FUNDING PROVIDED BY -- >> YOU ARE WORKING HARD -- >> SUN IS STILL SHINING ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT FORT DODGE, IOWA, AND IT IS CHAMPIONSHIP THURSDAY HERE AT HARLAN AND HAZEL ROGERS SPORTS COMPLEX.

IT IS THE ATHLETIC UNION STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AND TIME FOR 4A TITLE GAME AND WINTERSET IS BACK IN THE TITLE GAME, AND THEY BEAT DALLAS CENTER GRIMES AFTER MISSING THE TOURNAMENT IN 2021.

AND BRAD WELLS ALONGSIDE ALY CAPAERT.

WE HAVE TWO OF THE TOP TEAMS HERE, AND NO DOUBT THEY WOULD MEET HERE TODAY, AND CONVINCING WINS HERE IN FORT DODGE.

>> YES, THEY PUT UP A TON OF RUNS HERE IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE A FUN GAME HERE AS WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH TEAMS AND LOOKING AT DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, AND ONLY ONE LOSS SINCE JUNE 11th, AND THE STATE TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE WITH THE STATE TITLES IN 2013, 2014, 2015 AND AUBREY JOHANSEN SO SOLID.

>> YES, TWO LONG BALLS YESTERDAY AND PUT UP NINE RUNS IN THE SEMIFINAL GAME AGAINST FORT SCOTT, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE GAME, AND THE KEY TO THIS GAME IS TO KEEP SCORING RUNS.

>> 35-6 ON THE SEASON, AND MEANWHILE, WINTERSET IS 36-4 AND 12th STRAIGHT TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE, AND THE STUDS OF JENA YOUNG AND THEA BANNING.

>> YES, THEA BANNING IS LEADING THE CATEGORY IN WINS AND NO BETTER STAT TO LEAD THE STATE IN THAN WINS.

>> LET'S GET TO KNOW THE PERSONNEL AS WE SEND IT TO THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCER TIM FITZPATRICK WHO IS ON THE MIC.

>> ANY PROFANCY, RACHEL OR SEXIST COMMENTS OR OTHER INTIMIDATING ACTIONS DIRECTED AT THE OFFICIALS OR THE TEAM REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM THE ROGERS SPORTS COMPLEX.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND SOFTBALL PROFESSIONALS, AND WELCOME TO THE STATE 4A GAME BETWEEN THE MUSTANGS AND THE HUSKIES, AND HERE ARE THE NON-STARTERS FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

NUMBER 3, MACY JENSEN.

NUMBER 4, GRACE JOHNSON.

NUMBER 5, JENNA MORRISON.

NUMBER 10, ABBY OSBORN.

NUMBER 11, CALLIE WIBL.

NUMBER 14, HAYLEE UHL.

NUMBER 15, ASHLYNN CROSS.

NUMBER 16, ZOEY VALENTA.

NUMBER 24, AMELIA EHLERT.

NUMBER 27, CAMILA RODRIGUEZ.

NUMBER 28, KALE MONTAG.

NUMBER 29, TESS McGUIRE.

NUMBER 30, CARRIE MYERS, AND NUMBER 30, PRESLEY McGUIRE.

AND NUMBER 26 KALE MONTAG, AND NUMBER 29, TESS PAG WIRE.

AND NOW FOR WINTERSET, DOING THE PITCHING IS AUBREY JOHANSEN, AND THE CLEANUP HITTER FOR THE MUSTANGS IS AT FIRST BASE, REESE BURKE.

BATTING FIFTH AND DOING THE CATCHING IS NUMBER 13, ALLISON LIETON.

AND AT SECOND BASE, NUMBER 7, BELLA MULDER.

BATTING 7th AT SHORTSTOP, NUMBER 2, MACEE RILEY.

AND BATTING 8th IS THE DESIGNATED PLAYER, SUMMER CAMPBELL, AND BATTING 9th IS THE CENTER FIELDER, NUMBER 18, OLIVIA HUSTON.

AND BATTING IN, EXCUSE ME, FLEX PLAYER IN RIGHT FIELD IS LAUREN RILEY.

HEAD COACH FOR THE MUSTANGS IS STEVE SCHLAFKE.

NOW, LET'S MEET THE TEAM FROM WINTERSET, AND HERE ARE THE NONSTARTERS.

NUMBER 1, ASHLYNN DEVINE.

NUMBER 5, RAEGAN LYON.

NUMBER 7, HALEY HOPE.

NUMBER 10, BROOKLYN ANDREW.

NUMBER 11, HAELYNN FORSYTH.

NUMBER 13, MAKENNA SHEFFIELD.

NUMBER 24 SUMMER LITTLE.

NUMBER 25, MOLLY BREEDING, NUMBER 24, ZOEY BREEDING, AND NUMBER 34, MYA ADKINS.

ABBEY WILLIAMS AND TAYLOR BENSHOOF.

AND NOW, FOR WINTERSET HUSKIES, YOU HAVE NONSTARTERS NUMBER NUMBER 8, LAUREN CARTER, AND BATTING SIXTH, NUMBER 14, BAILEY ACTON, AND BATTING 7th IS THE DESIGNATED PLAYER, MOLLY BREEDING.

AND BATTING 8th, THE LEFT FIELDER, NUMBER 2, AVARY DARLING, AND BATTING IN THE NINTH S THE PITCHER NUMBER 9, THEA BANNING.

PLAYING IN THE FLEX POSITION IN RIGHT FIELD IS NUMBER 15, ALLY SODERBERG.

HEAD COACH FOR THE HUSKIES IS STEVE CORKREAN.

NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE HOME PLATE AREA.

THE UMPIRES FOR THIS CONTEST AS ASSIGNED BY THE IOWA GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION AT FIRST BASE IS JEFF OSBORN.

AT THIRD BASE, AL HARMSON AND CALLING BALLS AND STRIKES THIS EVENING IS MR. DIRK SORENSON.

ALL RIGHT.

WHO IS READY TO WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP?

>> WELL, THIS 4A MATCHUP SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE.

LET'S LOOK AT THE DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENT FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

THEY ARE THE THREE SEED, AND THEY WILL BE BATTING FIRST, AND WINTERSET IS GOING TO BE ON THE DEFENSE TO START HERE IN THIS FIRST INNING.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INNING.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON AUBREY JOHANSEN.

AUB RI JOHANSEN IS GOING TO BE IN THE CIRCLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INNING, AND YOU SEE FOR WINTERSET, THEA BANNING IS GOING TO BE THE CENTER, WITH THE 1.88 EARNED RUN AVERAGE, AND IN 2020, ALY, SHE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AND PART OF THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE WINNERSET HUSKIES.

>> AND THEA BANNING WITH 183 STRIKEOUTS ON THE YEAR, AND SHE IS THROWING THE BALL IN THE ZONE, ATTACKING BATS, AND DOING EXACTLY WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO FOR THE WINTERSET DEFENSE.

>> SO FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES AS WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE BATTING ORDER, ELLE NELSEN TO LEAD IT OFF FOLLOWED BY ZARUBA, JOHANSEN, AND BURKE, THE TOP FOUR HITTERS, LYDDON, MULDER, CAMPBELL AND MULDER TO GET IT GOING.

AND ACROSS THE OUTFIELD, YOU WILL HAVE DARLING, KIOUS AND SODERBERG, AND THEN ACTON AT THIRD, JENA YOUNG AT SHORT, AND CARTER AT SECOND BASE AND THEN APPLEGATE OVER AT FIRST.

BRIDGET STOVER IS THE SENIOR BEHIND THE PLATE CATCHING HER CLASSMATE THEA BANNING.

ELLE NELSEN IS GOING TO GET US STARTED.

AND A FIRST PITCH STRIKE.

ALY, THERE IS GREAT ENERGY WITH THIS WINTERSET HUSKIES SOFTBALL TEAM THAT COMES THROUGH THE STUDENT SECTION, AND BANNING IS GOING TO GET UP EARLY WITH NO BALLS AND TWO STRIKES.

>> IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT YOU WILL SEE THE STUDENT SECTION WITH THE SOFTBALL HIGH SCHOOL GAME, BUT THESE BOYS FROM WINTERSET HAVE COME TO ALMOST EVERY GAME THIS YEAR, AND THEY ARE LOUD.

>> THE GIRLS SAID THEY ARE OUR BACKBONE, AND A DIFFERENCE-MAKER.

THEY ARE AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO HOME PLATE, AND THEY KNOW RIGHT WHERE OUR IOWA PBS CAMERAS ARE, AND NELSEN STARTS THE GAME OFF WITH A SINGLE, AND SLAPPING IT TO RIGHT.

>> FOR DCG, THEY CAME TOUT THE SLOW START YESTERDAY BEFORE PUTTING UP NINE RUNS AGAINST NORTH SCOTT, AND THAT IS A LEADOFF SINGLE THERE AND THAT IS HUGE FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

>> AND SO NELSEN IS ABOARD, AND LYDIA ZARUBA IS GOING TO STEP IN HERE WITH NOBODY OUT IN THE FIRST.

SHE SHOWS BUNT, AND LOOKS AT BALL ONE.

REALLY BUILT SOME CONFIDENCE THROUGH THE GAME OF SOFTBALL.

>> THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL BUNT.

>> RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PLATE.

AND BEATS TOUT THROW FROM ACTON.

A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.

>> AND SHE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT MORE PER SPECT.

SHE IS GETTING THE BUNT DOWN THE THIRD BASE LINE, AND THAT A TOUGH BUNT TO MAKE, AND ACTON HAS NOT PLAYED THAT WELL WITH THE SPEED OF ZARUBA THERE, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE WITH THE RUNNERS AT FIRST AND SECOND FOR JOHANSEN AT THE PLATE.

>> AND SHE PLAYED IT AS WELL AS SHE COULD.

AND JOHANSEN WITH THE FIRST PITCH SWINGING, AND THIS IS TAILING OUT OF PLAY, AND THIS IS ALLISON SODERBERG, THE RIGHT FIELDER FOR WINTERSET.

ALL OF HER CLASSMEN ARE IN THE OUTFIELD.

SENIOR AND RILEY KIOUS IN CENTER.

JOHANSEN FOULS IT STRAIGHT BACK, AND BANNING IS UP, AND NOEL BALLS AND THE THREE HITTER WITH TWO ABOARD.

AND HERE IN THE FIRST.

>> THESE TWO TEAMS PLAYED EARLIER IN THE SEASON S AND IT WAS A 2-1 BALL GAME WITH THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING THIS WEEK, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT WE WILL SEE MORE THAN THREE RUNS THIS TIME.

>> THIS ONE IS GOING TO GET AWAY FROM STOVER, AND THE RUNNERS ARE ON SECOND AND THIRD ON THE WILD PITCH.

