament in Muscateen.

Driscoll pitched.

Maro did not pitch for Assumption.

I think Coach Edwards thought it is a little bit of an advantage for his team, as the 1-2 pitch comes from Peyton.

And that misses.

Why is that an advantage?

>> You know, I think you settle in, you see a pitcher, and if you see enough pitches from that pitcher you kind of get locked in.

You know the rhythm.

You know what you are going to see and maybe what routine and what pitches they're going to throw.

>> Cue ball shot pushed to second.

Really tough odds there to complete that play.

Nigey is going to be on base.

>> That one had some funny spin and it took a long time to get out there to second base.

Just a tough one to field, and good hustle down the line by Nigey.

>> And they're going to call that an error on Metz, their second.

Now, if she doesn't bobble it, it is still very, very close.

36 coming in to run, so that's Alexis Pilgrim.

>> 36, courtesy for the catcher.

36.

>> So we mentioned one to five plays can make a game.

Let's see if that turns out to be a game maker.

>> And see how they play that in this situation, see if they try to move that runner down to second.

>> Abbey Odean not known for bunting.

First pitch shot.

0-1.

Slapped to third off the glove.

They throw to second and get the out.

So Hughes, it ricochetted off.

Rich was able to then throw to covering Metz.

Three different players touched that on an outstanding fielders' choice.

>> That was a shot off the bat of Odean, and it got there in such a hurry they were able to get the force over at second.

It caromed perfectly over to Rich.

Had the presence of mind to flip it over and get it to second.

>> Coach would say rather be lucky than good.

>> Nice pitch spun in there by Driscoll for a first pitch strike.

So now Callie Miller will bat with one out here in the top of the second.

The bunt is put down.

It never made it out of the batter's box.

That is a quickly called foul ball.

We'll do it again.

>> Looked like they may have had a little bunt and run on as Odean was moving on the pitch.

As we said, we are going to see these two teams lay down the ball, play a little small ball.

>> The 0-2 is shot foul, just off the third base side, rolling between Hughes and Thurm who hopped up from her catcher's position.

Defense pretty much -- Hughes even with the bag.

Ridgeway behind first.

The middle infield back deep against Miller with two strikes here.

Chopped again.

Hughes throws across the diamond to Ridgeway to get the out.

They look back at second, but Miller is retired.

Two away.

>> Big, high hopper.

The smart play, not trying to get the lead runner, just get the out.

Go over to first, get the out even though you put that runner down there at second.

>> I think we're going to have another runner.

Allie Casel is going to come in and run.

So Casel will be a pinch runner in this since Odean is a fielder on that play.

So Allie Casel, who is playing left field but she is being flexed for, will enter the game to run.

The batter is Marissa Boynton.

She punches it to the right side.

Foul.

Down the screen.

>> Boynton an eighth grader, cracking this line-up.

That doesn't happen very often with this Assumption team.

>> 0-1.

Again hit.

Ridgeway can't quite get it.

Can she get back to the bag in time?

She does, to end the inning.

Nicely done.

We have played 1 1/2.

We are missing a person this year and we will tell you about the passing of Lisa BrinkMeyer.

>> That will put Lisa brink Meyer to the line.

Average is # 1 points a ball game.

>> Iowa girls high school athletic administrator Lisa Brinkmeyer lost her battle with cancer in June, a battle she was fighting more than a year.

In high school the Huck ARD Radcliff grad excelled in volleyball, golf and softball, but it is basketball where she is remembered most for winning the final six-on-six state championship in 1993.

>> 85-66, the final score.

Hubbard Radcliff, your six-on-six champion.

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

>> Whether you have played a lot or you didn't play a lot, you were still an Iowa girl.

You still knew what it was like to be involved in athletics.

As I grew older and made it to state, the state basketball tournament, I realized a lot more what the Iowa girl was.

I mean with the exception of my wedding it was one of the first times, you know, I felt like a princess, one of the few times in my life.

That is because the Iowa girls high school athletic union does that.

Wayne Cooley, he put the Iowa girl on a pedestal.

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

I would talk about my experience and they would just kind of look at me funny like I was crazy because they weren't treated the same way.

Of course, it was always neat to make it to state wherever you go, but it was just different.

They weren't, you know, celebrities because of what they had done.

You know, they were just another basketball player.

Where in Iowa, an Iowa girl stands out and they made sure of that.

>> Brink, as she was known, went on to play and coach at Drake university and eventually landed her position at ighsU.

Lisa's contributions to girls sports in Iowa on and off the court is what made her the embodiment of the Iowa girl.

>> Back here to live action.

Each time we watch that it gets almost tougher to see.

>> It really does.

Brink was a good friend to all of us here at Iowa PBS and the Iowa girls.

What she said in that is -- I mean that is the definition of an Iowa girl.

She is the definition of an Iowa girl.

>> Peyton Driscoll puts it in play across from Miller to Sons.

They're one away.

>> You know, one thing that I do want to say and one thing that Brink always would sign things off as with Drake alumni or whatever you get, number 20 in your program, number 1 in your hearts.

She will also be number 1 in all of our hearts.

>> Yes, indeed.

Very well said, Laura.

Thank you.

And it is a first pitch strike to Makenna Hughes.

Rylie Metz on deck for Williamsburg, who scored two back in the first.

The lead, 2-0 here in the bottom of the second.

As you now see pretty much a full overcast day starting to settle in, it is still a beautiful day here for softball.

It has been this way all week.

2-1 to Hughes.

>> You know, you look up and down this line-up for Williamsburg and a lot of the things that when we've talked to the players and the coaches and trying to gather a little information, every one of these or almost every one of these players on this team were on the track team.

They all have speed and they use it to their advantage here in the game of softball.

Makenna Hughes was a 4 by 100 meter champ in 2022.

That tells you that she has got to speed.

She can pass the baton and turn corners and turn the bases and just get around in an inordinate amount of time.

She just can get to places very quickly.

>> The 3-2 coming to Hughes from Maro.

Popped up on the infield.

Krogman basically on the pitching rubber.

Makes the catch as Maro steps away to let Krogman collect it.

Two away.

>> And that's one now, kind of the same thing, but this one was popped a lot higher.

It allowed Krogman the opportunity to camp underneath that one.

You could see Maro just saw that go up in the air.

