Top stars, best performances on Day 2 of the Iowa high school softball state tournaments
By Barry Poe
During the Iowa State High School Softball Tournament, SBLive will compile a list of top performances each day.
This is the second installment for games played Tuesday, July 19, in Fort Dodge.
Sydney Roe, Assumption
The senior had two hits and drove in three runs for the Knights in a 12-2 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Ballard. Every Assumption player had at least one hit in the game and totaled 12 as a team.
Jessie Wardlow, Assumption
The junior leadoff hitter collected two hits, scored three runs and drove in another in a 12-2 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Ballard. Assumption reached the semifinals for the seventh straight season and will play Williamsburg.
Peyton Driscoll, Williamsburg
The junior pitcher struck out 14 and allowed three hits while picking up the win in a 5-1 Class 3A quarterfinal triumph over Sioux Center. Williamsburg moved on to a semifinal, where it will meet Davenport Assumption.
Emily Meyer, North Union
The junior was the winning pitcher and hit her eighth home run of the season, leading the Warriors to a 4-3 win over Louisa-Muscatine in a Class 2A quarterfinal. North Union won its 11th straight despite being outhit 9-4 and committing four errors. The Warriors play Wilton in a semifinal.
Madelyn Wade, Wilton
The senior cracked two doubles and drove in a run as the Beavers handed Logan-Magnolia its first loss of the season, 7-4, in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Taylor Drayfahl and Payton Ganzer added two hits each for Wilton, which will play North Union in a semifinal contest.
Cooper Klaahsen, Central Springs
The junior twirled the 61st no-hitter in state tournament history, blanking Mount Ayr 6-0 in a Class 2A quarterfinal that sends the top-seeded Panthers (32-1) into a semifinal opposite Iowa City Regina. It is the first career state no-hitter for Klaahsen, who struck out 12 and walked two.
Ashlyn Hoeft, Central Springs
The senior had a single and two-run homer to help the top-seeded Panthers blank Mount Ayr 6-0 in a Class 2A semifinal. Abby Pate also homered for Central Springs, which improved to 32-1.
Kennedy Connor, Iowa City Regina
The freshman was 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and RBI in a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Van Meter in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Regina trailed 4-0 after three innings and rallied to tie the game, then scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Regals will play Central Springs in a semifinal game.
Dani Laughlin, Iowa City Regina
The junior had two hits and drove in the winning run in a 6-5 win over Van Meter in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Courtney Kessler also drove in two runs for the Regals.
Ellie Flanagan, North Linn
The junior had three hits, including a home run, drove in four runs and pitched a one-hit shutout for the top-ranked and top-seeded Lynx in a 10-0, five-inning win over Mason City Newman in a Class 1A quarterfinal. Flanagan allowed only a fifth-inning double and struck out six.
Jaycee Near, Southeast Warren
The freshman had two doubles and a single, leading the Warhawks to a 7-1 victory over Remsen St. Mary’s in a Class 1A quarterfinal. Southeast Warren will play North Linn in a semifinal.
Alivia Ruble, Southeast Warren
The junior checked Remsen St. Mary’s on three hits and struck out 11 in a 7-1 Class 1A quarterfinal win.
Campbell German, Martensdale-St. Marys
The sophomore hit a home run and single as the seventh-seeded Blue Devils surprised second seed Newell-Fonda 7-2 in a Class 1A quarterfinal. German was also the winning pitcher, giving up four hits and striking out five. The win moved St. Marys into a semifinal contest.
Grace Bailey, Twin Cedars
The senior drove in both runs and pitched a shutout as the sixth-seeded Sabres blanked third seed Lisbon 2-0 in a Class 1A semifinal. Bailey hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to snap a scoreless tie and allowed four Lisbon hits. Twin Cedars will play Martensdale-St. Marys in a semifinal.
