There was plenty of drama unfolding in the Class 3A State Softball Semifinals in Ft. Dodge Thursday. The first semifinal pit fifth-ranked Estherville-Lincoln Central against top-ranked Solon, and the game would come down to the final inning. The Spartans, making their ninth appearance at the state tourney, took an early one-run advantage courtesy of their first two batters. Emily Bransky led off with a double and Alyssa Rickels drove her in with a bloop single. The Midgets, in their sixth state tournament appearance, went hitless until the fourth inning, and would proceed to strand runners at second and third in both the fourth and fifth innings. Still down entering the seventh, ELC senior Sadie Winter collected her second hit of the day with one out, but would get no farther than first base as Solon earned a 1-0 victory. Kendall Bosch, despite taking a line drive off her pitching hand, limited the Spartans to four total hits, retiring 15 of 18 batters faced from the second inning on. The senior struck out five batters. Winter would reach safely in three plate appearances, while Macy Dahl tallied the only other hit against winning pitcher Arran Weeces.
In the other 3A semi, Ballard and Bondurant-Farrar were scoreless after 6 1/2 innings. Ballard, as the home team, took advantage of an error and a double to grab a 1-0 walkoff win. Therefore, the championship game on Friday will be played between Solon (37-6) and ninth-ranked Ballard (34-9). Prior to that game, Estherville-Lincoln Central will take a 28-7 record into the third-place game against Bondurant-Farrar, who boasts a 36-8 mark. Game time from Diamond 2 is set for 1:30pm, and coverage can be heard on Y100.
The remaining four classes also decided their championship pairings. In Class 1A, top-seed Martensdale St. Mary’s needed eight innings to defeat Charter Oak-Ute, and will play Earlham for the title. Earlham shut down Don Bosco, 3-0.
The title match in Class 2A will feature Des Moines Christian and Treynor. Des Moines Christian blanked Durant, 4-0, and Treynor battled to a 3-2 victory in nine innings over Sumner-Fredericksburg.
The surprise of the tournament came in Class 4A, where Clear Creek-Amana lost for just the second time this season, as they were upset 2-0 by Indianola. The other semi also finished with a 2-0 final, with Dallas Center-Grimes getting by Washington.
And in the first year of Class 5A, the championship will be decided between top-ranked Ankeny and defending 4A champ Des Moines East. Ankeny earned a 4-0 decision against Iowa City West, while Des Moines East won a close 6-5 contest with Pleasant Valley.
