Senior catcher Sarah Parkinson singled in the go ahead run in the top of the 10th inning as defending class 1A champion and top ranked Akron Westfield edged eight ranked Earlham 3-2. Parkinson says the pitch was right on the money for her and she says she hit it with “the most heart I could.”
Pasrkinson’s hit capped off a comeback by the Westerners after they fell behind 2-0 after three innings of play.
After a rough start Akron-Westfield starter Brandi Davis settled down and held Earlham scoreless the final seven innings.
Sara Johnson’s three-run homer to left center field capped a five run first inning as third ranked North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted rolled to a 10-0 victory in a 1A quarterfinal.
NSK-AR coach Bill Ingalls says they usually aren’t that explosive, getting that many runs early, but he says he’ll take it. The five runs in the opening inning was more than enough for Eagles pitcher Allie Ingalls who gave up only two hits in the victory.
Ingalls says it allows the pitcher to move the pitches around more and the defense is calmed down with a cushion of runs and they can play better.
The Eagles improve to 37-3.