She is like, okay, I know that Krogman has that one.

>> First pitch to Metz is a strike.

Had a chance to talk to Izzy Krogman's parents today at the hotel, and I said, "loading up, tough day?"

They're like, yeah, this one is going to be tough.

But I said, "you're playing in the last game of the season on diamond one."

They're like, "yeah, this will be fun."

As Metz now down, 0-2.

The second baseman looking to extend this inning.

Pitch out of the zone by Maro.

Metz also one of those track runners.

And she is out on strikes to end the second.

We played two full innings and Williamsburg maintains a 2-0 lead here in the Class 3A state championship game.

As we look at the last pitch again, just right there at the letters or right below the elbows I guess is where the zone is and that's where it caught.

>> They've been working that outside part of the plate all game long, and started out a little wide and now they've brought it in and they got the call.

Now they know where that zone is defined.

>> Let's take a look at some of our pitching up close and slowed down.

>> You can see with Driscoll, she has got the good extension.

You can see how she turns it over to get some spin on her pitches.

Good drive off the rubber.

She's just so good at mixing it up, hitting those spots.

>> Driscoll is going to go to Kirkwood and play softball.

So she's not done.

Wants to be a chiropractor.

>> Well, I was just going to -- we asked her.

I said, I know there were others, you know, that you had talked to and thought that you might continue your career on, what was so different about Kirkwood?

She said there was just a sense of -- she says I love playing fall softball and there was a sense of fall softball there, the players that she met, coaches.

You know, we asked these players, the ones that are going to go on, what is it that made you decide on where you are going to go.

More often than not, we love the coaches, the coaches are great or the facilities are really good.

But I think the number one answer is they just connect with those head coaches at those colleges.

But I thought interesting, a sense of fall softball.

It is kind of an Iowa tradition.

Years ago there was a fall softball championship that was played.

They had two seasons, fall and then summer, and kind of dropped that and kind of went to the summer.

But it is a great time to play softball in the fall.

>> The 0-2 coming to Leah Maro is put in play to short.

Rich collects, throws across to Ridgeway, and that one was not barrelled by Maro.

That's one thing Coach Berte said, a lot of teams are not squaring up and putting the barrel on the bat on a Peyton Driscoll pitch.

>> When we had a good look at that one, that was moving.

That ball was moving as it came in, and it came in and it broke away from Maro.

That's why she couldn't get the barrel of the bat on it.

>> Kathryn Snyder, the dp, freshman, bat.

Coach Edwards has high hopes for her.

And when a coach says a freshman sets high expectations and it is at Assumption, usually it is someone we see and talk about a lot for the next couple of years.

>> Yeah, as many trips as these two teams have made to the state tournament, you get to know them.

>> And it is lifted in the air to left, but hangs up just enough for Allie Gorsh to run in and grab it.

And there's two away and the top of the order will come up for Jessie Wardlow.

I don't think that one was cleared either, Laura.

At least it didn't have a good sound to it.

>> No, it sounded like it was off the end of the bat but got some good distance out of it.

Got to muscle into it.

You can get some of those off the barrel of the bat, then you're going to get them to drop.

You are going to find the gaps.

But it is trying to solve Peyton Driscoll and figure out can you win that game of "what is she going to throw me now."

You don't want to get up there and start guessing, but you have to look and see, figure out what part of the zone you want to attack.

>> The 0-1 to Maro is a called strike.

Grounded out to the pitcher in her last at bat.

Driscoll has been ahead in the count more times than not so far in this game.

Hit back at Driscoll again.

Ping-pongs around.

Throws to Ridgeway.

Gets Wardlow by half a step to retire the side.

1-2-3 go the Knights.

Look at that play again.

Driscoll, she kind of told us yesterday -- or back on Wednesday how, you know, she -- a lot of balls put in play.

when it came back to me, and she waits a half a second there, she doesn't get the out.

>> You're right.

I mean you've got speed coming down the line and that was a shot, and you are just covering up for protection on that one and you just want to knock it down and find the ball and make the good throw across to first base.

She -- twice Wardlow has come right back to her, not as hard, but harder the second time.

>> Let's see Leah Maro now in slow motion and see what she does, Laura.

>> When we talked about these two pitchers being very similar number wise, and then as far as the pitches that they throw, the mechanics and all of that, all very similar.

>> We've seen Leah pitch in this championship game before, last year against Mount Vernon.

This year against Williamsburg.

More times than not you put a pin in Assumption to be in this last game of the season.

That pitch misses to Shannon Finn.

Finn, Rich and Ridgeway due up for Williamsburg, who hold a 2-0 lead here in the bottom of the third.

>> Yeah, talking about being at the tournament and how often they get here, champs in 2017, '18, '19 and '21.

Runners up in 2016 and 2022.

So eight straight appearances here.

>> On the infield, Krogman calls the pop-up and retires Shannon Finn to start the Williamsburg third.

>> And in those eight straight appearances their record, counting this year, 20 and 3.

That's a pretty good track record when you get to Fort Dodge.

>> They lost to Williamsburg in 2020 in the semifinals and then lost a title game in '16 and in '22, last year to Mount Vernon.

I don't know if 2017 extends one day or two, we started on a Friday and ended on a Saturday on the famous late-night game of 2017.

The 1-0 is high and tight on Rich.

2-0.

>> Yeah, it is all coming back.

I remember walking, I got more than 10,000 steps in that night.

I just kept walking around the ballpark, waiting for that game to end until we could get back on.

Who was that?

That was -- that was city Regina.

>> Pettiville, Fremont.

>> 16 innings.

>> 3-0 coming to Carly Rich.

Misses and Rich is on board with a one-out walk.

Maro didn't walk anybody against Seidell and has walked one today.

>> The one to start the ball game has come around to score.

So you don't want to put those runners on, give them an advantage because of the speed of this team.

>> Ridgeway fouls it into the net behind.

You mentioned the speed.

Rich, 20 stolen bases, 37 runs on the season.

Part of it is because Ridgeway or Thurm knocks her in, but also because she is in scoring position.

>> We might see a hit and run here.

You might see the running going motion.

>> Ridgeway hits it high in the air to right.

That is back.

Odean gets turned around.

They're going to wave around Rich.

Ridgeway into second on an RBI double, and, Laura, the walk comes back to bite again and score for Williamsburg.

