Emily Meyer

GARNER, Iowa — Emily Meyer holds the North Union softball program’s outright record for strikeouts in a single season, and she’s only a sophomore.

The hard-throwing right-hander did not waste any time on Friday night in eclipsing the previous strikeout mark of 238 held by former Warrior standout Anna Ingalls.

Meyer needed only three strikeouts to break the mark and accomplished the task by mowing down the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura side in order during the bottom of the first.

Meyer notched a game-best 13 strikeouts in hurling a six-hit complete-game shutout to guide the Iowa Class 2A No. 7-ranked Warriors to a 5-0 triumph over the Cardinals during both teams’ final regular-season game.

North Union (26-4), who earned a first-round bye in the postseason, awaits the winner between Sibley-Ocheyedan and Emmetsburg in a 7 p.m. Class 2A, Region 1 quarterfinal Wednesday, July 7, in Swea City. Sibley-Ocheyedan and Emmetsburg square off on Tuesday, July 6.

Olivia Von Bank and Vanessa Von Bank each produced two hits and two RBIs to pace the Warriors’ 12-hit offensive attack in the Top of Iowa Conference clash.

Sam Nielsen, who carries a lofty team-leading .616 batting average into the playoffs, served as the Warriors’ offensive catalyst against the Cardinals on Friday night.

Nielsen, who went 2-for-4, opened the game by legging out an infield hit, swiped second base, took third on a wild pitch and trotted home on Olivia Von Bank’s RBI double to the right-center gap. Olivia Von Bank then traded places with older sibling Vanessa Von Bank, who slugged an RBI double to center for a quick 2-0 lead.

Nielsen then collected her second hit and second run of the regular-season finale by leading off the top of the third inning with a single. Cassie Beadle slapped a single into center before Olivia Von Bank reached on an error to load the bases.

Vanessa Von Bank, who went 2-for-2, lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Nielsen for a 3-0 margin.

The Warriors added two insurance runs during the top of the fifth inning. Beadle legged out a bunt hit, stole second base and circled the bases on Olivia Von Bank’s RBI single to left.

Olivia Von Bank moved to second base on Meyer’s single to left, walked to third when Vanessa Von Bank was hit by a pitch and stole home on the Cardinal catcher’s pickoff throw to third for a 5-0 lead.

Meyer issued only one walk in seven innings of work to earn the complete-game win.