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| The Durant Wildcats placed 3rd in class 2A after beating I-35 in the 3rd place game. |
By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative
FORT DODGE — The Durant softball team overcame the disappointment of not
playing for the class 2A title with an impres-
sive victory over Interstate-35 in the third
place game at the 2A state tournament last
Friday. There, the Wildcats claimed a close,
2-1 win over the Roadrunners to finish the
season 33-8. The Wildcats won five of their
six postseason games this year, losing only
to the eventual class 2A champion Iowa City
Regina Regals. The 8th ranked Regals de-
feated #9 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 5-4
in 16 innings, tying the record for the longest
championship game in IGHSAU history.
“I have been frustrated this last couple of
days,” Hopkins said. “We’re just not men-
tally doing things we normally do. We just
couldn’t come up with a big hit today and
repeated some of the things we did yester-
day. But we were able to battle through those
things.”
After heartbreaking extra-inning losses the last two seasons at the state tournament, Hopkins felt his team was better equipped to bounce back this time around. He had even more conviction after a team meeting Thursday night at the team hotel.
“I think experiencing those made this a little bit easier,” Hopkins said. “You could see the look on their face change a little bit, and you could see they were more upbeat. They did exactly what I hoped they would.”
After heartbreaking extra-inning losses the last two seasons at the state tournament, Hopkins felt his team was better equipped to bounce back this time around. He had even more conviction after a team meeting Thursday night at the team hotel.
“I think experiencing those made this a little bit easier,” Hopkins said. “You could see the look on their face change a little bit, and you could see they were more upbeat. They did exactly what I hoped they would.”
The Wildcats game with the Roadrunners
was delayed almost 90 minutes due to heavy
rain and lightning. Hopkins wasn’t worried
though as his team was loose and ready to
play.
“They were playing back and forth between dugouts,” Hopkins said. “That’s how loose they were. I was happy to see it. They were loose and it showed today.”
The Wildcats ended the season on a high note and claimed a top-3 finish with their win over I-35. The Wildcats and Roadrun- ners have met in each of the last two state tournaments with Durant winning 6-4 in 2015 and I-35 winning 6-5 last season.
“They were playing back and forth between dugouts,” Hopkins said. “That’s how loose they were. I was happy to see it. They were loose and it showed today.”
The Wildcats ended the season on a high note and claimed a top-3 finish with their win over I-35. The Wildcats and Roadrun- ners have met in each of the last two state tournaments with Durant winning 6-4 in 2015 and I-35 winning 6-5 last season.
The Roadrunners were ranked third in the
2017 preseason rankings and were ranked in
the top-3 the whole year, including spending
two weeks as the top ranked team in class
2A. The Roadrunners were ranked #3 in
their game with Durant. The Wildcats were
ranked #2 and were ranked no lower than #5
all season.
I-35 is in Truro, Iowa and was making their third straight trip to state and sixth under longtime coach Tim Bogs. Pitcher Carlyn Stanley picked up her 1,000th strikeout earlier this season and needed one-more win to get her 100th career victory. She was 27-4 coming into the game with over 300 strike- outs on the season. The Roadrunners have two players going on to play college softball. Stanley at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa and catcher Shi Major who will play at Graceland. Major hit a homerun and drove in two and had a home run in the 6-5 win over Durant in the consolation round last year at state.
The Wildcats will return five of their nine batters in their regular
lineup next year led by Kappeler,
Happ and Meyer along with Mal-
lory Warner and Kira Schult. Both
Meyer and Lawson return in the
pitching circle as well.
I-35 is in Truro, Iowa and was making their third straight trip to state and sixth under longtime coach Tim Bogs. Pitcher Carlyn Stanley picked up her 1,000th strikeout earlier this season and needed one-more win to get her 100th career victory. She was 27-4 coming into the game with over 300 strike- outs on the season. The Roadrunners have two players going on to play college softball. Stanley at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa and catcher Shi Major who will play at Graceland. Major hit a homerun and drove in two and had a home run in the 6-5 win over Durant in the consolation round last year at state.
The game featured two of the top
pitchers at the state tournament in
Durant’s Kamryn Meyer and I-35’s
Carlyn Stanley.
Stanley pitched six innings and gave up five hits, two runs and struck out three and walked two. Meyer pitched four and a third innings, carrying a no hitter into the fourth inning. She struck out three, walked three and scattered four hits. Jenna Lawson pitched the final inning and two-thirds in relief and gave up one run on one hit and struck out one batter.
Meyer said that the Wildcats did not want to lose against the Road- runners.
“We knew that we needed redemp- tion after losing to them last year. We did that. I think that coming
in and hitting my spots worked tonight,” she said.