>> Maro has not walked a lot of hitters over the course of the season or in this tournament, and you can see Odean just gets kind of turned around.

Reached out to try to grab it and Coach Berte sending Rich the entire way as Elle Ridgeway hustles in to second base.

>> Ridgeway gets a big, old hand from the fans above the third base dugout.

So we're going to have a pinch runner for Williamsburg.

It is going to be Ava Hooker again.

Ridgeway was the courtesy.

Let's listen in to Adam Bertee.

>> If she starts to come at you, like starts to step towards you, try to get back quick.

But if she just throws it from where she is at -- >> Just try to go short -- >> I don't think so.

>> Adam Berte wearing his Tater tot shirt today which has significance for him and many in Williamsburg.

For Tate Schaeffer, it would have been a freshman, died this year of brain cancer.

Again, softball is more than just a sport.

It is a teaching moment.

It is a life moment to put games into perspective.

These are children's games that we are playing.

Enjoy the action, have fun playing softball, but remember there's more to life.

>> Yeah, there is.

Everybody kind of takes a little break while we're playing these games, and then there are things that you have to deal with outside of it.

>> Thurm, off the glove.

Back out at first.

Safe at the plate.

Hooker comes around on the ground ball.

Back to Maro, who throws quick to Sons.

Sons turns, came to the plate as you see, but, man, just blink and Hooker scores.

4-0, Williamsburg.

>> Well, with Hooker on base, she never stopped coming around third.

Very close there at the plate as Assumption did execute very well and Sons is doing a great job of getting the out and then turning and throwing home.

But the speed again gets there ahead of the throw.

>> Almost like Hooker was running on contact, even though it wasn't two out.

>> Well, you heard 'em talking during the time-out there that, you know, how far should I get, and if she comes at you, meaning if Nigey comes at you, where do you go?

Do you want to go back to second in that kind of thing.

So shifts going to be aggressive.

Great catch out there in center field by Wardlow.

>> And that will end Williamsburg inning but not before they tack on two more to extend their lead, 4-0.

We will come back with the middle innings here in Fort Dodge after this.

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♪ ♪ >>> A couple of runs for Williamsburg in the first and third make it a 4-0 lead for Williamsburg as we go to the fourth.

Two, three and four up for the ninth.

Krogman in the box now.

If anybody gets on, Odean.

Is this playing out the way you thought?

>> In a way.

I thought it would be closer.

The thing is Williamsburg is taking advantage of their base runners and they've taken advantage of the walk, and that's exactly what they've done.

They've gotten a runner on.

They've advanced and then they've gotten the clutch hit and the key hit and they've taken chances on the base pads, and it has paid off.

You know, you give Driscoll this little bit of a lead, it will be tough to come back on her.

But, you know, Assumption has to go up to the plate now thinking, all right, we need base runners.

Figure out a way to get on.

Figure out what you can do and be patient at the plate.

So far we're seeing Krogman be patient at the plate, work the count in her favor.

They can get a walk of their own, maybe they can take advantage of that.

>> 3-0, get-over strike from Driscoll.

The 3-1 is hit towards short.

With it is Rich, over to Ridgeway.

There's one away.

The Knights have only had one base runner, and it came on an error, and then that runner was erased on a fielder's choice the next play.

So Ridgeway at first makes that play as we get a look there at Rich.

Driscoll pumps it in there.

I know we will get another good look at Driscoll on her right side as we see Helen Sons, who grounded out in her last at bat.

Now that the sun is away it is taking away a little of the effect of the glitter.

We are going to see a lot of glitter today.

Hit towards the first base side, and passed a diving Metz.

That's the first hit of the game for Assumption.

So Driscoll retired nine outs -- yeah, just too far there for Metz.

>> Yeah.

And she was adjusted, had shifted over a little bit, playing more towards first base, but Sons able to pound that into the ground and get enough topspin on it to sneak it in to right field and get on base.

>> Driscoll, winds.

And swung on and hit towards the net and foul.

The ninth looks a little different here.

As we were going to break, Tyler Edwards was talking to hit team.

It didn't look like a tail chewing but it certainly looked like he said a couple of things to get their attention in that break.

>> You know, sometimes all it takes is getting one base hit.

They're starting to hit it hard now.

So, you know, it takes that one base hit to kind of shake the nerves and rattle that dugout a little bit, and knowing that you are running out of outs and innings you have to make some things happy.

>> Baylie Von Ahsen makes the catch in right for the second out of the Knights' inning here in the fourth.

That will bring in Abby Odean.

We mentioned it a lot in the third because there wasn't much squared up but there's been a lot more contact, a lot of pulls, a lot of well-smacked softballs going where the pitch is if you are a righty and taking it to right.

>> They seemed a little more tentative in the first few innings and now they're becoming more aggressive at the plate.

A little more free swinging.

>> And it is the second time through the order.

>> Uh-huh.

>> The 0-1 to Odean coming from Driscoll.

Is low.

We mentioned it briefly, about the other time these two teams played and the Knights did see Driscoll.

So, you know, it has been a month and a half, and now you are like, oh, yeah, that's right, that pitch does this.

Oh, yeah, that one does this.

The 1-1.

Odean watches it.

For a ball.

>> Odean kind of held her breath on that.

She looked back and said, did you just say ball?

Oh, good.

She kind of had that -- she froze for a moment.

>> Driscoll's pitch.

Odean.

Behind the third baseline.

It is going to roll all the way to the tarp.

They're going to send Sons to third and now two aboard, two outs here.

Callie Miller up now for the Knights with a chance to make this game a whole lot closer.

>> Boy, Odean just fought that one off and kind of inside out of that swing, dropped it just inside the chalk line to set up Davenport Assumption.

>> Sons goes to third.

Odean at second.

I'm not sure -- Coach Edwards I think really wanted to send Sons initially and held up.

That ball is cue ball to second.

Over to Ridgeway and the inning is over just like that.

So the Raiders take a breath and they get a huge out right there.

We are going to get a chance here in a moment to talk to Assumption head coach Tyler Edwards as he is putting on the headset here.

Stay with us in between these two innings as Coach Edwards is with us now.

Coach, we didn't get a chance to hear what you said ahead of that, but what Laura and I were just talking about, it looked like your girls squared the bat up a lot better on the pitches in that inning.

