Earlham dashes Wolves’ state softball dreams

Five-run seventh lifts Cardinals past IKM-M 9-3 in regional final

 IRWIN (July 9) -- With an inning to go in Monday’s Class 2A, Region 3 softball final, it appeared that IKM-Manning’s veteran squad might have the young Earlham Cardinals right where it wanted them.
 Still trailing by a run, 4-3, the 2nd-rated Wolves had the heart of their order due up in the bottom of the seventh, needing just three outs to set up their chance for a state-clinching walkoff win.
 The 15th-rated Cardinals, though, had other ideas, plating five huge insurance runs in their final at-bat and knocking off the Wolves 9-3 at the Irwin diamond.
 Earlham (27-11) ended IKM-Manning’s season for the second time in five years and punched its first state tournament ticket since winning the 2A title in 2014. The seventh-seeded Cardinals will face Des Moines Christian (22-6) in a 2A state quarterfinal Monday in Fort Dodge (5 p.m.).
 The Wolves, seeking their first state appearance since 2015, finished 24-3 overall and must now say goodbye to six battle-tested seniors who have helped the program win 118 games during the last five years.
 “It’s unfortunate. I feel bad for the kids (but) we had a great season,” said IKM-M head coach Joy Gross. “We knew (Earlham was) going to be tough. They’re only rated 15th but it’s a great program. (Chris Caskey) does a great job coaching them. They made a few more plays than we did tonight.”
 All of Monday’s scoring was confined to three half innings. Earlham took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, IKM-Manning rallied for three runs in the fifth and the Cardinals regained control with five in the seventh.
 Earlham’s five-run seventh included four singles and four walks issued by IKM-M senior Peyton Gross, whose pitch count soared on a hot, muggy night.
 Gross and Zoey Melton both went 2-for-3 for the Wolves and Paige Gaskill, Sammy Halbur, Grace Youngren and Shyanne Sporrer added one hit each.
 Gross (24-3), who finished her five-year varsity career with 110 pitching wins, struck out 10 Cardinals Monday while allowing 13 hits and nine walks.

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

Comment Here