FROM BANNING, AND ALONG WITH THE MEETING EARLIER IN THE SEASON, THEY HAVE MET THREE TIMES PRIOR TO NIGHT, AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, AND WINTERSET WAS MEETING THOSE BOTH IN THE SEMIS, AND DCG WON IN 2015 WHEN THEY MET IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

>> A BIG STRIKEOUT THERE FOR BANNING.

TO GET THE FIRST OUT OF THE IN, AND ESPECIALLY AGAINST A HITTER LIKE JOHANSEN.

>> BURKE WITH TWO STRIKES AS BANNING CONTINUES TO PROTECT THE STRIKE ZONE, AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE YEAR FOR BURKE.

AND NOW, TO GET THE BUNT DOWN BY APPLEGATE.

>> ATHLETIC PLAY ALL OF THE WAY AROUND, AND YOU HAVE APPLEGATE TO MAKE THE GRAB BY THE SQUEEZE PLAY BY DALLAS CENTER GRIMES AND DON'T LEAVE JENA YOUNG OUT ON THAT ONE.

>> AND THERE IS A GRINDER OUT THERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND SCOOPING IT, AND APPLEGATE IS GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE PILLOW, AND WINTERSET AVOIDS AN EARLY JAM.

AS DALLAS CENTER HAS TWO RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION S AND THEY COULD NOT GET ANY RUNS ACROSS, AND SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS COMING YOUR WAY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST.

DALLAS CENTER GRIMES DEFENSIVELY, AND ZARUBA, HUSTON, AND WYLLIE IN THE OUTFIELD, AND THE SENIOR IN THE OUTFIELD, AND REILING IS THE SHORTSTOP, AND MULDER AND BURKE AT SECOND AND FIRST, AND IS THE SOPHOMORES AND ALLISON LYDDON IS THE STARTER IN VAS TI IN THE LAST MONTH, AND JOHANSSEN IS IN THE CIRCLE WITH A 1.98 EARNED RUN AVERAGE.

SHE CAN SHOW COMPOCOMPOSURE, AND THE 17-2 RECORD.

>> JOHANSEN IS NOT A STRIKEOUT PITCHER, BUT 18 INNINGS PITCHED AND 77 STRIKEOUTS IN THE 118 INNINGS, BUT THIS YOUNG DEFENSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET IT DONE FOR HER.

>> WINTERSET OFFENSIVELY IS GOING TO LEAD THINGS OFF WITH JENA YOUNG WHO IS VERBALLY COMMITTED TO KIOUS, AND APPLEGATE AND STOVER WHO IS A DEADLY TOP FOUR FOR WINTERSET.

AND LET'S LOOK AT THE KEYS TO THE GAME, AND START WITH THE HUSKIES TEAM.

>> AND STRONG AND STE DIRKS AND PLAY BASE-TO-BASE SOFTBALL, AND DIDN'T GO FOR THE LONGBALL, JUST PLAY FOR THE BASE.

>> AND DALLAS CENTER GRIMES AND GOING BASE-TO-BASE.

>> AND THE COACH BELIEVED THAT THEY CAN, AND KEEP THE BATS GOING FOR NINE RUNS YESTERDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE HAD TWO LONG TENURED HEAD COACHES YESTERDAY, AND WE WILL GET YOU GOING FOR THEM, AND HERE IS JENA YOUNG, AND SHE LEADS THE STATE IN BATTING AVERAGE, AND ALY, WE HAD TO DO A DOUBLE TAKE ON THIS ONE, AND SHE IS LEADING .628 ON THE SEASON, AND 22 HOME RUNS, AND 55 RUNS BATTED FROM THE LEADOFF POSITION.

AND I MEAN, THE LINEUP IS DEADLY TOP TO BOTTOM, AND AT THE TOP, AND IT DOES NOT GET ANY DEADLIER.

>> I MEAN, THE .628 AVERAGE IS INSANE.

YOU ADD THAT ALONG WITH 25 BLOCK, AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE ON BASE PERCENTAGE OF .800s AND IN IOWA SOFTBALL SHE IS GOING TO BE CARRYING THAT OVER TO THE COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL WHICH IS JUST INSANE.

>> JOHANSEN KNOWS THAT SHE HAS TO BE CARE TWFL LEADOFF BATTER, AND BEHIND THE COUNT, AND THREE BALLS AND A STRIKE.

CHALLENGES YOUNG, AND SCOOP BY MULDER WITH THE THROW JUST IN TIME.

OVER TO BURKE.

>> JENA YOUNG WAS SOLID CONTACT TO THE SECOND BASEMAN, AND MULDER, BUT MULDER IS ABLE TO CLEAN IT UP, AND TO GET THE SPEEDY YOUNG OUT AT SECOND BASE.

THAT A CLOSE PLAY.

>> OH, VERY, VERY CLOSE.

AND THE BATTER IS RETIRED AND KIOUS STEPS IN.

AND THE GUY HAS GREAT SPEED, AND WENT TWO FOR THREE, AND WITH TWO RUNS SCORED IN THE SEMIFINAL WIN OVER CARLISLE, AND 7-1 VICTORY, AND IN THE SEMIS.

AND ANOTHER BANG-BANG PLAY AT FIRST, AND ELLE NELSEN ZINGS IT OVER TO 34U8DER FOR OUT TWO.

>> AND ELLE NELSEN PLAYED THE PERFECT, AND GOT THE SECOND BOUNCE, AND YOU WILL NOTICE IT HERE, AND SHE IS ABLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE SECOND BOUNCE AND PLAYED IT OFF OF HER FOOT WITH A BANG-BANG HERE WITH THIS DCG TEAM, AND THEY ARE YOUNG, BUT EXPERIENCED.

>> AND APPLEGATE DIGS IN, AND IT IS A CHANGE-UP THAT MISSES UP HIGH, AND APPLE GATE IS A FRESHMAN PLAYING THE FIRST BASE POSITION FOR THE HUSKIESMENT.

MIXED IN WITH A LOT OF UPPER CLASSMEN ON THIS WINTERSET TEAM.

APPLEGATE IS HITTING .370 ON THE YEAR WITH 44 HITS, AND 37 RUNS DRIVEN IN.

AND JUST OFF OF THE PLATE, AND COUPLE OF HOME RUNS ON THE SEASON.

AND JUST SIX WALKS ON THE SEASON COMING INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> AND HERE AHEAD WITH THE 3-0 COUNT.

>> AND DIALING IN A STRIKE AS APPLEGATE WAS TAKING.

WINTERSET HAS SEVEN RUNS AND TEN HITS IN THE SEMIFINALS AND TEN HITS ON 11 HITS IN THE QUARTERFINALS, AND THERE IS A BASE ON BALLS.

>> AND RARE WALK BY JOHANSEN, AND JOHANSSEN IS A TIP AT THE ZONE, AND MISSING LOW THERE, AND DIRK SORENSEN IS A BIG 10 UMPIRE.

>> 22 WALKS ON THE SEASON FOR JOHANSEN, AND TWO-OUT WALK TO APPLEGATE BRINGS RACHEL STOVER TO THE PLATE, AND A FIRST PITCH STRIKE.

STOVER NEEDS A SENIOR CATCHER AND STARTED AT CATCHER AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2020 WHEN WINTERSET WON IT ALL.

>> IT IS FUNNY INTERVIEWING PLAYERS YESTERDAY, WE SAID, WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS THE VOCAL LEADER ON THE TEAM, AN ALL OF THEM POINTED RIGHT AT HER.

AND THE BASE HIT.

>> IN UNISON.

STOVER DELIVERS A SINGLE.

DROPS IT IN FRONT OF THE CENTER FIELDER OLIVIA HUSTON, AND IT KEEPS THE CENTER SECTION ENGAGED HERE WITH TWO OUTS.

STOVER AT FIRST MOVES APPLE GATE TO SECOND WITH LAUREN CARTER WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BATTER.

>> AND A COURTESY RUNNER FOR STOVER HERE.

>> AND THAT IS JAYA KLEEMEIER, THE CATCHER.

>> AND A DENVER VOLLEYBALL COMMIT FOR THE HUSKIES.

>> CARTER IS LOOKING AT THE FIRST PITCH STRIKE AND HAD TWO RBIs WIN OVER BURLINGTON FOR WINTERSET, AND SHE IS COMING UP WITH A FIRST PITCH STRIKE HERE IN THE FIRST SET, AND THAT IS STRIKE TWO.

JOHANSEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF A JAM, GETS THE STRIKEOUT.

SO, TWO ABOARD FOR WINTERSET, TWO ABOARD FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES IN THE FIRST AND NO RUNS.

AS DALLAS CENTER GRIMES' HEAD COACH STEVE SLAP KI, HIS 21st AT DALLAS CENTER GRIMES OVER 1,300 CAREER WINS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CLASS 4A BRACKET, AND WINTERSET IS TOPPING BURLINGTON AND CARLISLE WHO DEFEATED NORWALK, AND MEANWHILE, THEY WENT THROUGH INDIA KNOW L.A. AND A GRIMES TEAM THAT WENT THROUGH THEM TO GET TO THIS REMATCH OF THE 2015 4A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, IT IS THE 11th STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE AND THE FIFTH TITLE GAME, AND THE FIRST SINCE 2015.

THEY WON IT ALL IN 2013, 2014 AND 2015, AND ALY, YOU REMEMBER THOSE TEAMS WELL AS THE FORMER AN KENNY PLAYER.

>> YES, I GRAJ WAITED IN 2014, AND 2015 AND THEY HAD A COUPLE OF PAIRS OF SISTERS AND PAIGE LOWARY IS BEING INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME TOMORROW, AND SHE WENT ON TO PITCH AT MIZZOU AND WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT OKLAHOMA.

>> DALLAS CENTER GRIMES CONTINUING THE STRONG SOFTBALL TRADITION OF TWO HITS IN THE FIRST INNING AND LEADING THINGS OFF IZABELLA MULDER HERE IN THE SECOND.

>> MULDER IS SHOWING BUNT ON THAT SECOND PITCH.

>> MULDER HITS IN THE SIXTH SPOT, BUT SHE SHOWED SOME POWER YESTERDAY, AND SHE WENT 3 FOR 4 WITH A TWO-RUN HOME RUN IN THE FIFTH IN, AND THEN SHE HAD A HOME RUN AGAINST INDIANOLA IN THE FIFTH GAME.

>> AND IT WAS SUCH A STRONG LOWER HALF, THAT YOU COULD SEE BANNING TRYING TO GO UP ON HER, AND TRYING TO GET HER TO LOSE THE WEIGHT IN THE LOWER HALF, LOSE SOME POWER.

>> THERE'S THE 1-2, AND BOUNCED IT TO STOVER.

MULDER IS LEADING OFF THE TOP OF THE SECOND FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIME, AND THAT COMES OFF OF THE TOP OF THE GLOVE FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

AND AS FOR THE VOCAL LEADER, THE COACH SAYS SHE IS A NATURAL LEADER FOR COACH CORKREAN.