Is that true?

>> We're making our adjustments right now so we're starting to get on to her.

We're going to get these runs back so we're working on it now.

>> What have you seen pitching wiles for Leah?

>> She settled in right now.

The first inning she was a little nervous but settled in now, starting to hit her spots more and spin the ball.

So it is starting to jump a little more for us, they're having a little more trouble.

It doesn't seem like they're squaring balls up on her, they've dinged balls and nothing too hard.

>> Are you having fun in this championship game on the third base side now?

>> Yes, it is a good time.

I will have a little more fun once we score a few more runs.

>> Appreciate your time.

>> Thank you.

>> That's Tyler Edwards, first year as head coach of the Assumption Knights.

He is a person who has been to this tournament as an assistant last year and he is coming at an 81-degree day, wind out of the north/northwest at 6 miles an hour.

The stars and stripes standing up there real nice.

Real nice there, Clark.

We got ourselves a beautiful day.

>> It really is.

It is a perfect day to be playing softball.

It is not too hot, not a ton of wind, and this is just a perfect setting for these championships here today.

>> Williamsburg comes to bat here in the bottom of the fourth with a 4-0 lead.

First pitch from Maro bounces away.

So Miller ended that threat.

Boy, that was -- that had potential to be a huge inning all of a sudden for Assumption.

>> You could see the confidence come through for Assumption, and so that's going to carry over.

I think the one thing here defensively is they've got to get out of this 1-2-3 to get back up to the plate.

>> So Pitlick fouled that one away and evens up the count with a ball and a strike.

Taylor in her last at bat popped up to the shortstop.

Swung on.

Right edge.

Short again.

Krogman fields.

Throws across to Sons to retire the first Raider of the inning.

>> Boy, those are tough ones that come right at you.

They are getting ready to hit the ground.

You just have to block them and know once you field it you have to come up throwing quickly, and that's exactly what Krogman did.

She just got down, blocked it.

Made a great throw across.

>> You must have been watching them warm-up because that is exactly what they work on at every level in the pregame, in the dirt areas between first and third.

They hit balls that look exactly like that to Krogman, the ones that bounce two feet in front of the player and you have to -- you know, you have to have your hands in the right spot or you are not going to be playing, let's put it that way.

>> Yeah, you might get one off the chin, you might get one off the shoulder.

There's another hard hit.

>> Driscoll is retired as Callie Miller goes across to Sons.

So far a quick-working inning for Leah Maro here in the fourth.

You know, you think of the thousands of ground because these players have taken by the time they get to this level in play, especially if you are a senior.

All of those games that they have played, all of these situations, it has elevated the game.

>> It is paying attention to detail and the love of the game and the love of wanting to play softball and play softball in the summer, and being out here representing your team, playing for your high school and playing with your friends.

These young women just love it.

They love going to practice.

They love working.

You know, I know practice is not fun.

>> Whether it is two or three hours long.

>> Two or three, yeah.

I mean we talked to Coach Berte and I said, did I hear right, do you have three-hour practices?

He said, well, sometimes.

>> He didn't deny it.

>> But, you know, the thing he said is yeah, we do drills, we do hitting, we do fielding and then we take part of the practice and we set up situations where we put varsity versus JV and you are down two in the sixth inning, so how are we going to play this.

They throw out different situations, more like a scrimmage type.

That makes practice go a little quicker.

>> Krogman fields the three hopper and retires Hughes.

Very quick work in that inning.

All three pitches stay in the infield, and Williamsburg puts a zero up on the board here.

Coach Adam Berte joins us now.

We were just talking about your practices.

What practice has made perfect for this game so far for you?

>> I don't know.

We practice everything, so just trying to play the game.

>> What are the girls doing well here?

>> Running the bases well.

Ava has been a difference maker, being able to steal bases and take extra bases when you wouldn't normally be able to with her speed.

Jenna has hit a couple of balls hard, got a two-out hit in the first inning.

It was important to score, get first one on the board.

Other than that, keep doing what we're doing.

>> What have you noticed from Peyton in the circle?

We talked about it with Coach ED ward right before we talked to you, and Lauren and I both think it doesn't look like they're squaring up as much on Peyton's pitches?

Is that accurate?

>> It seems they're hitting balls off the end of the bat and we made most of the plays.

>> Hey, real quick, tell us about your shirt.

>> In is Tate Schaeffer was a student, Williamsburg, fifth grade diagnosed with cancer, died a couple of years ago.

Big Williamsburg family.

So, you know, everybody knows him and we all miss him.

>> And he's here in this championship game.

Thanks, coach.

Adam Berte, who collected his 200th win earlier this season and, as we said, the dean of coaches in the games be played today.

Good to hear from him.

>> Well, first of all, you know, it was his 200th win in the regional finals and we mentioned it was a big game because Driscoll got her 900th career strikeout in that ball game.

I think what he is thinking right now is everything is good, is where we want it.

We are hitting the ball hard, we are taking advantages on the bases.

I think that's where it has helped them build this lead, the speed of his team has helped them build the lead.

>> Pitch number 46 for Peyton Driscoll of the game was a strike.

And that one is hit into right and it might be close but it gets by Von Ahsen and digging down to second.

It will be a hit with an error.

Boynton advanced there.

And if you are Assumption you will take that.

You get the lead-off runner on and she gets all the way to second.

So Leah Maro, a chance to help herself here.

She grounded out back in the third.

At that time Driscoll was kind of rolling pitching wise.

She had only let one runner on at that time.

She is still pitching with a 4-0 lead.

Hit in the air.

That is in center, coming in to make the grab is Shannon Finn and Maro takes the first pitch to make the first route of this inning.

>> They're being aggressive at the plate and starting to put pressure on this Williams burg team.

Got underneath that one and launched it into center field, just not far enough to do anything and an easy out.

>> Snyder looking to make a tournament memory.

First pitch is a strike.

Or a motivation.

You have heard somewhere someone might not have a great game in seventh or eighth grade and it motivates them in the off-season.

Let's see what Snyder can do.

Bunt.

Offers and it is a strike.

>> Just couldn't get that down, and you could see the adjustment defensively as they brought Rich was coming over to cover third base as they charged from the corners.

So not a chance to advance that runner.

>> Peyton Driscoll asks time and she gets Jenna Thurm to come out.

