Whitney Link’s two out double in the top of the fifth drove in the first two runs of the game and top ranked Des Moines East held on for a 2-1 over Bettendorf in the class 4A opening round. Link says she saw the pitch right off the pitcher’s hip and was able to hit it and its was “really cool.”
With the victory the Scarlets advance to the semifinal round for the first time since 1994. Link says it was a good game to win, but she says they’re not going to let down and are going to play hard every game.
Mollie McClelland drove a two-two pitch over the center field fence to lead off the bottom of the seventh as second ranked and defending state champion West Des Moines Valley beat number-seven Southeast Polk 1-0.
McClelland says she wasn’t thinking about a home run but wanted to just get on base to lead off the inning. McClelland says she wasn’t trying to be the hero, she just got a change-up and hit it.
Fort Dodge ended years of frustration. The Dodgers took advantage of a throwing error by tenth rated Cedar Rapids Jefferson to score a run in the top of the third and they made it hold up in a 1-0 victory. After losing in the first round of the state tournament in each of the past four years the Dodgers are headed for the semifinals.
Fort Dodge coach Andi Adams says it was a win they wanted badly as she says the first game is the hardest and once you get past it, it’s not easier, but she says at least they can say they won a game. Adams says she’s not relaxed after winning, just excited.
Katie Harms tossed a one-hitter as third ranked Linn-Mar edged Davenport West 1-0. Linn-Mar coach Don Menke called it a typical state tournament game. Menke says the Lions have become accustomed to playing and winning one-run games.
In the class 1A semifinals Akron-Westfield pitcher Kayla Smith lost her perfect game in the bottom of the seventh but she still got the win as the top rated Westerners beat Madrid 4-0. Akron-Westfield won the 2A title last year.