AND 2-2, AND HAMMERED FOUL BY MULDER.

>> AND THE STEVE SAID BEFORE THAT PITCH, TELLING MULDER TO STAY ON TOP, STAY ON TOP, AND KEEP THE LEGS IN YOUR SWING, AND THEN SHE ACTUALLY WEDGED IT NEAR THE FENCE.

>> AND SHE DRILLED THAT THING FOUL.

34U8DER AT THE PLATE, AND THIS IS THE FIFTH PITCH IN THE AT-BAT, AND IT IS A STRIKEOUT WITH MULDER DOWN SWINGING AND THE SECOND K HERE IN THE SECOND INNING.

>> BANNING IS GOING RIGHT BACK TO THE RISE BALL, AND YOU WILL SEE IT HERE WORKING THAT PITCH UP, AND MULDER IS SWINGING RIGHT BELOW IT.

>> HIGH HEAT, AND THAT BALL STARTS TO LOOK SO BIG, AND YOU CAN HIT IT SO FAR, AND THEY ARE REALLY HARD TO REACH, AREN'T THEY ALY?

>> WELL, IT IS ONE OF THE HARDEST PITCHES TO HIT, BUT IT IS GOING A LONG WAY.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A SHORTSTOP, AND NO BALLS AND TWO STRIKES ARE NOW THE COUNT.

>> BANNING IS PLAYING WITH A FAST PACE FOR WINTERSET.

WORKING AHEAD TO THE RISEBALL ONCE AGAIN.

>> HERE IS THE 1-2 OFF OF THE PLATE.

BANNING IN THE CIRCLE, AND HAS BEEN SO SOLID, AND GETS A GROUNDOUT TO YOUNG, AND SLINGS IT OVER TO FIRST, A APPLEGATE WITH THE SQUEEZE, AND 6-3 FOR OUT NUMBER TWO.

>> JENA YOUNG IS NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING PAST HER, AND YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER TAKE IT EVEN WITH THE LOW HOP IF IT GETS BY HER.

>> AND JENA YOUNG IS GOING TO LEAD THE STATE IN BATTING AVERAGE, BUT IT IS THE TENACITY THAT SHE IS PLAYING WITH DEFENSIVELY, AND THIS IS SUMMER CAMPBELL.

THAT IS HER BATTING AVERAGE ON THE SCREEN FOR THE SEASON.

IT GOES THAT WAY, AND A BALL AND NO STRIKES.

AND CAMPBELL WENT 1 FOR 2 YESTERDAY IN THE SEMIS AND A SACRIFICE BUNT AGAINST NORTH SCOTT.

THAT IS BASE HIT IF IT IS FAIR, AND IT IS, AND IT IS GOING TO GET BY SODERBERG, AND AROUND FIRST AND INTO SECOND AND ON THE WAY TO THIRD.

IT IS GOING TO BE A TRIPLE.

FOR SUMMER CAMPBELL DOWN THE RIGHT FIELD LINE, A TWO-OUT TRIPLE.

>> SUMMER CAMPBELL COULD NOT HAVE PLACED THAT BETTER DOWN THE RIGHT FIELD LINE, AND A TOUGH PLAY TO MAKE FOR SODERBERG DOWN THERE, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT SHE TAKES IT OPPOSITE FIELD LANDING JUST IN FAIR TERRITORY.

>> AND SO THAT IS TO OLIVIA HOUSTON AND THE RUNNER IS 60 FEET AWAY FROM FIRST RUN OF THE GAME.

HUSTON WITH THE THREE-RUN YESTERDAY IN THE GAME AGAINST NORTH SCOTT, AND HAD A DOUBLE AGAINST INDIANOLA AND THIS IS A KID THAT THE COACH SAID THAT STRUGGLED TO MID-JUNE AND TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL APPROACH, AN TURNED IT AROUND IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS OF THE SEASON S. >> AND WHEN YOU GET TO THIS LEVEL, IT IS 90% MENTAL, AND MOST OF IT TALENT, AND IT IS A MENTAL GAME, AND ONCE YOU LOSE IT, IT IS TOUGH TO GET BACK, AND ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN BACK, IT IS SHOWING THE HARD WORK IN THE TOURNAMENT.

>> IT IS THE 2-1, AND RIPS IT TO LEFT FIELD, AND RIGHT AT DARLING AS WINTERSET IS ABLE TO KEEP DALLAS CENTER GRIMES OFF OF THE BOARD DESPITE THE SUMMER CAMPBELL TRIPLE.

>> CARTER, YOU ARE FIRST IN BAT, AND YOU ARE JUST WAVING AT THE BALL, AND GET THAT NOSE STUCK IN THERE AND HIT IT, ESPECIALLY THAT FIRST PITCH.

>> THAT IS WINTERSET HEAD COACH STEVE CORKREAN WHO IS GETTING THE BATTERS READY FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

>> AND JOHANSSEN IS THERE WORKING ON THE SPIN UNDERNEATH THAT BALL.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE TIGHT GRIP, SPINNING IT AS MUCH AS SHE CAN.

>> THE PITCHES WILL HAVE THE MOVEMENT LEFT TO RIGHT, AND UP AND DOWN.

JUST A SOPHOMORE.

ALLOWED TWO HITS IN THE FIRST INNING, BUT LEFT TWO ON BASE.

EXCUSE ME, ONE HIT IN THE FIRST IN, AND A WALK, AND LEFT TWO ON BASE.

A STRIKEOUT TO END THE INNING, AND SHE WILL FACE THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH HITTERS IN BAILEY ACTON.

>> THE COACH SAID GO UP THERE AND SWING WITH A PURPOSE AND MAKE A GOOD PITCH, AND AS A FORMER FAST PITCH HIMSELF, HE IS A GOOD GUY TO LEARN FROM.

>> AND BEFORE THE GAME, YOU CAN SEE THE LEFT ARM IS ALL WRAPPED UP, AND HE HAD SURGERY EIGHT DAYS AGO WITH A TORN BICEP, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT HE TORE IT DOING WHAT?

BENCH PRESSING, AND YOU CAN KNOW THAT HE GOT STITCHES ON THE HANDS AND PUTTING OFF HIP SURGERY, BUT THEY ARE TELLING US THAT HE IS STILL SENDING FRONT TOSS TO US, AND NOT BY ANY MEANS, BECAUSE HE IS GETTING US READY TO GO, AND THE GIRLS SAID THAT THIS YEAR, THIS SEASON PLAYING FOR HIM IS REALLY MEANING SO MUCH TO US.

>> IT IS SO FUN TO INTERVIEWING THEM YESTERDAY, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE IS OUR GUY.

THEY SAID THAT HE WOULD GO TO WAR FOR THEM, AND THEY WOULD GO TO WAR FOR HIM, AND THEY LOVE THEIR COACH.

>> THIS IS THE 3-1, AND JUST FOUL.

ED AKIN GOT AROUND ON THAT PITCH.

PUSHED THE COUNT FULL.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OVER THERE, TOO.

AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE LASER LINE DRIVES THAT COME INTO FOUL TERRITORY.

THERE'S THE 3-2.

CHANGE-UP, AND IT IS POPPED UP UNDERNEATH IT, AND THIS IS THE EIGHTH GRADER POISED BY HOOIND THE PLATE TO MAKE THE OUT FOR NUMBER ONE.

>> AND THEY ARE GOING DEEP IN THE COUNT, BUT IT IN THE END, IT WAS JOHANSEN WHO WON THE BATTLE.

SHE DROPS THE BALL, AND SHE DOESN'T SEE IT ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH TO EXTENSION.

>> MOLLY BREEDING IS AT THE PLATE, AND POPS THIS ONE UP, AND MULDER IS THE SECOND BASEMAN UNDERNEATH IT.

TWO QUICK OUTS ON THE INFIELD POP FLIES.

THE DCG DEFENSE IS ACTON AND BREEDING RETIRED.

AND SO, THE JUNIOR LEFT FIELDER AVARY DARLING TO THE PLATE.

>> JOHANSEN IS NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF, AND GOING STRAIGHT AT THE HITTERS.

>> DARLING SCORED A RUN YESTERDAY IN THE SEMIFINALS, AND 1 FOR 3 AND LOOKING AT ONE UPSTAIRS.

DARLING HAS 14.

IT IS THE 1-1.

SOMETIMES THAT IS THE TOUGHEST THING TO DO, AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE PITCHES COMING UPSTAIRS OR THE RISE BALLS, AND IF YOU CAN LAY OFF OF THEM, THEY WILL KEEP DRIFTING UP.

>> YES, THEY WILL.

>> 2-1, JOHANSEN GOING BACK TO THE STRIKE ZONE.

>> AND SHE IS EFFECTIVELY MIXING THEM IN, AND THE RISEBALL IS THAT MOST DOMINANT PITCH, AND SHE IS SMART, AND NOT OVER USING IT, AND SHE IS USING IT WHEN SHE IS THROWING IT, AND SHE IS GETTING THE HITTERS TO CHASE AFTER IT.

>> 2-2 IS DOWN LOW, AND DARLING DID NOT CHASE.

THE WINTERSET PITCHER IN THE ON-DECK CIRCLE THEA BANNING HOPING THAT DARLING CAN FIND A WAY ON.

>> THESE WINTERSET HITTERS ARE GOING VERY DEEP MAKING JOHANSEN THROW A LOT OF PITCHES IN THIS SECOND INNING.

>> JOHANSEN DELIVERS ANOTHER POP-UP, AND IT IS CAUGHT BY THE INFIELDER, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE RILEY MAKING THE SQUEEZE AND THREE AWAY.

CHECK IN ON THE MUSTANGS AS THEY GET READY TO COME TO THE PLATE.

>> WAY TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON.

LET'S GO.

GOOD JOB.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHERE SHE IS THROWING?

>> THE OUTSIDE HIGH AND LOW.

>> INSIDE?

>> YES, GOING HIGH.

AND THE FIRST PITCH HAS BEEN A STRIKE.

>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO MENTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW THAT OUR FAKE -- >> YES.

>> WELL, YOU ARE GETTING TO THE SECOND TIME THROUGH THE ORDER, AND SO YOU HAVE THE SPEED GOING, AND SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP BATTLING, BECAUSE IT IS A LONG GAME, RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THESE MUSTANG BATTERS ARE FACING, AND BANNING IN SLOW MOTION.

>> THEA BANNING, AND YOU SEE THE LONG STRIDE THAT SHE GETS AT THE DCG BATTERS THAZ WERE TALKING ABOUT SHE IS REALLY MIXING IT UP, AND HIGH-LOW, AND NOT STAYING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT SHE IS THROWING WHICH IS KEEPING THE HITTERS OFF GUARD.

>> SHE HAS BEEN IN THIS POSITION BEFORE, AND PITCHING FOR WINTERSET IN 2020, AND WHEN THE HUSKIES WON IT ALL.