These two have a good chemistry and have been together for a long time.

>> Yeah.

They have been together for a really long time, I think since they said they were in fourth grade.

>> Yeah.

>> Worked together and came up through some of their travel ball teams and they know each other very well.

>> Peyton said, "if I shake something off she usually knows what to put down right away because she knows my wave length."

Clearly what they just talked about worked as Snyder is struck out.

That is, oddly enough, the first strikeout of the game for Snyder.

Or for Driscoll as she gets Snyder.

>> Yeah, and that's a good call by Driscoll to say, "come out, let's talk about this," because they do get the call from the dugout and the pitching coach and the coaches in there, and if it is not something that she likes and wants to shake it off, Thurm knows exactly where to go and what pitch to call.

>> And let's not forget that Marissa Boynton is at second, who can also see some of the action and can signal one thing or another.

2-0 pitch to the lead-off batter, Jessie Wardlow, who is 0 for 2.

Two ground outs in this game.

Wardlow, first team all conference last year.

Last year she was on the all-tournament team.

Pretty good basketball player as well.

>> Well, all of these athletes, they're multi-sport athletes.

We talked about some of the players that have run track and there are volleyball players and golf players, and Helen Sons is a tennis player.

I mean we have got everybody that -- everybody does something a little different, but they're multi-sport athletes.

They are all involved, and I asked somebody the other day, I said, how is the time management?

They go, it is really helping us become better people and down the road when we get to college and later on in life learning how to manage our time and be productive.

>> And they have to go to class, too.

>> Yeah.

>> They have to learn how to tackle that.

>> A little thing about going to class and getting good grades.

>> Going out quickly for a conference, Hughes first was in the circle with Driscoll and now Thurm comes out, as they cover the glove -- or their mouth with the glove.

Here comes Thurm as Darrell Erickson says, all right, let's go.

We have to keep the pace moving.

>> Two balls, to strikes.

>> The 3-2 coming.

Foul and out of play.

As we get a look at the backside of the complex there, you can see quite a few fans there in the stands for both of these teams, Williamsburg.

More in the white and red as you see there, whereas the almost USA fans, their shirts this year are black.

That misses, so ball four.

Ward low is aboard with a two-out walk.

That puts two on, two out, same situation as last inning but a different order.

This is Izzy Krogman.

Krogman grounded out to short and I'm guessing that's what Williamsburg would like now, to induce one of those ground balls.

>> That was a veteran at bat by Wardlow.

She did a good job of fouling off pitches, taking some pitches, got it full and was not too anxious to swim at that rise ball and let it slide by for the walk.

>> 1-0.

Misses.

And now Driscoll has been ahead a lot of these batters in the first, second and third inning, kind of a mix in the fourth.

In the fifth she has been pitching uphill, and that one misses as well.

3-0 and she is a strike -- or 3-0.

She is a strike away from loading the bases here with Helen Sons up.

This game can change real quickly, Laura.

>> It can and they're doing it all right now with two outs.

>> Thurm was set up out and that ball tailed back in.

I don't know if that was a ploy.

>> That just shows you how good Thurm is back behind the plate to be able -- she is thinking out on the outer part.

And they go inside, they coming side again, get that -- well, the outer half of the plate.

It wasn't so much right down the middle.

>> It looked pretty close to being down the middle.

Yeah, I was with you on that.

At first I'm like, wait a minute, that's the middle of the plate.

>> Now you have runners going.

Full count, two out.

>> 3-2 swung on, across to first.

For the third time this game, Krogman grounds out.

That ends a rally opportunity.

Oh, big out for Williamsburg here in the fifth to erase the two runners.

Man, Krogman gets down the line in a hurry.

>> She really does.

I mean she hustles down, digging hard, knowing that she can beat that out, she keeps that inning alive.

>>> let's go to Tim Fitzpatrick as he is going to join us in singing.

>> Fifth inning stretch join with me in singing "take me out to the ball game."

Let me hear you.

♪ ♪ ♪ Take me out to the ball game ♪ ♪ Take me out to the crowd ♪ >> Are you singing?

♪ Buy me some peanuts and cracker Jacks ♪ ♪ I don't care if I ever get back ♪ ♪ For it is root, root, root, root for the ♪ ♪ If they don't win it is a shame ♪ ♪ For it's ♪ ♪ One, two, three ♪ ♪ Strikes you're out at the old ball game ♪ >> Thank you, Mr. Fitzpatrick.

I believe -- I could be wrong here.

Chuck schaUfner on the organ?

>> Yes, Chuck Schaufner on the organ.

I didn't realize he was so good at that.

>> Multi-talented folks in the box.

First pitch to Riley Mets is a a -- Rylie Metz is a ball here in the fifth.

9-1-2.

Popped up in the net.

It will even up the count.

Leah Maro going to pitch at St. Ambrose, stay in Davenport, just move down Locust Street.

>> Coach Edwards thinks she is probably in his mind one of the best pitchers in the state, and she has proven that throughout her career.

>> That one is well hit to left center.

It is going to bounce off the wall.

It is going to be a double on a slide by Rylie Metz.

I was just about to say Coach has been looking for a big hit from Rylie Metz, says she is due for a big hit, and she delivers.

>> She did.

And she made the adjustment at the plate.

Went down and got it, got the end of the bat out on it, drove it right into the gap.

>> Well, top of the order, Shannon Finn.

She was 2 for 3 against TLC.

Batter was out.

Said she was out of the box when she hit it.

So there will be no moving up of Metz.

She will have to go back to third.

Finn is out on the call as Darrell Erickson made that call right away.

You can hear the audio there on the replay or on the play from the umpire.

>> Right away they were right on top of that, but that's what Williamsburg has done the entire tournament, is lay that bunt down.

At one point I think it was in the quarterfinals they laid down five straight bunts and were able to execute that and push runs across.

>> 1-0 from Maro.

Upstairs.

And Coach Berte says it is not like we were bad at it, just not good at it.

He said, I don't think there's anything magical that clicked, it is just -- >> Practice.

>> It is just practice.

>> Yeah.

>> Something finally stuck.

2-0.

That was one of the first things you said to me when I saw you on Wednesday, was, "look at all of these teams that bunt."

This year a lot more were bunting.

Any reason why?

>> You know, asking some of the coaches if a bunt had come back into favor -- >> Hit in the air towards Odean and right.