“We knew that we had to bounce back today. We didn’t want to end the season with a loss. We didn’t want to finish fourth,” said Meyer. Durant had five hits in the ballgame by five different players. Kelly Alex- ander had a hit and RBI while Mal- lory Warner, Haleigh Carnes, Aubrey Werthmann and Ruby Kappeler each had hits.
I-35 had five hits in the ballgame by four different players. Major was 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored while Lilly Miller, Kate Stanley and Slye Richardson each had hits. In last season’s consolation game, Car- lyn and Kate Stanley, Major and Slye Richardson each had two hits.
Durant denied I-35 ace Carlyn Stanley reaching the 100-win mark for her career with the win. Stanley finishes her career with a pitching record of 99-21
The Wildcats had their work cut out for them with the Roadrunners. The first five I-35 players in the batting order batted .400 or over including two batting .500 or better.
I-35 had a tough time with Meyer through the first four innings. Mey- er took a no-hitter into the fourth inning having struck out three and walked one. A Carlyn Stanley walk and teammate Lilly Miller reached on an error and were the only base runners for the Roadrunners in the first three innings. Neither ad- vanced to second base.
Durant had a good first inning getting lead off batter Ruby Kap- peler to third after a leadoff single, but Kappeler would be left stranded. Durant broke through and scored the game’s first run in the second. Haleigh Carnes led off the second with a single and went to second on a groundout by Kelly Alexander. She later scored on an error by I-35 on a two-out hit by Kira Schult to put the score at 1-0. The run was the fifth time in six postseason games that Durant had scored first in the game.
Durant extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning after sending six batters to the plate. Carnes again got things going with a single, and advanced to second base on a passed ball by I-35 catcher Shai Major. Carnes would come into score on a RBI single by Kelly Alex- ander to set the score at 2-0.
The Roadrunners broke up Meyer’s no hitter in the fourth inning in sending five batters to the plate.
Kate Stanley led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Josi Wickert. Stanley moved to third on a single by Slye Richardson to give I-35 runners at the corners with one out. Gracie Mc- Cuddin was thrown out at third on a hard hit ball to shortstop by Slye Richardson. Shai Major then singled to make it a first and second situa- tion with two outs. However, Meyer got Riley Morris to fly out to end the inning.
Durant got a runner to third in the fifth. Mallory Warner smacked a one-out single and courtesy runner Abbey Rhoads advanced to third on an error on a ball put in play by Kira Schult. Rhoades would be left stranded though as I-35 got Kappel- er to ground out and Hannah Happ to fly out.
Stanley pitched six innings and gave up five hits, two runs and struck out three and walked two. Meyer pitched four and a third innings, carrying a no hitter into the fourth inning. She struck out three, walked three and scattered four hits. Jenna Lawson pitched the final inning and two-thirds in relief and gave up one run on one hit and struck out one batter.
Meyer said that the Wildcats did not want to lose against the Road- runners.
“We knew that we needed redemp- tion after losing to them last year. We did that. I think that coming
in and hitting my spots worked tonight,” she said.
“We knew that we had to bounce back today. We didn’t want to end the season with a loss. We didn’t want to finish fourth,” said Meyer. Durant had five hits in the ballgame by five different players. Kelly Alex- ander had a hit and RBI while Mal- lory Warner, Haleigh Carnes, Aubrey Werthmann and Ruby Kappeler each had hits.
I-35 had five hits in the ballgame by four different players. Major was 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored while Lilly Miller, Kate Stanley and Slye Richardson each had hits. In last season’s consolation game, Car- lyn and Kate Stanley, Major and Slye Richardson each had two hits.
Durant denied I-35 ace Carlyn Stanley reaching the 100-win mark for her career with the win. Stanley finishes her career with a pitching record of 99-21
The Wildcats had their work cut out for them with the Roadrunners. The first five I-35 players in the batting order batted .400 or over including two batting .500 or better.
I-35 had a tough time with Meyer through the first four innings. Mey- er took a no-hitter into the fourth inning having struck out three and walked one. A Carlyn Stanley walk and teammate Lilly Miller reached on an error and were the only base runners for the Roadrunners in the first three innings. Neither ad- vanced to second base.
Durant had a good first inning getting lead off batter Ruby Kap- peler to third after a leadoff single, but Kappeler would be left stranded. Durant broke through and scored the game’s first run in the second. Haleigh Carnes led off the second with a single and went to second on a groundout by Kelly Alexander. She later scored on an error by I-35 on a two-out hit by Kira Schult to put the score at 1-0. The run was the fifth time in six postseason games that Durant had scored first in the game.
Durant extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning after sending six batters to the plate. Carnes again got things going with a single, and advanced to second base on a passed ball by I-35 catcher Shai Major. Carnes would come into score on a RBI single by Kelly Alex- ander to set the score at 2-0.