THESE SENIORS WERE SOPHOMORES.

BANNING AND STOVER IN THE SAME SPOT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THERE IS ANOTHER FIRST-PITCH STRIKE AS THEY HAVE TIME FOR ELLE NELSEN TO LEAD IT OFF.

SHE HAD A SINGLE IN THE FIRST AT-BAT, AND IT FOLLOWS THAT ONE OPPOSITE, AND HITS HER IN THE BOX.

>> ONE THING THAT THE HEAD COACH TALKED TO HER ABOUT.

HE SAID THAT WE ARE USED TO THE SPEED, AND NOW TO GET TO THE BAT.

>> AND NOW, GROUNDING IT TO THE LEFT SIDE, AND ACTON MAKES THE THROW, AND APPLEGATE MAKES THE CATCH, AND THERE IS ONE AWAY.

>> ACTON OVER THERE ON THE HOT CORNER, AND SHE FIELDS IT SO CLEANLY TO GO OVER TO APPLEGATE TO FIELD IT.

THAT IS NICE DEFENSE.

>> AND A NICE DEFENSIVE PLAY.

THERE IS ZARUBA LOOKING AT THE FIRST PITCH STRIKE, AND NOW, HOW ABOUT THIS?

IN 9 OF THE 11 BATTERS FACED BY THEA BANNING, THE FIRST PITCH HAS BEEN A STRIKE.

>> SHE IS ATTACKING.

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK.

>> AND THAT IS SLAPPED LEFT SIDE TO YOUNG FOR THE THROW, AND THE FIRST PLAY, AND IN TIME.

WOW.

>> JENA YOUNG IS GOING DEEP IN THE HOLE ON THE FIRST PLAY, AND THAT IS THE FIRST CALL OVER FIRST BASE, AND JENA YOUNG GOING FIRST BASE TO BE PLANTING AND THROWING TO APPLEGATE.

>> IT WAS BANG-BANG.

AND SO ZARUBA LOOKED CLOSER TO WHAT I SAW INITIALLY LIVE.

AND JOHANSSEN IS STRIKE ONE, AND THE TIME IS CALLED BY DCG COACH STEVE SCHLAFKE.

>> SHE IS THROWING INSIDE?

>> THAT IS HIGH.

>> YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

JUST BE PATIENT, AND LET THE BAT DO THE JOB.

>> AND TO AWARENESS OF THE BAT TO DO THE JOB IN THE AT-BATS.

AND IT IS NOT EASY TO HAVE THE MEMORY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND SOME COACHES ARE REALLY WORKING TO HAVE THEIR KIDS UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS THE PITCHER GOING TO HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND.

>> HE IS NOT GOING TO TELL THEM, BECAUSE HE WANTS THEM TO VERBALIZE IT FOR THEMSELVES AND TALK THROUGH THE SOLUTIONS ON THEIR OWN, AND THAT IS THE SIGN OF THE GREAT COACH AND A SIGN OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND START UP THE CONVERSATION, AND IS SHE THROWING INSIDE, AND AUBREY SAID, NO, THAT IS INSIDEA AND SHE IS THROWING HIGH.

>> SO AS THE PITCHER, SHE HAS THE EXTRA BENEFIT OF PAYING ATTENTION.

THAT IS THE 2-1, AND THIS IS DOWN THE MIDDLE, AN POPPED UP.

AND YOUNG IS COME UP TO MAKE THE CATCH.

THREE UP, THREE DOWN HERE IN THE TOP OF THE THIRD, AND JUST A MOMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ILLEGAL PITCH CALLED.

SO IT IS JUST A MOMENT, AND WE WILL RESET AS JOHANSEN WILL COME BACK TO THE PLATE, AND WINTERSET IS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FIELD AS OUR FIRST BASE UMPIRE JEFF OSBORN HAS AN ILLEGAL PITCH CALL.

STEVE CORKREAN IS OUT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> YOU WILL SEE THEA BANNING'S PITCH IS SLIDING OFF, AND THE BACK FOOT SLIDES OFF AND SHE LOSES CONTACT THERE.

>> AND SO THE COUNT IS 3-1.

ON THE BATTER.

AUBREY JOHANSEN, AND TWO OUTS, AND IT IS ALMOST POPPED BACK INTO THE NET.

>> THAT IS CRUCIAL THERE FOR BANNING TO COME BACK OUT WITH A STRIKE.

VERY EASY IN THAT SITUATION TO COME BACK OUT WITH BALL FOUR, AND SHE CAME BACK RIGHT AT THE BATTER.

>> THAT IS FOULED BACK INTO THE STANDS.

>> THREE BALLS AND TWO STRIKE, AND JOHANSSEN IS BATTLING, AND LOOKING AT BALL FOUR, AND SO INSTEAD OF THREE UP, AND THREE DOWN, IT IS A TWO-OUT WALK FOR JOHANSEN WHICH BRINGS REESE BURKE TO THE PLATE, AND WE WILL HAVE A COURTESY RUNNER FOR REESE OSBORN.

SO OSBORN SCORED TWO RUNS AND HAD A STOLEN RUN FOR THE JUNIOR AGAINST INDIANOLA.

>> I KNOW THAT SHE IS NOT IN SCORING POSITION RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS 38 RBIs ON THE SEASON AND SHE HAS POWER IN THE BAT.

>> THE SNAP THROW DOWN TO FIRST, AND EASILY IS OSBORN, AND STOVER IS JUST REMINDING OSBORN THAT SHE HAS AN EYE ON HER.

2-0, AND JUST HIGH ENOUGH FOR A STRIKE.

>> BANNING COMING IN WITH A HIGH STRIKE, AND RARE 2-0 COUNT BEFORE THE PITCH.

>> THAT IS FOULED WITH A FIRST BASE 2-0 COUNT.

BURKE WITH A STRONG SWING RIGHT TO JENA YOUNG, AND THE BACKHAND RIGHT DOWN, AND APPLEGATE CANNOT HANDLE IT.

THE RUNNERS ARE ADVANCING, AND BURKE IS GOING TO RETREAT BACK TO FIRST, AND IT IS RUNNERS ON THE CORNERS TO DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

>> IT IS A TOUGH PLAY TO BE MADE AT SHORTSTOP, AND THAT BALL WAS HOPPING OFF OF THE BAT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND JENA YOUNG PLAYS IT WELL, BUT APPLEGATE IS GETTING THE THROWING HAND IN THE WAY OF THE GLOVE UNABLE TO MAKE THE PLAY, AND IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FIND THE CALM THEY ARE PLAYING WITH PRIOR TO THE ILLEGAL PITCH CALL.

>> SO ADDISON LYDDON COMES TO THE PLATE, AND BANNING DELIVERS THE STRIKE.

THE RUNNERS ARE ON FIRST AND THIRD.

IT IS ALWAYS A CHESS MATCH, AND THE RUNNER IS SHOWING BUNT, AND YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND IT IS LANDING FOUL, AND APPLEGATE IS NEARLY TO LAND UNDERNEATH IT.

BANNING WITH A 0-2 COUNT ON LYDDON, AND I KNOW IT IS ONLY THE THIRD INNING, BUT BOTH TEAMS KEEP THREATENING TO SCORE.

>> HERE IS THE 0-2, AND A STRIKEOUT FOR BANNING ENDS THE INNING.

WINTERSET THOUGHT THEY HAD A 1, 2, 3 IN, AND THEN IT ENDED UP INTO A WALK, AND TWO RUNNERS ABOARD, AND NOW BANNING IS GOING TO KEEP IT ABOARD.

>> AND THAT ONE IS FOR BANNING THERE.

>> AND SO WINTERSET IS GOING TO COME TO THE PLATE WITH A 9-1-2 IN THE ORDER, AND NOW JOINED WITH DALLAS CENTER GRIMES COACH STEVE SCHLAFKE, AND COACH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSE HERE CONTINUING TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON HERE IN THE THIRD INNING, AND SCRATCHING OUT A FEW HITS HERE.

>> WE ARE PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE, AND WE HAVE DONE IT FOR THREE INNINGS LIKE YOU SAID, AND WE ARE DOING WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE COME ACROSS YET, AND WE ARE AGGRESSIVE AND HAPPY WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING FROM JOHANSEN.

>> YES, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ASKED HER TO DO, SHE IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> AND THE HEAD COACH STEVE SCHLAFKE IN THE 21st YEAR AT DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, AND WHAT ABOUT THE CAREER WINS OVER 1,300, AND THAT IS 1,318 CAREER VICTORIES, AND 530 AT DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

>> I LOVE HOW HE HAS DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND HE IS SO WELL LIKED ACROSS THE SOFTBALL COMMUNITY, AND JUST AN OUTSTANDING PERSON, AND TRULY A SOFTBALL FAMILY, AND IT IS GREAT TO SEE DCG BEING SUCH A POWERHOUSE FOR SO LONG.

>> AND NOW, CENTER GRIMES WITH THE 11th STATE APPEARANCE, AND THE TITLE GAME, AND THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SINCE 2015.

THEY WON IT ALL DEFEATING WINTERSET IN A 4A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND DALLAS CENTER GRIMES IN A 3-1 IN OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

THEA BANNING LEADS IT OFF AND SLAPS IT HARD TOWARD LEFT FIELD, AND LOOKING TO MAKE THE RUNNING CATCH IS LYDIA ZARUBA.

>> IT IS A GREAT SOLID HIT INTO LEFT FIELD.

ZARUBA IS MAKING THE PLAY.

>> THEY TEND TO TAIL DOWN THE LEFT-HAND LINE MORE THAN THE BATTER'S BACK.

AND NOW, SHE GROUND IT OUT IN HER FIRST AT-BAT.

IT WAS A BANG-BANG PLAY AT FIRST.

1-0 IS THE COUNT AND ONE AWAY.

>> IT IS A BASE HIT UP TO CENTER FIELD, AND CUT OFF BY HUSTON, AND YOUNG IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT A DOUBLE, AND SHE DOES.

>> JOHANSEN IS GOING TO GO THERE WITH AN OFF-SPEED PITCH, AND JENA YOUNG IS GOING TO GO HIT INT TO CENTER FIELD, AND THIS IS A ROUTINE SINGLE.

AND YOU HAVE THE BOBBLE IN CENTER FIELD, AND SHE SAYS IS, I WILL TAKE SECOND.

>> AGGRESSIVE THROW, AND TO THE OUTFIELD, AND A BANG-BANG PLAY TO THE BASE AND INSTEAD, AND ONE-OUT DOUBLE, AND THE RUNNER IS IN SCORING POSITION FOR RILEY KIOUS.

SHE STEPS IN, AND SHE SEES STRIKE ONE.

SHE HAS HAD A BOUNCE OF THIS ONE FROM NELSON AND HEADED TO HOME, AND SAFE AT THE PLATE.

