Spartans hold off Warriors for Class 2A state softball bid

ONAWA, Iowa -- The Class 2A No. 6-ranked West Monona Spartans withstood No. 10-ranked North Union's three-run seventh-inning rally to beat the Warriors 7-6 for the Class 2A, Region 1 softball championship on Monday night in Onawa, Iowa.

The game was delayed 10 minutes before it started due to rain and another 30-minute lightning delay before the bottom of the second inning.

It was a battle of the top two seeds in Region 1 and two top 10 teams in Class 2A state rankings with a spot in the state tournament on the line.

West Monona (29-6) opens the Class 2A state quarterfinals on Tuesday, July 18, at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge against an opponent to be determined. The state opener's time and diamond also will be determined.

"They (West Monona) executed when they had runners on base and when they had runners on, they took advantage of their speed," North Union head coach Kim Price said. "Both teams deserved to win this game. We had good at-bats in the final inning and made it close. We had a chance at the end."

When the final out was made, the Spartans improved their overall record to 29-6, while the Warriors finished the season at 22-7.

The Spartans scored one run in the bottom of the first, three runs in the third, one run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.

The Warriors briefly took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning when Shelby Fraker singled and Emily Meyer hit a two-run home run.

For the Warriors, Brylie Deim hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the seventh, the Warriors started their rally.

Beth Streuber singled before Fraker hit a run-scoring triple to make it a 7-4 game. Olivia Von Bank blasted a two-run home run to get the Warriors within a run at 7-6.

Meyer was intentionally walked, but the Spartans were able to get the final out and thwarted the rally.

Meyer, Von Bank and Fraker each had two hits to lead the Warriors' offense. Streuber, Ainsley Ulrich and Deim also had one hit.

For the Spartans, Kacy Miller, Carly Miller, Savannah Lucas and Brooklyn Pekarek each had two hits to lead their offense.

Kacy Miller connected for a HR to lead off the bottom of the first inning and scored a game-best three runs for the Spartans.

Pekarek singled in the first inning and later produced a key two-run double during West Monona's three-run third at-bat.

The Spartans manufactured two runs in the fifth via Sophia Woodward's safety-squeeze bunt.

Meyer suffered the loss, pitching six innings. She gave up seven runs - five earned - 10 hits, three walks and struck out six.

Carly Miller earned the win, pitching all seven innings. She gave up six earned runs, nine hits, no walks, hit one batter and struck out five.

NU 002 100 3-6 9 2

WM 103 120 x-7 10 0

Emily Meyer (LP) and Shelby Fraker. Carly Miller (WP) and Creighton Lichtenberg.

LOB--North Union 5. West Monona 5. 2B--Emily Meyer (NU) and Brooklyn Pekarek (WM). 3B--Shelby Fraker (NU). HR--Emily Meyer (NU), Brylie Deim (NU), Olivia Von Bank (NU) and Kacy Miller (WM). SAC--Ella Ulrich (NU), Carly Stangel (WM) and Sophia Woodward (WM).