Junior pitcher Kayla Tindall tossed a one hitter and top ranked Akron-Westfield scored an unearned run in the top of the third to beat fifth rated Don Bosco 1-0 in a class 1A semifinal round Game.
Tindall struck out five as Akron-Westfield improved to 36-2 on the season. The Westerners will bid for their fifth state title in Friday’s 1A title contest.
“Obviously we’re excited to be there, it could have been either one of us. Both teams I think are so equally matched…..I just thought it was a great defensive battle,” Akron-Westfield coach Todd Colt said. He has led teams to the state tournament ten times in the last 11 years. He talks about what makes this team unique.
Freshman pitcher Morgan Christner drove an 0-2 pitch to the fence in right centerfield to drive in the only run of the game as New London toppled fourth ranked Newell-Fonda 1-0 in a 1A semifinal round game. On the mound, Christner tossed a four hitter and struck out six. The Tigers take a 32-9 record into the 1A championship.
Jennifer Owens singled in the game’s only run with two outs in the fourth inning as second ranked Treynor got by eighth rated AGWSR in a class 2A semifinal. It was as close as Treynor coach JoEllen Travis expected. “When you come to the state tournament you know you are going to see the best teams, so yes. There were a few mistakes made on both sides, we got lucky at the right time,” Travis says.
The Cardinals are a victory away from a second consecutive state title and Travis says attitude is one of the biggest strengths for her team.
Third ranked Durant scored two runs in the bottom of the first and cruised to a 6-0 win over Ridge View in a class 2A quarterfinal round game. In two games at the tournament coach Steve Hopkins team has yet to give up a run.
Hopkins says the Wildcats have been motivated after coming up short at last year’s tournament and are not satisfied with just getting to the title game this year, they want to win it all.