WINNERSET IS GOING TO STRIKE FIRST.

>> KIOUS HERE JUST HITTING THAT BALL STRAIGHT DOWN.

YOU WILL SEE IT HERE THAT IS A TOUGH PLAY TO BE MADE IN LEFT FIELD, AND ZARUBA WITH A SOLID THROW INTO FOURTH PLATE, AND WE TALKED THE ABOUT JENA YOUNG'S SPEED THE PLAY BEFORE, BUT SHE WAS THINKING TWO BASES, AND IF IT WENT INTO THE OUTFIELD, SHE WAS THINKING OF TWO BASE, AND THAT IS A RUN FOR WINTERSET ALL DAY.

>> AND THE THROW WAS A VERY GOOD THROW FROM OUTFIELD, TOO, AND YOU SAW IT BOUNCE JUST IN FRONT OF YOUNG.

A TOUGH PLAY FOR LYDDON, THE CATCHER, TO MAKE BEFORE THE PLAY, AND APPLEGATE IS STEPPING IN BEFORE THE KNOB OF THE BAT, AND SO THAT IS A FOUL BALL.

JOHANSEN WITH THE NICE OFF SPEED.

>> THAT IS A GOOD PITCH FOR JOHANSEN, AND CONTINUING TO WORK DOWN ON THE HITTERS AND MIXING UP THE SPEEDS, AND SHE KNOWS THAT SHE HAS APPLEGATE WHO IS KIND OF TENSE TO CREATE A CHANGE-UP TO THROW IN.

>> THERE'S THE 0-2 PITCH FROM JOHANSEN AND RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE.

JOHANSEN FIELDS IT, AND SHE MAKES THE THROW TO THIRD, AND NELSEN MAKES THE TAG.

>> THAT IS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS THERE BY JOHANSEN, AND HARD GROUND BALL, AND THE RUNNER NEEDS TO CHECK IT MORE, AND THAT IS BASE RUNNING MISTAKE, BUT SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BY JOHANSEN AND A GREAT TAG AT THIRD BASE BY NELSEN.

>> KIOUS TRIED TO SLIDE AROUND IT.

THERE ARE TWO OUTS NOW, AND TO THE TAG OUT, AND APPLEGATE TO FIRST AND STOVER IS AT THE PLATE FOR WINTERSET.

STOVER HAS BEEN DOING THE DAMAGE HERE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT WITH 2 FOR 4 WITH TWO RUNS BATTED IN AT THE SEMIS.

SHE HAD A SINGLE IN THE FIRST AT-BAT, AND HOW ABOUT 2 FOR 2 HERE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND APPLEGATE IS ON THE WAY HERE TO THIRD, AND RUNNERS ARE ON THE CORNERS NOW FOR WINTERSET.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE KEYS FOR THE GAME, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW, A NOT A SINGLE HITTER IS UP THERE TRYING TO OVERPOWER IT, AND IT IS SMART BASE RUNNING AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF SPEED RUN, AND THEY ARE BASE-TO-BASE-TO-BASE SOFTBALL, AND THE COACH IS GOING TO COME TOUT TALK THIS OVER.

>> THREE HITS NOW FOR WINTERSET, AND HERE IT IS, THE LATEST.

BRIDGET STOVER WITH SECOND SINGLE INTO CENTER FIELD.

>> YOU REMEMBER IF THE GIRL GOES WAY OFF, YOU YELL THREE, THREE, THREE, AND SO YOU WILL BE UP AND GOING OVER THERE, AND SO IF SHE IS WAY OFF, AND ON CENTER BASE, YOU RUN SO AUBREY CAN TURN AND GO THERE, AND OTHERWISE, YOU JUST KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GIRL, AND YOU MAKE A GOOD FAKE, AND TAKE A QUICK PEEK AND GO THAT DIRECTION, AND MAKE A QUICK FAKE BEFORE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

>> SO IT IS A FIRST AND THIRD SITUATION HERE.

SOUNDS LIKE A QUICK THROW BACK TO JOHANSEN AFTER THIS FIRST PITCH BACK TO LAUREN CARTER.

KLEEMEIER IS TO FIRST, THE COURTESY RUNNER FOR STOVER, AND APPLEGATE IS TO THIRD.

THE ANTICIPATING RUNNER IS BEING A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE HERE.

THE HEAD COACH OF DCG STEVE SCHLAFKE IS TRYING TO GET THIS FIRST OUT.

BURKE STRUCK OUT IN HER FIRST AT-BAT AND SO YOU MENTIONED SHE IS A VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, AND SHE IS GOING TO BE PLAYING IN DENVER NEXT YEAR.

SKY HIGH, AND SQUEEZING IT IS LAUREN WYLLIE.

WINTERSET THOUGH IS ON THE BOARD, AND THIS IS GOING TO PUT A RUN ACROSS IN THE RBI SINGLE WHICH SCORES JENA YOUNG FROM KILEY.

>> I AM TELLING YOU THAT ILLEGAL PITCH CALL JUST TOOK THE MOMENTUM OFF OF THEIR BATS.

>> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE YOUR WAY WITH THEM JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO.

HAVE FUN.

>> AND THE HEAD COACH STEVE CORKREAN, AND COACH, YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE A RUN ACROSS THERE WITH THE HITS, AND THAT TOP OF THE ORDER, AND JENA YOUNG SUCH A TALENT AND ABLE TO GET IT STARTED FOR YOU.

>> YEAH, JUST MADE A SINGLE INTO THE DOUBLE, AND THEN ABLE TO SCORE AT HOME, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SPEED AND GREAT AWARENESS.

SO, WE HAVE A RUN, AND WE WILL MAKE A GOOD STAND HOPEFULLY.

>> DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SAW FROM THE DEFENSE IN THE THIRD IN, BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD THE THIRD OUT, AND THEN GOING FIRST TO THIRD AND YOU WERE ABLE TO GET OUT.

>> SHE HAS NOT BEEN CALLED FOR THE ILLEGAL PITCH, AND THEY SAID SHE SLID OFF OF THE RUBBER, OR NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE RUBBER IN THE DELIVERY, BUT THE KIDS BEHIND HER GOT US OUT OF THE JAM, AND GOT US OUT OF A COUPLE OF JAMS TODAY.

>> COACH, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

>> YOU BET.

THANK YOU.

>> WINTERSET HEAD COACH STEVE CORKREAN IN THE 22nd YEAR ALL AT WINTERSET, AND 675 CAREER VICTORIES.

AND, YES, WE'RE IN THAT 2,000-WINS RANGED WITH BOTH COACHES COMBINED, ALY.

>> TWO GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE GAME FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND AS I MENTIONED WITH COACH SCHLAFKE, AND STEVE CORKREAN, AND WELL RESPECTED.

THEY JUST DO THINGS RIGHT.

>> AND GETTING THESE YOUNG LADIES TO BELIEVE THIS THEMSELVES AND HARD WORK AND TRAINING.

IZABELLA MULDER TO LEAD OFF THIS FOURTH INNING.

STRUCK OUT SWINGING IN HER FIRST AT-BAT.

IT IS IN THE SIXTH SPOT.

MULDER IS JUST A TOUGH ATHLETE, AND COMPETED IN WRESTLING FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES AND THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE IOWA GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION HAD THE STATE TOURNAMENT IN THE IOWA CITY AREA, AND WRESTLING IS SANCTIONED NOW IN THE STATE OF IOWA, AND GIRLS WRESTLING IS LOOKING LIKE STRIKE TWO.

>> AND NICE JOB TO WORK THE INSIDE CORNER, AND THE DCG HITTERS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE IS WORKING INSIDE-OUTSIDE HIGH AND LOW, AND KEEPING THEM ON THE TOES.

>> A GROUNDER TO JENA YOUNG, AND FIELDED CLEANLY, AND THE THROW IS ON TARGET, AND THERE IS ONE AWAY.

YOU CAN JUST TELL THAT JENA YOUNG HAS THE FAST TWITCH GENE, CAN'T YOU?

>> YES.

YES.

SHE IS PLAYING THE GAME SO FAST.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT JUST SOME ATHLETES, IT IS COMING NATURAL, AND SHE IS TRULY ONE OF THEM.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT FOR DCG, IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR THE RALLY CAT.

>> THEY DO HAVE A RALLY CAT IN THE DUGOUT, AND WE SAW GOOSE IN THE 5A GAME IN THE DUGOUT, AND DALLAS CENTER GRIMES HAVE A CAT.

WHAT WAS IT GOLDY?

>> GOLD YSHGTS IS ALE'S CAT, AND SO WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY COULD NOT HAVE A CAT, THEY BROUGHT A PILLOW.

>> IT IS NOT A PILLOW MADE OF GOLDY THE LIVE CAT, BUT JUST TO REPLACE?

>> YES.

>> OH, MY GOSH, WE HAD CHILDREN AROUND THE STATE OF IOWA HOLDING THEIR BREATH.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND SO, NOW, THAT IS GOLD YSHGTS APPROVED BASE HIT FOR MACEE REILING.

SO SUMMER CAMPBELL IS STEPPING N AND SHE IS BACK IN THE SECOND INNING, A TWO-OUT TRIPLE AS SHE SLAPPED ONE DOWN THE RIGHT FIELD LINE.

AS THE SUN IS SETTING NOW IN FORT DODGE.

THIS IS FOULED AWAY.

SHADE.

>> FOR CAMPBELL, AND THE FIRST HIT OF THE DAY, SHE SLAPPED IT DOWN THE LINE, AND IT WAS A TRIPLE ALL DAY.

>> AND NOW, ACTON IS GOING TO MAKE THE THROW, AND THE THROW BACK TO SECOND IN THERE SAFELY IS REILING.

CARTER IS COVERING OVER AT FIRST.

>> YES, LAUREN CARTER WITH THE QUICK THROW TO SECOND BASE ACTUALLY ALMOST GETTING THE DALLAS CENTER GRIMES RUNNER AT SECOND BASE, AND TURNING IT INTO A DOUBLE PLAY, BUT FOR DCG, ANOTHER RUNNER IS IN SCORING POSITION.

>> SO OLIVIA HUSTON RIPPING ONE INTO CENTER FIELD, AND IS THIS GOING TO SCORE A RUN?

REILING IS GOING TO RUN FOR HOME.

SAFE.

WE WILL HAVE A OBSTRUCTION ON STOVER.

>> THAT IS DEAD BALL PLAY THERE.

>> WE WILL SEE IF HUSTON GETS SECOND.

>> SHE IS GOING TO GO AROUND, AND THAT WHY SHE IS SLOW.

>> AND WHAT HE IS EXPLAINING IS THAT BRIDGET STOVER WAS LINED UP BEHIND THE HOME PLATE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE OBSTRUCTION CALL ON THE CATCHER ALL DAY, AND WHILE IT IS A GREAT THROW ALL DAY IN FROM STOVER, IT WAS LINED UP, AND IT BLOCKS ACCESS TO HOME PLATE FOR THE RUNNER, AND A GREAT THROW HERE.

