Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FORT DODGE — They’ve done it again. A Class 3A three-peat, and forever in the history books.
No.2 Williamsburg defeated No.1 Dubuque Wahlert, 3-2, in the 3A state softball championship game Friday at Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.
The Raiders become just the eighth team in state history to accomplish the feat of winning three state championships in a row.
“I don’t even know what to say at this point,” senior Makenna Hughes said. “I’m just so grateful. We all feel on top of the world.”
The game lived up to the hype of the matchup.
The Raiders put the pressure on right away in the top of the first inning.
A leadoff single and stolen base from Hughes set up a sacrifice-bunt attempt from Carly Rich. The overthrow to first brought Hughes home.
Kalon Spratt singled in the second inning, and advanced to second on another sac-bunt from Kiley Allen. Ava Hocker brought Spratt home on a single for a 2-0 lead.
“Our whole strategy was to go early in the pitch count, and attack the first pitch,” Hughes said on the team’s strategy. “That was crucial for us.”
The Golden Eagles tied things up in the third. Natalie Ruba led things off with a double.
After an intentional walk to slugger Julia Roth, Kylie Sieverding brought a run in on a single. A uncharacteristic error from the Raiders allowed one more run to score on a bases loaded walk.
The go-ahead run came from the bat of Alley Gorsh for the Raiders in the fifth. The RBI was set up again by a single and stolen base from Hughes.
Wahlert put the pressure on the final innings, but the Raiders made the plays defensively.
The Golden Eagles had runners on 2nd-3rd in the fifth. A diving catch on a bunt attempt from Hughes prevented a baserunner from being advanced in the sixth.
Then came the final three outs, where the Raiders had an extended huddle around the pitcher’s mound.
“When we were going into the circle I just kept telling the girls focus on the out, not on the celebration or the moment,” senior Taylor Pitlick said.
With two on and two outs, the final out came on a popup to the first-base side. Pitlick moved slightly into foul territory to make the play.
“When I caught it, it was just immediate excitement,” Pitlick said. “It was special for me to get the last out in my last season.”
The celebration began as the Raiders dogpiled around the pitcher’s mound.
“I’ve never been more happy, more excited,” Gorsh said. “This is the best feeling I’ve ever felt. To go out like this is amazing.“
With the target on their backs yet again, the Raiders delivered again with hard-work and togetherness.
“When we’ve won as much as we have, you’re going to have to be (together) because everyone is coming to get you,” Williamsburg coach Adam Berte said. “No one from the outside is going to want you to win.”
“It’s the best togetherness as a team we’ve ever had.”
The Raiders now head home happy once again with their trip to Fort Dodge, with a whole community behind them.
“We have always tried to represent the community of Williamsburg the best we can,” Berte said. ”Everybody is happy, so that makes me happy.“
Metz named 3A all-tournament captain
From being taken out in the state championship game last season, to being named all-tournament captain this season.
Pitcher Jersey Metz worked hard to be better at this point, and delivered for the Raiders on the mound. In three tournament games, Metz allowed just four earned runs.
“I worked my butt off this winter to be able to do that exact thing, finish the game,” Metz said. “Knowing I can spin the ball and place it wherever i want, I worked this year for that.”
Joining Metz on the all-tournament team was three seniors (Hughes, Pitlick and Gorsh), who brought tons of production and leadership not only in this postseason run, but over the past few seasons.
“We’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of them,“ Berte said of this year’s seniors. ”They’ve had great production and been really good leaders.”
WILLIAMSBURG 3, DUBUQUE WAHLERT 2
(3A state championship, At Rogers Park)
Williamsburg.........1 1 0 0 1 0 0--3 7 1
Dubuque Wahlert..0 0 2 0 0 0 0--2 8 3