That probably will be enough to get the runner up and running.

Tagging with Metz so she is at third with the fly ball from Rich.

>> Again, taking advantage on the speed to the out to right field.

They're taking some chances.

Odean makes a good throw, just a little up the line.

But going back to your question, you know, yes, we are seeing more bunting.

Coaches are saying because the pitchers are getting so good, we're seeing a lot of rise-ball pitchers.

We are seeing a lot of velocity from these pitchers, and it is hard to score runs.

So how do you manufacture runs?

How do you get runs across?

Put it in play.

Make 'em field it.

Make 'em come in and have to converge on the ball.

Make that play, if you have a runner on third, my goodness, we have seen Williamsburg squeeze runners home a ton here in this tournament.

And so I think we're going to see more of that because these pitchers are getting more and more refined and better with their pitches.

>> Ridgeway punches it to right.

Stoffregen over to Sons to end the inning.

So Williamsburg leaves a runner on base but they still hold a 4-0 lead, and they did it a number of ways including back in the first inning.

They had a walk that came around to score on an RBI double by Jenna Thurm.

That thing went into left and then that was allowing one run to score.

Thurm went down to second on the throw and then back into third.

A couple of bobbles there allowed for another run to score on Gorsh's hit.

And then Ridgeway had a double in the third that scored Carly Rich.

Again, just the ball kind of hanging around just enough, bang-bang play to score the runner there, and that's how we are at this point, 4-0 as we go to the sixth for Assumption.

That ball came straight up for pitcher comparison.

>> That's what we talked about coming into the ball game, these pitchers coming in number one and number two in 3A.

But look at those strikeouts, very close in comparison, batting averages very close, walks very similar.

In this ball game it has been the walks that have come back to hurt Assumption, and you see those low numbers.

That is something that has not happened a lot this season for ether of these teams, but Williamsburg taking advantage of what was given to them.

>> I like how you are such a pro, as the ball hits the monitor that you were supposed to read that off of and you just calmly picked it up and read it off, but I know you had them in your head, too.

So great job, Laura.

>> I didn't realize the ball was coming at us until it was too late.

Thank goodness these nettings are very strong.

>> Helen Sons leads off for Davenport Assumption here in the sixth.

This pitch is low.

The netting a couple of years old here.

It went from chain link fence, and you just hope the netting -- there's a look inside the Assumption dugout as they are really trying to rally this team.

Got to get some base runners on.

This time they have to be able to push them across.

Three hits.

0-3-0 for Assumption.

4-4-2 for Williamsburg.

>> We've seen Driscoll over the last couple of innings get behind in the count.

Assumption is getting those runners on base.

They haven't been able to get that clutch hit that they need.

>> Sons, the team leader in RBIs with 35.

She will take a home run, but to just get the one with nobody on base right now, she really wanted to bat that last inning with a runner on but that ground ball ended the rally.

Williamsburg dodged a bullet and faces Sons with the bases empty.

3-2 pitch.

High.

Sons is going to be on board.

To start the sixth.

For the second straight inning, the Knights have put the lead-off runner, Adam Berte makes his way to the circle.

Guess what?

We're going to listen in.

>> Yes, the runner at first, not fast, okay, but we field the ball first, make a throw.

Just right at 'em.

Okay.

Don't worry about the zone, just make good pitches.

Okay.

Here we go.

Get out.

>> Did he come out early?

Do you expect him to come out that early in that situation?

They've been in more dire straits earlier.

>> No, I don't.

I think you don't want it to get out of hand, and I think that he has seen that Driscoll has gotten behind in the count with a lot of hitters, and so it is a good little stoppage of play for him to come out and say, hey, throw strikes, just throw strikes, we will play defense.

We can just get outs, we can go ahead and give up a run.

>> Charlotte takes the first pitch, lines it up to center, Sons to second.

Nigey smoked that thing right up the middle.

>> Assumption has been knocking and knocking and knocking at the door.

They have not been able to get that door to open up.

This is the best chance that they have had the entire ball game to be able to push some runs across.

>> And we are going to have a courtesy runner coming in.

It will be Alexis Pilgrim.

Lexie goes to first in place of Charlotte Nigey who will head back into the dugout and put the catching gear on.

She hopes she has to take it off before the -- she has to go back out to catch, which means the Knights will have batted around.

First pitch to Odean is a strike.

>> That was a really good location of that pitch, and Odean knew it, too.

She couldn't pull the trigger on it and probably didn't want to make an attempt on it.

>> Odean, who will continue her career at southeastern community college in Burlington.

Last year Coach Ron Farrell talked about how Odean's confidence picked up as the year went on and she just got to be a much-used clutch for them towards the end of the season.

That has kind of carried over this year for Abbie.

Hit well into center and it will be to her right.

A couple of steps, Shannon Finn to record first out of the sixth.

>> Hit it on a line as well.

You are right.

Her confidence level had grown from the end of last year into this season.

I think this team is starting to settle in.

It is getting late, but they're settling in and they're starting to make some noise.

>> Allie Miller bats now.

Miller, 0 for 2.

A couple of ground outs in this game.

>> Been steady for them all season.

Has come through with a lot of clutch hits.

>> Right up to the middle.

Driscoll fields her position and doubles off pilgrim.

Again, just when you think Williamsburg is about to have the door bust open they slam it shut and end the rally.

They go to the bottom of the sixth leading, 4-0.

The crowd loves it.

Look at that play.

>> You get in a little bit of trouble and the defense picks you up.

In this case the pitcher picks herself up.

Got into a little bit of a jam, but right there -- she has had some shots that have come back at her, and she has been able to field everything cleanly.

>> You know, Peyton Driscoll, haven't even had a chance to mention a couple of things for her that are of importance before we get away on her pitching.

You have talked about all of those stats and all of those things.

She is here, a couple of family things I need to mention.

Everybody knows I love to talk family.

Her younger sister Kenzie is the manager and they're rooming together here at state.

She has a younger sister, Miley, and a shout-out to her dad who coached her in AAU along with Scott Metz.

She says her dad Chad is her biggest supporter.

Think Chad is nervous right now?

>> I think all parent are nervous right now.

You know, a lot of my friends who had their daughters and sons play all the way down to little league, parent get nervous all the time.