SO THIS IS A BANG-BANG PLAY.

>> AND THERE, WE CAN SEE THE LEFT FOOT IN THE BASELINE, AND THAT IS A RULE CHANGE MAYBE, I WANT TO SAY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, AND REALLY MAKES IT HARD ON THE DEFENDER.

>> REALLY, AS THE DEFENDER THERE, ALL THAT WAS IN THE WAY WAS THE LEFT FOOT, AND WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID IS FULL BODY CONTACT, AND STOVER'S FULL BODY IS OFF OF THE LINE, AND SO ABOUT IS THE LEFT FOOT, AND SO THE RUNNER SCORES, BECAUSE IT IS A DEAD BALL, AND THE RUNNER HAS TO GO BACK TO FIRST BASE.

>> THAT IS A GOOD EXPLANATION THERE, TOO, BY SORENSON, THE EXPLANATION TO THE HEAD COACH SCHLAFKE.

SO, THEY HAVE A RUNNER TO TIE IT UP IN THE FOURTH IN, AND THIS IS GOING TO THE RIGHT SIDE, AND APPLEGATE IS GOING TO GET OUT THREE AS NELSEN IS PUT OUT TO END THE FOURTH INNING.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF EXCITEMENT HERE AT THE TOP OF THE FOURTH.

SO LET'S CHECK IN WITH COACH CORKREAN.

A QUICK PEP TALK.

>> STEVE CORKREAN IS A MAN OF VERY FEW WORDS OF THE WINTERSET HUSKIES, AND HE IS LETTING THE GIRLS AND HE HAS LEADERS IN THE DUGOUT TO LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD.

>> HE KNOWS THAT THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE FIRED UP AFTER THAT LAST PLAY WHEN DCG GETS ON THE BOARD, AND THE OBSTRUCTION CALL, AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOMENTS WHEN HOW MANY DO YOU SEE IN SOFTBALL GAME OR THE SOFTBALL SEASON, AND HOW DO YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PITCH, AND HE KNOWS AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT RIGHT THERE IS THE CORKREAN, AND USED TO BE A FAST PITCH PITCHER HIMSELF, ALY.

>> AND SO WHEN WE WERE INTERVIEWING THE PLAYER, THEY WERE INTERVIEWING THE SHIRTS THAT SAID STATE TOURNAMENT 2022, BUT NOT THEIRS.

THEY HAD A PICTURE OF THE COACH.

HE TALKED SOME OF THE COACH WHO STILL TALKS ABOUT THE BATTING PRACTICE WITH THE GIRLS.

>> AND THEY USE IT WITH THE OFF-SEASON JERSEY, AND MANY OF THEM ARE WEARING IT AS BAILEY ACTON POPS OUT TO CENTER, AND THE CATCH IS MADE OUT IN CENTER TO HUSTON, AND HE PLAYED 25 YEARS WITH THE FAST PITCH SOFTBALL IN THE CLASSIC LEAGUE.

HE SAID THREE TEAMS IN WINTERSET ALONE.

HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

BREEDING IS POPPING ONE UP RIGHT SIDE, AND MAKING CATCH IS MULDER.

SO TWO PITCHES, TWO OUTS HERE END UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH INNING.

>> JOHANSEN IS MAKING QUICK WORK OF THE WINTERSET HITTERS.

SHE IS ATTACKING ZONE, AND WINTERSET IS LETTING THE BALL GET TOO DEEP, AND THEY ARE CATCHING IT IN ON THE HANDS.

>> AND AVARY DARLING TO THE PLATE.

WINTERSET ATTACKING FIRST PITCH HERE IN THE FOURTH INNING.

>> THAT IS GREAT SPOT THERE BY JOHANSEN.

>> JOHANSEN WITH AN E.R.A.

UNDER 2.00.

A 1.98.

DARLING TO POP OUT TO REILING, AND THAT IS SHORT BACK IN SECOND INNING.

HERE'S A FLY BALL TO DROP IN FOR A BASE HIT.

DARLING WITH THE FIRST HIT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

SHE IS 1 FOR 3 IN SEMIS AND 2 FOR 4 IN THE QUARTERFINALS AND SCORED A RUN IN EACH GAME HERE IN FORT DODGE.

THAT BRINGS UP BANNING TO THE PLATE.

TWO OUTS.

POPS THIS ONE UP.

IT IS GOING TO STAY IN THE INFIELD.

MULDER IS GIVING WAY TO REILING, AND A TWO-OUT SINGLE IS ALL THAT WINTERSET CAN MUSTER HERE IN THE FOURTH INNING.

1-1 AFTER FOUR.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL WITH THE 4A TITLE GAME.

WE CONTINUE AFTER THIS.

>> ONE RUN ON FIVE HITS FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

LEADING IT OFF IS LYDIA ZARUBA WHO IS 1 FOR 2 SO FAR WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.

LEADS IT OFF HERE IN THE FIFTH.

TWO, THREE, FOUR OF THE BATTING ORDER COMES TO THE PLATE FOR THE MUSTANGS OF DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

25-6 ON THE SEASON WITH 19-1 IN THE LITTLE HAWK CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP.

JUST ONE LOSS SINCE JUNE 11th.

11-8 DECISION TO CARLISLE BACK ON THE 21st.

NICE CATCH MADE BY AVARY DARLING IN LEFT FIELD.

>> YOU CAN SEE SHE IS GOING FOR THE SLAP, AND JUST GETTING UNDERNEATH THE BALL, AND MAKE FOR AN EASY PLAY OUT IN LEFT FIELD.

>> DARLING WITH THE GRAB.

THERE'S JOHANSEN SWINGING AT THE FIRST PITCH.

YOUNG IS UNDERNEATH IT.

TWO AWAY.

>> BOTH TEAMS ARE JUST RIGHT NOW, GETTING A LOT OF BALLS STUCK UP IN THE AIR, AND BOTH TEAMS NEED TO FOCUS ON JUST GOING TO THE MIDDLE OF THE BALL AND HITTING LINE DRIVES.

>> WE JUST SAW THE INNING WHERE JOHANSEN THREW FIVE PITCHES TO FOUR BATTERS IN A FIVE-PITCH INNING.

THIS IS GROUNDER TO RIGHT SIDE, AND WHAT A SNAG BY CARTER.

THE THROW -- AND HOW ABOUT THAT.

THREE UP, THREE DOWN, AND AS QUICK AS YOU CAN DO IT.

>> FIVE PITCH, AND I WILL DO IT IN THREE.

RIGHT HERE, GREAT PLAY AT SECOND BASE MAKING THE SLIDING GRAB.

LAUREN CARTER IS MAKING THAT LOOK EASY OVER TO APPLEGATE.

>> SO 1-1 IS THE SCORE AS WE ARE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH INNING, ALONGSIDE ALYCAPPAERT, AND SO MANY MOMENTS LIKE THIS TO GET TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT, AND IT IS SO DIFFERENT THAN YOUTH BALL THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP TO PLAY IN WHAT IS CALLED THE STATE TOURNAMENT, BUT THIS IS EARNED THROUGH THE SEASON, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO PROVE IT IN POST-SEASON.

>> THERE IS NO ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS, AND THESE TOWNS ARE SHOWING UP FOR THE GAME, BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE SETS IS OF BLEACHERS PACKED FULL, AND A OUT OF TOWN SET OF BLEACHERS PACKED FULL, AND THE STUDENT BLEACHERS ARE PACKED FULL, AND IT IS SOME OF THE MOST FUN SOFTBALL THAT YOU WILL SEE PLAYED ANYWHERE.

>> IT IS SOME OF THE MOST FUN PLAYERS THAT YOU WILL SEE ANYWHERE.

JENA YOUNG IS A SPARK PLUG, AND VERBALLY COMMITTED TO IOWA, AND SHE IS A FRESHMAN SHORTSTOP, AND WINNING THE STATE BEST .628, AND ASKED HER HOW SHE IMPROVED THE HITTING THIS YEARS, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE IMPROVED IN THE FALL AND THE SPRING, AND HOW ABOUT ANOTHER BASE HIT, AND 3 OF 4 FOR JENA YOUNG WHO HAD A DOUBLE IN THE THIRD, AND RIPPED A SINGLE UP TO THE FIFTH.

>> WHEN THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED YESTERDAY HOW SHE IMPROVED THE TEAMMATES WERE SO FAST TO JUMP IN, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH BETTER THE PITCH SELECTION HAD BEEN.

AND SO, THE TEAMMATES WERE RECOGNIZING THAT, AND THEY TALK TALKED ABOUT HOW CLOSE THEY HAD BEEN GETTING, AND SO IT SHOWS OVER A .206 BATTING AVERAGE.

>> AND SHE HAD IMPROVED IN SEMIS GOING 2 FOR 4 AND 2 FOR 4 IN THE QUARTERFINALS WITH A RUN AND A WALK.

HERE IS THE BASE HIT THAT GETS STOLEN OUT IN CENTER FIELD BY HUSTON.

SHE WAS CHEATING TOWARDS THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR EACH SCOUTING REPORT BY KIOUS.

>> YES, HUSTON IS GOING TOWARDS THE LEFT CENTER AND IT IS LOOKING LIKE A DOUBLE WITH THE SPEED OF THE BAT, AND WITH JENA YOUNG AT THIRD BASE, SHE MAY HAVE SAVED A BASE HIT.

>> NOW WITH A CHOICE IN THIRD INNING, WHEN WINTERSET SCORED THE RUN.

>> YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF COACH CORKREAN IS PUTTING IN SOME SORT OF STEAL WITH JENA YOUNG'S SPEED.

>> THIS IS DRILLED DOWN THE LINE, AND DRILLED OVER THE FENCE BY NEELA APPLEGATE.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE SUCH A SHOT.

AND SHE KNOWS THAT IS HUGE.

>> APPLEGATE WITH TWO HOME RUNS ON THE SEASON.

>> AND SHE GETS THE HANDS FULLY EXTENDED, AND SHE SEES THAT ONE GOING OUT IN A HURRY.

>> THAT IS 200 DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE, TOO.

>> PRETTY GOOD TIME TO HIT YOUR THIRD HOME RUN OF THE SEASON.

WINTERSET AND NOW A 3-1 LEAD.

AND BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH WITH JUST ONE OUT.

TALK ABOUT JENA YOUNG HAVING A HOME RUN IN EACH GAME, AND APPLEGATE SAYS I CAN HANDLE IT.

STOVER IS 2 FOR 2.

JOHANSEN HAS STRIKE ONE ON HER.

STOVER IS GOING RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE WITH THE TWO AT-BATS.

AND THIS ONE GOES RIGHT TO REILING AT SHORT.

TWO AWAY NOW IN THE FIFTH, AND LAUREN CARTER GOES RIGHT TO THE PLATE.

