FORCED OUT — North Union first baseman Maggie Engelby (with softball) keeps a watchful eye on a Central Springs runner across the diamond after forcing out the Panthers’ Carly Ryan (14) at first base during the Iowa Class 2A state tournament’s third-place game Friday at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa. North Union pitcher Emily Meyer (left) and right fielder Ella Ulrich (back) watch the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FORT DODGE, Iowa — The No. 2-seeded North Union Warriors softball team finished one of its best seasons in program history on Friday.

North Union placed fourth at the Iowa Class 2A state tournament, losing 9-3 to the No. 1-seeded Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Central Field at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

The Warriors ended their season with a 33-5 overall record.

“It’s always tough to lose, but as a group, this team did a lot of good things this season and finishing fourth (at state) is good,” North Union head coach Kim Price said. “We had more hits than they did for most of the game. We hit the ball and had runners on base, but couldn’t get the big hit.”

The Panthers jumped ahead 1-0 when Lizzy Hamand hit a solo homer leading off the bottom of the second inning. Aurora Stepleton singled and later scored Central Springs’ second run in the second at-bat on Carly Ryan’s RBI groundout.

The Warriors responded, scoring a run in the third inning. Sam Nielsen had an infield single, was bunted to second base by Cassie Beadle, moved to third when Emily Meyer singled and came home on a wild pitch.

Central Springs added a run in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead before putting three more runs on the board in the fifth inning to make it a 6-1 game.

North Union’s Beth Streuber and Libby Stevens scored runs in the sixth inning on wild pitches to cut the Warriors’ deficit to 6-3.

Central Springs tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a six-run lead to the final half-inning of the season.

Hamand had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Panthers’ offense. Kaylea Fessler, Stepleton and Abby Pate had two hits apiece. Pate was on base each of her four times to the plate, adding a pair of walks.

Hamand scored four times to lead the Panthers.

Streuber had three hits to lead the Warriors. Shelby Fraker and Meyer each had two hits. Nielsen and Beadle added one hit apiece.

Cooper Klaahsen started for Central Springs, but left due to an illlness after pitching just 2 1/3 innings, giving up one run, five hits, no walks with three strikeouts.

Kaylea Fessler was the winning pitcher in relief for the Warriors, going 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.

Emily Meyer suffered the loss for the Warriors, pitching six innings, giving up nine runs on nine hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

“I will spend time in the offseason reviewing everything about the season and seeing what we can all improve on, including myself,” Price said.

Iowa City Regina edged Wilton by a 6-4 decision to claim the Iowa Class 2A state softball championship on Friday in Fort Dodge.

•

NU 001 002 0–3 9 2

CS 020 133 X–9 9 1

Cooper Klaahsen, Kaylea Fessler (3, WP) and Madisyn Kelley. Emily Meyer (LP) and Shelby Fraker.

LOB–North Union 11, Central Springs 7. 2B–Abby Pate (CS) 2, Kaylea Fessler (CS). HR–Lizzy Hamand (CS). SAC–Cassie Beadle (NU). SF–Carly Ryan (CS).