>> Yes, they do, Laura, for whatever the activity.

>> It doesn't matter if it is sports.

It could be anything.

It could be if you are in show choir or if you are in the school play or whatever it might be, parents just -- everybody gets a little nervous, and rightly so.

Why not?

It is a good nervous.

It is a fun nervous.

>> It is a good nervous.

In that position right now, and, yeah, there have been times, okay, come on, just do what you need to do.

There's nothing I could say or do right now as a parent, it is up to you and it is your moment and I will let you have it.

1-2 coming.

Change-up.

Ground to Krogman.

Scoops great play across to Sons to get the first out.

>> Krogman has been so solid over there at short.

Another short hopper as she charges that, comes on strong.

Fields it cleanly and gets the out.

>> Alley Gorsh to bat, the sophomore.

A lot of sophomores mixed in with this senior class for Williamsburg.

Let's just say a team might get new uniforms next year if you are Williamsburg.

Do you think they go with the long pants next year?

>> Well, we asked players and coaches alike where was the tradition of the long pants and when did that happen.

>> Krogman on the pop-up to retire Gorsh.

>> And I think Coach Berte said it might have been his second group of seniors that decided, all right, we want to choose these uniforms.

He goes, great, I don't care what you do, as long as you're comfortable, as long as you feel good and you play well, that's fine, we can go with long pants.

Then we asked, well, will that continue.

I don't know who we asked.

He said, well, Elle Ridgeway kind of liked the long pants and, well, she is a senior and she is graduating so maybe next year might be something a little different.

>> I think that sophomore class might have something to say.

As Taylor Pitlick comes in, is 0 for 2, looking for her first hit of this game.

Bats with two outs here in the sixth.

In that DP position.

Driscoll waits on deck.

You are Peyton, you think you want one more at bat.

And she might just get it as the count goes to 3-0 on Taylor Pitlick, the sophomore.

The pitch from Maro.

It is a strike.

The white "W" for Williamsburg, which if you have traveled I-80 between Des Moines and Iowa city, you have seen the signs for Williamsburg, if you are on your way to Fort Dodge.

That is swung on and hit over the head of Odean.

It is going to go all the way to the wall.

Digging in for second, Taylor Pitlick with a double with two outs here in the sixth.

Right field has been a popular place for a lot of hits for the Raiders.

>> It sure has.

She was able to get hold of that one, turn on it and send it.

That was just a nice, easy, compact swing that got over the head of Odean.

Got out there in a hurry.

You can see how quickly Pitlick got down to second.

>> Taylor Sanchez to run for Pitlick there at second.

We have a conference in the circle there with Davenport Assumption, a familiar face to this tournament, Allie Timmons.

>> Yeah, Allie Timmons pitched for Davenport Assumption, went on to initially the university of Iowa and then transferred to Drake university and has kind of become their pitching coach and has worked with these pitchers.

You can see made that circle visit there, and she just has done a really nice job of kind of honing all of these pitchers.

She's really strong and really good in her day, and still is.

A lot of these pitchers for Assumption work with Trent Ruble who was a pitching coach and they've all kind of come up through that system.

I know Coach Edwards said, you know, she sits next to me on the bucket in that dugout and we talk about things and we talk about strategy.

>> They throw down to second.

Now to third, and Sanchez is going to be there.

So now Driscoll can help herself on an 0-2 pitch and get one more run before she goes out to try to get the final three outs.

>> They forced the issue on that.

They got that big lead, got out right around halfway between second and third, forced the throw.

Able to take advantage of it getting to third.

>> Sons makes the grab in foul territory and it is down to the final three outs of this contest.

Davenport Assumption as they huddle up, we'll listen in.

>> -- clean up -- ready for that.

>> Hey, remember our first meeting, I played that audio of the last outs of the game, right?

We need to change that scoring now, okay.

Let's play the audio for next year of you guys coming back and winning this game.

Okay.

You can do it.

Don't give up.

We can still do this.

Okay.

Come on.

Have confidence.

>> We want -- >> Want it more now.

>> Have confidence.

>> The final three when we return.

>> They're three outs away as we begin the seventh inning.

This is Class 3A softball in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

It has been a 4-0 contest in the last game for 3A and Williamsburg leads.

It is up to 7-8-9 for Assumption.

Marissa Boynton.

If you are the ninth, you have to roll that line-up over to give yourself a chance.

That pitch is rolled in there.

The Knights are about a pitch away from the third consecutive inning of putting the lead-off batter on after struggling to get runners in first three innings.

>> They've been able to dodge the bullet over the last three innings because of the good defense.

You heard Coach Edwards, kind of that little motivational speech about don't give up, come back.

Let's change the tune of the final audio from last year.

Let's talk about having an audio of the Knights coming back.

>> Boynton had a hit back in the fifth and then advanced to.

>> Calm, cool collected, the eighth grader leading off as we get another visit from Coach Berte.

>> Just challenge them, right at them.

They won't be able to hit enough to get four runs.

We'll make the play.

Here we go.

Finish off.

>> I think he is right, at least so far, but here is the thing.

Assumption doesn't -- you can't keep them down three times on the third time, fourth time through that order you would think.

So if you are Williamsburg you really have to take care of seven, eight, nine, buckle down here.

>> Right.

You like the confidence though too.

Just challenge 'em.

The defense will -- the defense will back you up.

>> That pitch is inside to Leah Maro who wants to pitch one more inning at least here.

Runner at first is Boynton.

That one catches the plate.

Hit up the middle.

That's going to get through for a base hit.

The Knights will have two on, nobody out, and Kathryn Snyder, the freshman, coming up.

Sometimes, Laura, the biggest heroes come from the unexpected.

We're going to have a runner for Assumption, Maddie Edwards.

It will be a courtesy runner.

So Boynton will go to second.

Edwards will be at first.

Snyder, who is 0 for 2, fly ball in the third, strikeout in the fifth.

That was Driscoll's only strikeout of the game.

>> Well, we knew these two teams could hit the ball and we talked about how both these pitchers are strikeout pitchers, but these line-ups are pretty tough.

It took a while for Assumption to get things rolling.

They've had their opportunities the last couple of innings.

This, again, might be the best shot to try to push some runs across, change the momentum, get back in their dugout.

>> As we push past 4:00 here, does the clock strike 12:00 on Assumption's comeback?