>> I LIKE THAT AT-BAT THERE BY STOVER, BECAUSE SHE TOOK FIRST PITCH AND A HUGE SWING, AND FIRST PITCH, AND GREAT HIT, AND SHORTSTOP, AND THAT WAS A GREAT PLAY.

>> AND IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE DEFENSE, DOESN'T THE IT?

>> JOHANSEN GOES UP HIGH, AND CARTER SWINGS RIGHT UNDER IT.

>> AND CARTER IS ALSO ON THAT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, AND LEFT FIELD ZARUBA IS UNDERNEATH IT TO MAKE THE CATCH.

BUT IT IS WINTERSET ADDING TWO MORE RUNS HERE IN THE FIFTH INNING, AND TWO-RUN BOMB FROM NEELA APPLEGATE.

I AM GOING TO BRING YOU THAT HIGHLIGHT, ALY, BUT FIRST, SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 4A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND WIND IT BACK TO THE THIRD INNING, WINTERSET, STARTED TO GET IT GOING.

>> THAT PLAY WAS A HUSTLE PLAY BY JENA YOUNG, AND GREAT HIT, AND JENNY YOUNG COMING FROM SECOND BASE, AND THAT IS COMING FROM THE PLATE, AND ACTUALLY, THE TAG WAS MADE FROM THE OBSTRUCTION, AND THAT GAME WAS TIED 1-1 UNTIL THE LAST IN, AND THIS IS A ROCKET RIGHT OVER THE LEFT FIELD FENCE, AND THAT IS WHERE IT WAS 3-1.

NEELA APPLEGATE WAS THE THREE HITTER FROM WINTERSET.

AND THE TWO-RUN SHOT FROM THE FIRST HIT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND IT IS A BIG ONE.

AND YOU KNOW THE TRADITION FROM THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, YOU GET THE HOME RUN BALL TO THE FAMILY OF THE GAL THAT HIT IT, AND SNEAKING OUT TO APPLEGATES RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GIRLS ATHLETIC LEAGUE GOT IT OUT, AND SHE WANTED THAT HUG, YOU KNOW IT, ALY.

>> THAT IS GOOD ON JEAN TO GO OUT THERE TO DELIVER IT PERSONALLY TO THE MOM AND DAD.

SO PROUD.

>> WE HAVE MORE SOFTBALL TO PLAY.

THE TOP OF THE SIXTH INNING.

DALLAS CENTER GRIMES WITH FIVE, SIX, SEVEN IN THE ORDER.

THAT IS A GROUNDOUT TO BANNING FOR OUT ONE.

>> BANNING IS FIELDING THE POSITION, AND THE PITCHER NEVER LIKES TO MAKE THE FULL THROW, AND TOSSING IT OVER.

>> THE SMILE AFTERWARDS, TOO.

AS MUCH AS YOU CAN PRACTICE, GROUNDERS THAT COME BACK TO YOU, WHETHER THEY ARE FAST ONES OR THE SLOWER ONES THAT SOMETIMES HAVE THAT TOUGH SPIN, IT IS NEVER A SURE THING, IS IT?

>> NEVER.

>> AND A TOUGH PLAY FOR SODERBERG, AND CAN'T MAKE IT, BUT IT IS IN FOUL TERRITORY THOUGH.

SHOWED SOME GREAT SPEED JUST TO GET THERE, AND ALLISON SODERBERG IS THE JUNIOR.

>> AND MULDER IS GETTING A NEW LIFE, BECAUSE THAT ONE GOES RIGHT OUT OF THE WEB OF THE GLOVE.

>> IT IS HARD TO TELL FROM OUR ANGLE, OUR VANTAGE POINT, IT WAS CLEARLY A FOUL BALL.

AGAIN, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE THE BODY OF THE DEFENDER IS, BUT WHERE THE BALL IS THE MOMENT IT IS TOUCHED.

AND HOW ABOUT THAT?

BANNING IS READY.

>> THEA BANNING IS FIELDING HER POSITION, AND HELPING THE TEAM OUT.

>> BANNING HAS A TWO-RUN LEAD RIGHT NOW, AND SHE IS IN ATTACK MODE.

>> YOU CAN TELL WITH BOTH OF THE TEAMS WHEN THE PITCHERS ARE DEALING, THEY ARE TRYING TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT QUICKER PACE, AND THEY CONTROL THE GAME, THEY KEEP THE DEFENSE ON THE TOES.

IT IS JUST ONE STRIKE AFTER ANOTHER RIGHT NOW.

>> BANNING IS UP 0-2 ON THE COUNT.

RILING IS SWINGING THROUGH STRIKE THREE.

THREE UP, THREE DOWN IN THE TOP OF THE SIXTH.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

WE CANNOT GET TO COACH CORKREAN QUICK ENOUGH.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES, IT IS JUST, "LET'S GO."

>> AND SOMETIMES THAT IS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE UPPER CLASSMEN, THE LEADERS ON THE WINTERSET TEAM, AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BRIDGET STOVER, AND TALKING ABOUT JENA YOUNG, YOU HAVE KIDS IN THAT DUGOUT THAT CAN DO THE LEADING OF THEIR OWN.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE PHONE IS BLOWING UP THERE, AND THAT IS A MOMENT THAT HE'LL NEVER FORGET.

>> THE LITTLE ONES JUST NEED MORE SNACKS.

THEY KNOW FOR SURE.

SO AUBREY JOHANSEN BACK TO WORK, AND SUMMER CAMPBELL -- LET'S SEE HERE.

WHO GOING TO BE COMING UP NEXT INNING, SEVEN A EIGHT, AND HALEY ACTON WITH HER FIRST SINGLE OF THE GAME.

>> THIS WINTERSET TEAM, I WILL TELL YOU LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THEY ARE JUST NOT TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH WITH IT.

AND THIS IS WHAT IS MAKING THEM SO SUCCESSFUL IN THE GAME IS THAT THEY ARE KEEPING IT SIMPLE AT THE PLATE.

COACH CORKREAN'S TALKS OF SIMPLE "LET'S GO, THAT IS ALL THEY NEED.

WE WILL HAVE A PINCH-HITTER HERE.

>> 28 FOR 25 HITTING.

28 FOR 25 HITTING.

>> SO IT IS 28 JAYA KLEEMEIER IS COMING IN TO HIT FOR MOLLY BREEDING.

>> THE MAIN THING IS TO GET HER DOWN TO GET A RUN, ALL RIGHT.

>> BOTH COACHES ARE TALKING THE STRATEGY WITH THEIR TEAM, AND COACH CORKREAN, YOU HAVE TO EXPECT LIKELY A BUNT IN THIS SITUATION, AND WE TALKED IN THE 5A GAME, THE DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO-RUN LEAD AND THREE-RUN LEAD.

COACH SCHLAFKE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SPEED ON THE BASES.

AND WE ARE GOING TO LEFTY UP.

I LIKE THE STRATEGY ON WINTERSET'S SIDE, AND SEE HOW THEY CHOOSE TO DEFEND THIS.

>> KLEEMEIER ON THE SEASON WITH A COUPLE OF SACRIFICES.

LOOKING FOR ONE HERE TO GET ACTON BACK IN SCORING POSITION, AND PUTS IT DOWN BEAUTIFULLY, AND WHAT A THROW BY MULDER.

NELSON MAKES THE THROW, BUT MULDER IS A GREAT GRAB.

>> PERFECTLY EXECUTED BY BOTH TEAMS THERE.

ON THE WINTERSET SIDE, SHE DID THE JOB TO GET THE RUNNER TO THE NEXT BASE, AND ON WINTERSET'S SIDE, THEY GOT THE RUNNER AT SECOND, AND DID NOT EXECUTE THE PLAY.

SO THE RUNNER IS IN SCORING POSITION WITH ONE OUT, AND THAT THE MOVE THAT WINTERSET WANTED TO MAKE.

AVARY DARLING IS 1 FOR 2 TONIGHT, AND STEPS IN.

JOHANSEN DROPS IT.

>> AND SINGLE OUT TO LEFT FIELD IN THE FOURTH INNING.

ACTON IS LOOKING READY TO ROLL THERE AT SECOND.

IT IS GOING TO BE A POP FLY IN SHALLOW CENTER, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE MOVING ACTON AT ALL, AND HUSTON MAKES THE CATCH FOR OUT TWO, AND THEA BANNING, THE WINTERSET PITCHER, THE SENIOR, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO THE TWO-RUN LEAD HERE FOR THE HUSKIES.

0 FOR 2 TONIGHT.

GOOD JOB LAYING OFF THAT PITCH.

BANNING HAS THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT WITH TWO IN THE SEMIS AND TWO BATTED IN FOR BURLINGTON, AND A 10-2 BATTED IN, AND THE STUDENT SECTION.

>> JOHANSEN JUST BATTED IT IN, AND TRYING TO DRIVE IT N BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT IN WITH ANYTHING YET.

>> BANNING SLICES THAT ONE FOUL.

STAYS ALIVE ONE BALL, AND TWO STRIKES FOR THEA BANNING.

SUCH A COMPETITOR, AND CAPTAIN OF THE 2020 ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM, AND LOOKING FOR INSURANCE RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH.

>> AND A NICE PITCH THERE WORKING IT UP WITH THAT SPIN, AND THE UPWARD HALF OF THE BALL.

BANNING IS LOOKING FOR A PITCH SHE CAN DRIVE, AND THIS IS THE 1-2, AND HITTING IT HARD AS HUSTON SETTLES AND MAKES THE CATCH FOR OUT THREE.

THEY HAVE RUNS IN SCORING POSITION, BUT DCG HOLDS DOWN TWO, AND WE HEAD TO THE TOP OF THE SEVENTH, AND THE MUSTANGS WITH A FINAL CRACK TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THIS 4A TITLE GAME.

>> THIS IS A PICTURE-PERFECT NIGHT IN FORT DODGE, IOWA, AND BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS FOR SOFTBALL.

WHEN IT IS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, IT FEELS EVEN BETTER.

3-1 IS THE SCORE, AND WINTERSET IS THE TWO-RUN LEAD, AND DALLAS CENTER GRIMES IS AT THE PLATE HERE AT THE TOP OF THE SEVENTH, AND THEY NEEDED TWO RUNS TO KEEP IT GOING, AND 8-9-1 TO KEEP IT GOING, AND ALY, THE EIGHT AND NINE HITTERS BOTH HAVE A BASE HIT HERE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ALREADY, AND IT IS A TRIPLE BY CAMPBELL BACK IN THE SECOND.

>> TRIPLE BY CAMPBELL, AND LAST NIGHT, IT WAS HUSTON WITH THE HOME RUN, SO THEY MAY BE THE EIGHT AND NINE HITTERS, BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THE POWER HERE FOR DCG.

>> THE RIGHT SIDE IS LAUREN CARTER, THE SENIOR, POISED TO MAKE THE PLAY.

