One of the longest games in tournament history highlighted the class 3-A semifinals at the state high school softball tournament. It took 14 innings to break up the pitchers dual between North Scott’s Ann Hamilton and Des Moines Lincoln’s Lisa Birocci. Lincoln third baseman Christini Meusburger (myoos-berger) ended it with a double to the fence in left scoring Missy Koll from second as the 6th ranked Rail Splitters upended the top ranked Lancers 1-0. The game tied the record for the longest everplayed at the tournament in 3-A. Birocci had a no hitter through seven andyielded just four hits. She also tied an all time tournament record with 21strikeouts. Lincoln’s Christinia Meusburger (myoos-burger) on the feelingshe had after her game-winning hit.Lincoln pitcher Lisa Birocci (bih-rah-chee) was asked if she thought the game would ever end.Lincoln will meet Fairfield in the title game. Kadie Kane singled in thewinning run in the bottom of the seventh to let 11th ranked Fairfieldadvance to the 3-A title game with a 1-0 victory over second ranked SiouxCity East. Fairfield coach Bob Bradfield said it was a thrilling finish.Waukee pitcher Lindsy Owen helped her own cause Thursday and helped her team into the state championship game. Owen singled in Bobbie Villotti with the game’s first run in the bottom of the fifth as the top ranked Warriors downed Perry 2-0 in a 2-A semifinal round game.For Waukee it was a measure of revenge after losing to Perry in the semifinal round last year. Waukee will play second ranked Clear Lake for the title. The Lions pushed across a run in the third and rode the two hit pitching of Kristin Keefe for a 1-0 victory over Eddyville-Blakesburg. Clear Lake coach Troy Heller says his team survived some bad base running.Heller says holding Eddyville-Blakesburg is a credit to their defense.A successfull coaching career comes to an end today. After a consolation round victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 3-A play, Charles City battles Ankeny today for fifth place. It will mark the last game for Charles City coach Jerry Newton who has one thousand and 69 career victories and 23 state tournament appearances. Newton says apporaching his final game is no big deal.