Fouled into the net.

Now two strikes on Snyder.

>> Again, that ball was dancing and kind of came in and worked on the hands of Snyder.

>> The largest deficit overcome in a title game is four runs.

The last time we did it -- Ground ball to first.

Ridgeway is going to step on it, throw to first, look to second and record the first out.

The last team to overcome four-run deficit in '21 was Assumption.

They were down 5-1 to Mount Vernon in the fifth and they won that game, 10-6.

Remember that one?

>> I do remember that one.

>> Yeah.

>> That was a wild one.

You're exactly where you want to be.

You top your order up, two runners in scoring position.

Let's see if Wardlow can come through with a clutch hit.

>> They need her right now.

The runners are moved up to second and third, Boynton at third, Edwards add second.

Wardlow, 0 for 2, a couple of ground out and a walk, needs to reach base here.

One out in the seventh.

The pitch fouled into the screen on the left side.

Now Driscoll.

Digging in.

Trying to find that extra gear here to get home.

>> And you are willing to give up the run to get the out to get you a little bit closer.

>> The bunt is shown.

They're going to switch softballs.

Peyton Driscoll, her mother and also Carly Rich's mother on the '95 state team for Williamsburg.

Looking to do a little legacy work here in Williamsburg school history.

The first pitch -- or the next pitch to Wardlow is out for a strike.

2-2.

>> Some of the players said the interest in this team picked up back in 2021.

People were coming to the ballpark early.

They were coming as early at 9:00 a.m., setting up lawn chairs to watch this team play.

>> Lifted in the air toward left.

In initially is the left fielder, Gorsh, and she catches it and Boynton has to stay at third as it wasn't deep enough.

Wardlow is the second out of the inning and it is up to Izzy Krogman.

Krogman has made some great plays in the field, has grounded out to short every single time at bat.

She is looking to flip that script right here and extend this contest.

Williamsburg, 4.

Assumption, 0.

The Knights have two on, two out here in the seventh.

That one is low for a ball.

Izzy has only struck out once all season.

Great plate discipline.

What can she do here?

Is low.

>> She is a contact-type of hitter.

That's what you want at the plate.

>> Yeah.

>> Somebody that can put the ball in play, maybe find the opening on the infield.

>> We say in kid ball, walk is as good as a hit, right, in this situation if you are Assumption.

Driscoll comes back with a strike at the knees.

2-1.

Hit in the air.

Up, Gorsh goes back.

Has the catch.

And for the first time in school history, Williamsburg wins a state softball title!

The year is 2023.

>> Get that celebration right there in the circle.

And, I tell you what, they dodged several bullets.

Assumption tried to come back.

They put runners on.

They threatened multiple times, and the pitching and the defense of Williamsburg able to workaround the base runners.

Didn't give up a run and able to win a state title.

>> Knights left eight on base.

Comeback is huge in this contest.

>> Yeah, opportunities that they could not cash in on, and you look back and Williamsburg was able to get runners on.

They took some chances.

They were aggressive on the base pads, and they made those things count.

They were going to make Assumption make those plays but they got some timely hitting, really good base running, able to push those runs across early and then add a couple more midway through.

>> So Williamsburg and Assumption shake hands after this classic game, championship in 3A.

Williamsburg wins both meetings for this year.

Charting with Adam Berte, he won 200 games this season.

Now we're going to meet the teams and a trophy presentation and the handing of a pink shirt is under way.

Coach Berte in the faded hat, the lucky hat.

He might just put that in glass.

>> I don't know.

I think he thinks there's probably a lot more wins left in that faded hat.

>> Presenting the Class 3A alternative team medals is farm bureau representative Andy Hill.

Here is your Class 3A alternative team for 2023.

From Williams burg, Shannon Finn.burg, Shannon Finn.

From Assumption, Leah Maro.

From waller Catholic, Ruth Tobert.

From Estherville, Lincoln Central, Tatum Dunleavy.

From Waller Catholic, Tyrany Keslow.

From Estherville, Lincoln Central, Riley Yeager.

From Williamsburg, Carly Rich.

From Assumption, Callie Miller.

From Williamsburg, Peyton Driscoll.

From Assumption Catholic, Helen Sons.

And your Class 3A alternate team captain for 2023, from Williamsburg, Jenna Thurm.

>> Jenna Thurm, the alternative team captain.

She had a double in the first.

That opened up the gate as the Raiders were able to score first.

She had a big tournament, good enough to be -- >> yeah, three RBIs in the semifinals, five overall.

Added another one here in this ball game.

Did a great job of catching Driscoll, commanding the field.

Just was a leader out there and all-tournament team captain.

>> Great memory for the senior and a great memory for those ladies on the screen right now.

>> We did see a lot of great performances throughout the entire tournament and, you know, the big thing we've asked every player about the pink shirt, that's become a tradition and it has become the goal to be able to wear that pink shirt.

>> -- provided by Iowa farm bureau, title sponsor of the girls athletic union.

Presenting awards members of ICGH board members Travis freshner, Russ Adams and Jennifer Donnels.

Congratulations to the runner-ups in Class 3A on an outstanding 2023 softball season.

And now, Raiders, will you please complete your bracket.

And presenting your 2023 Class 3A state softball champions, head coach Adam C. Berte and the Raiders from Williamsburg.

>> They hoist the trophy, pink shirts in tow.

Now it is time to celebrate the first championship in school history in the sport of softball for Williamsburg.

Laura Leonard, this one we thought would be pitching.

It was a lot of little things today.

>> It was.

And the pitching was still very, very good and it is kind of what we thought it was going to be, but just some little things.

The base on balls, they've taken advantage of the base runners, running the bases hard and not ever looking back.

They just kept their head down.

Coach Berte would wave them in.

They never had a second thought about it.

So they were the aggressor here in this ball game.

They got that early lead and they made it stand up.

>> Made the plays when it counted and that's what it takes to hoist the state championship trophy.

They're going to celebrate in Williamsburg, and a few more hugs in Davenport tonight.

This is game one of our triple header, free sports coverage on Iowa PBS.

Williamsburg, your state Our middle game is coming up at the top of the hour.

For everyone here at Iowa PBS, we thank you for watching.

We will see you in a little bit.

Congratulations to Williamsburg, Class 3A state champions for 2023.

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