OVER TO FIRST, AND APPLEGATE SQUEEZES IT FOR OUT NUMBER ONE.

OLIVIA HUSTON HAD A HOME RUN YESTERDAY, AND THE RBI SINGLE IN THE FOURTH INNING TIED THIS GAME UP FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES.

STEPS IN WITH NOBODY ON.

THE TOP OF THE ORDER IS RIGHT BEHIND HER, AND ELLE NELSEN IN THE ON-DECK CIRCLE.

THEA BANNING HAS PITCHED SO WELL IN THIS GAME.

>> SHE JUST CONTINUES TO PLAY WITH PACE.

>> FOUR STRIKEOUTS FOR BANNING.

HERE TONIGHT ONE IN THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND SIXTH INNING.

THERE'S THE 2-1, AND THIS IS A HARD HIT BALL, AND INTO CENTER FIELD, AND OVER THE HEAD OF KIOUS, AND AROUND FIRST.

HUSTON IS GOING TO TRY FOR TWO, AND HAVE IT.

>> HUSTON IS GOING TO ROCK IT OUT OF CENTER FIELD, AND IN CENTER FIELD, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST STEP, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT THE BALL IS COMING AT YOU, IT HAS TO BEK BAX BUT SOMETIMES THE BALLS ARE HIT SO HARD, THAT IT IS APPEARS THAT IT MIGHT COME A LITTLE BIT SHORT, AND THAT IS TOUGH PLAY FOR KIOUS OUT THERE IN CENTER FIELD.

>> SO ONE RUNNER ABOARD, AND THE RUNNER COMES ABOARD FOR DALLAS CENTER GRIMES WHICH MEANS THE TYING RUN IS COMING TO THE PLATE.

ELLE NELSEN IS LOOKING FOR A FIRST-PITCH STRIKE, AN SINGLE TO LEAD OFF THE GAME FOR ELLE NELSEN.

THEN TWO GROUNDOUTS, ONE IN THE THIRD AND ONE IN THE FOURTH.

FOULS THAT ONE AWAY.

NELSEN HAD AN RBI IN THE QUARTERFINALS, AND LOOKING FOR ONE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

>> SO IMPORTANT HERE TO NOT TRY TO DO TOO MUCH, AND JUST FIND A GAP AS THE OUTFIELD IS PLAYING DEEP.

>> 1-2, THE COUNT.

COACH SLAP KI IS TALKING ABOUT ELLE NELSEN SAYS THAT EVERYONE RELIES ON HER.

SHE IS ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT IS JUST KIND OF THAT, THAT HEARTBEAT OF THE TEAM, AND THE PERSON THAT YOU WANT TO FOLLOW.

>> THE PERFECT PERSON TO HAVE HERE AS A LEADOFF HITTER.

>> THIS IS FIELDED BY YOUNG, AND THE THROW TO FIRST GETS NELSEN FOR OUT NUMBER TWO.

>> DEFENSIVELY HERE, YOU WON'T GET IT PAST JENNY YOUNG AT SHORTSTOP, BECAUSE SHE IS ABLE TO PLAY THIS BALL SO WELL.

SLAP KI IS GOING TO TALK TO HIS HITTER ZARUBA HERE.

>> IT IS OUTSIDE.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS UP, AND DON'T REACH FOR IT, A MAKE THE BALL STAY ON TOP OF IT, AND YOU JUST KEEP THE BALL ON TOP OF IT, AND THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT A HARD-LINE DRIVE, AND HARD GROUND BALL, AND KEEP THE HARD-LINE DRIVE OR HARD GROUND BALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> AND THE COACH SCHLAFKE IS PREACHING WHAT THEY NEED, A HARD GROUND BALL AND PLAY BASE-TO-BASE SOFTBALL.

>> THE COACH TALKED ABOUT LYDIA ZARUBA YESTERDAY, AND HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD CONTRIBUTE TOO MUCH THIS SEASON, BUT SHE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY HUGE.

THIS SEASON HAS JUST REALLY BUILT SOME CONFIDENCE FOR THIS SOPHOMORE OUTFIELDER.

IN THAT TWO-SPOT THERE IN THE LINEUP, AND THEA BANNING IS TRYING TO CLOSEOUT THE STATE TITLE IN THE CIRCLE FOR WINTERSET.

AND NOW, NO BALLS AND TWO STRIKES FOR THE SECOND HITTER IN A ROW.

>> COACH SLAP KI IS GOING TO TALK THIS OVER REAL QUICK.

-- COACH SLAP KI IS SCHLAFKE IS GOING TO TALK THIS OVER REAL QUICK.

>> TWO BALLS AND TWO STRIKES IS THE COUNT.

ZARUBA IS GOING TO CHASE IT.

A STRIKE ENDS IT, AND WINTERSET IS YOUR 4A STATE CHAMPIONS.

>> THEA BANNING GOING TO WHAT SHE DOES BEST, AND GOING TO WHAT IS LOW, LOW, AND COMING AT HER HIGH TO CHASE IT TO THE PITCHING STAFF AT WINTERSET, AND TWO GREAT GAMES TONIGHT.

>> AND WINTERSET IS WINNING THE FOURTH TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY, AND THE THIRD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST SIX SEASON, AND 2022 IS NOW GOING TO BE REMEMBERED WITH 2017, AND 2020.

THESE TWO TEAMS PLAYED SO WELL THIS WEEK TO GET TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, AND IF YOU GET TO THIS POINT, I THINK THAT IT IS JUST THAT ONE EXTRA MOMENT THAT COMES UP WITH A PLAY THAT IS GOING TO GO YOUR WAY, IT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT POINT IS CRUCIAL BY APPLEGATE, BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR THESE PLAYERS TO COME OUT TO PLAY THEIR HEARTS OUT, AND MAKE THE ROUTINE PLAYS, AND IN THE END, IT WAS THE HOME RUN THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> YOUR KIDS PLAYED AWESOME.

>> WINTERSET HEAD COACH STEVE CORKREAN HAS BEEN A PART OF ALL FOUR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS.

THIS ONE WAS A SPECIAL ONE FOR HIM.

DOING IT JUST EIGHT DAYS AFTER SURGERY AS WELL.

BATTLING THE LITTLE DISCOMFORT FOR THESE KIDS.

>> I DO HAVE TO SAY HATS OFF TO DCG ON AN OUTSTANDING SEASON S AND COACH SCHLAFKE FOR THE OUTSTANDING SEASON.

>> WE TURN IT OVER TO THE P.A.

ANNOUNCER.

>> THE MEDALS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY IOWA FARM BUREAU AND THE GIRLS TITLE UNION, AND THE SOFTBALL ADMINISTRATOR, AND BOARD MEMBER DAN CRAMER.

HERE'S THE CLASS 4 ASHGTS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM.

FROM WINTERSET, THEA BANNING.

FROM DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, AUBREY JOHANSEN.

FROM WINTERSET, BRIDGET STOVER.

FROM DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, IZABELLA MULDER.

FROM NORTH SCOTT, McKINLEY TUOHY.

FROM CARLISLE, RAEGAN ROLLING.

FROM NORTH SCOTT, MADDIE McDERMOTT.

FROM DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, OLIVIA HUSTON.

FROM WINTERSET, RILEY KIOUS.

FROM DALLAS CENTER GRIMES, MACEE RILEY.

AND YOUR 2022 CLASS 4 ASHGTS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPTAIN, FROM WINTERSET, JENA YOUNG.

>> FOUR ATHLETES FROM THE TWO TEAMS COMPETE IN THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AS WE LOOK AT THEM, JENA YOUNG, THE CAPTAIN SCORED THE FIRST RUN OF THE GAME IN THE THIRD, AND SCORED AFTER A SINGLE IN THE FIFTH INNING AS WELL, AND ON BASE AFTER NEELA APPLEGATE'S TWO-OUT RUN IN THE FIFTH.

AND CARLISLE PART OF THAT ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM.

SO, THERE IS SOME KIDS WHO CAME AND HAD A GREAT FINAL WEEK TO THE 2022 SEASON.

>> AND WHAT A GAME ON THE 4A SIDE, AND YOU KNOW SOME GREAT PLAYERS ON THAT TEAM, AND YOU KNOW THEY WILL BE COMING BACK.

SOME GIRLS FOUND THE LINEUP LATE IN THE SEASON, AND GOOD LUCK FOR MAKING HIT THE FAR, AND THEIR COACHES ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND THEY CAME HERE WITH A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER FROM WINTERSET, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

>> IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING MEDALLIONS, EVERY PARTICIPATING PLAYER WILL RECEIVE A COMMEMORATIVE SOFTBALL FROM THE COMMEMORATIVE SPONSOR, AND EACH OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RUNNERS UP IN CLASS 4A, HEAD COACH STEVE SCHLAFKE AND THE DALLAS CENTER GRIMES MUSTANGS, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OUTSTANDING 2022 SOFTBALL SEASON.

AND YOUR 2022 CLASS 4A STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS HEAD COACH STEVE CORKREAN AND THE HUSKIES FROM WINTERSET.

>> THAT IS THE FOURTH TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY THAT WINTERSET HAS RAISED THAT CHAMPIONSHIP HARDWARE.

THIRD TIME IN LAST SIX YEARS AND HOW ABOUT THIS, ALY, THE TOP-SEEDED WINTERSET FINISHES THE SEASON WITH A 23-GAME WINNING STREAK AS THEY CAME THROUGH WITH THE BIG BATS DELIVERED BY APPLEGATE IN THIS ONE WITH THE TWO-RUN HOME RUN AND THREE RUNS ON EIGHT HITS.

>> IT CAME TOGETHER FOR THE RIGHT TIME FOR WINTERSET IN THIS PAST MONTH.

THESE GIRLS WERE PLAYING THE BEST BALL OF THEIR LIVES, AND IT IS EXCITING FOR THE SENIORS AND THE UPPER CLASSMEN, BUT THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM, AND YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT THEY WILL BE BACK HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> JENNY YOUNG IS A JUNIOR, AND VERBAL COMMIT TO IOWA, AND RILEY KIOUS IS GOING TO BE PLAYING WITH UTAH, AND THEA BANNING IS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE IN UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME GOES TO THE HUSKIES.

TOMORROW, ON FRIDAY, THE 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME COMES UP AT 2:30 P.M., AND DAVENPORTED A ASSUMPTION AND MOUNT VERNON ARE GOING TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD, AND THAT GOING TO START A FUN DAY ON THREE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ALL PLAYED HERE IN FORT DODGE.

THE ONE AND THE TWO SEED IN THAT 3A TITLE GAME ALL COMING UP.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FOR THE ENTIRE IOWA PBS CREW, AND ALY CAPPAERT, I'M BRAD WELLS, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS STATE GIRLS SOFTBALL STATE 4A COVERAGE.