The Roadrunners broke up Meyer’s no hitter in the fourth inning in sending five batters to the plate.
Kate Stanley led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Josi Wickert. Stanley moved to third on a single by Slye Richardson to give I-35 runners at the corners with one out. Gracie Mc- Cuddin was thrown out at third on a hard hit ball to shortstop by Slye Richardson. Shai Major then singled to make it a first and second situa- tion with two outs. However, Meyer got Riley Morris to fly out to end the inning.
Durant got a runner to third in the fifth. Mallory Warner smacked a one-out single and courtesy runner Abbey Rhoads advanced to third on an error on a ball put in play by Kira Schult. Rhoades would be left stranded though as I-35 got Kappel- er to ground out and Hannah Happ to fly out.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lilly Miller followed an Olivia
Carlson walk with an 11-pitch at-bat
that she concluded by singling to left
field. Carlyn Stanley then walked to
load the bases with one out.
Durant coach Steve Hopkins pulled Meyer for relief pitcher Jenna Law- son. Lawson then struck out Kate Stanley and induced a groundout by Josie Wickett to end the inning.
Interstate 35 had one last chance in the bottom of the sixth. There, Shai Major changed the atmosphere with a long home run to left to get the Roadrunners back into it, setting the score at 2-1. Major also homered against last year at the state tourna- ment. Lawson settled down and got the next two batters on a flyout and groundout to end the inning.
The game was over though after the sixth and the announcement was made that the game was over, despite there being several minutes remaining before reaching the 1 hour, 30 minute time limit.
Durant finished the season with a record of 33-8. Durant will say goodbye to four seniors from their team. They are right fielder Kelly Alexander, catcher Cathy Ralfs, second baseman Aubrey Werthmann and third baseman Haleigh Carnes. The quartet left quite a mark on the program. All four had at least 120 hits and 80 RBI’s.
Ralfs had 206 hits, 152 RBI’s, 46 doubles and 7 home runs. Werth- mann had 168 hits, 130 RBI’s, 33 doubles and 33 stolen bases. Alexander had 134 hits, 100 RBI’s, 34 doubles, 17 stolen bases and five home runs. Carnes had 124 hits, 84 RBI’s, 23 stolen bases and two home runs.
I-35 finished the season with a record of 27-6. In the past five sea- sons, the Roadrunners have com- piled a record of 126-30 mainly with the help of their six-player senior class.
Durant had two players named to the all-tournament team in senior catcher Cathy Ralfs and sophomore centerfielder Ruby Kappeler.
Ralfs batted .500 with a big home run in the Wildcats opening round win over Logan-Magnolia. Ralfs said that the key to the game was the leadership that the four Wildcat seniors had. In the game, seniors Aubrey Werthmann, Haleigh Carnes and Kelly Alexander were 3-for-9 with a RBI at the plate. Defensively, Ralfs and Carnes led, not letting the Wildcats be denied of their 33rd win of the year.
“The four seniors did a good job showing leadership tonight. I think that all four of us split that up well tonight and had a presence on the field tonight. Without that leader- ship, you won’t make it far,” said Ralfs.
“I know that we wanted to finish tonight. We haven’t always played well after a loss and we wanted to not make tonight’s game another loss. We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us and finish the highest we could. It’s not the finish we wanted, but it’s the finish we got. That’s what we have to live with, but it is still a happy end- ing for us,” she said.
Kappeler had another solid three- game run, batting .333 with three stolen bases and was on base a lot.
“I’m excited to be named to the all-tournament team. I have been working hard to get better this year. I do my part and get on base. I am fortunate to have Hannah (Happ) who gets her bunts down and the hitters behind her to move me along,” said Kappeler.
Kappeler echoed Ralfs comments about knowing that the Wildcats had another game to play and that they didn’t want to end the season with
a loss. Last year, the Wildcats lost their first consolation game after los- ing in the opening round a year ago.
“Coming back from a loss is hard to shake off. We shook it off easier this year and didn’t hold onto it and coming into today, we didn’t want to beat ourselves. We did and we came out on top,” she said.
Durant coach Steve Hopkins pulled Meyer for relief pitcher Jenna Law- son. Lawson then struck out Kate Stanley and induced a groundout by Josie Wickett to end the inning.
Interstate 35 had one last chance in the bottom of the sixth. There, Shai Major changed the atmosphere with a long home run to left to get the Roadrunners back into it, setting the score at 2-1. Major also homered against last year at the state tourna- ment. Lawson settled down and got the next two batters on a flyout and groundout to end the inning.
The game was over though after the sixth and the announcement was made that the game was over, despite there being several minutes remaining before reaching the 1 hour, 30 minute time limit.
Durant finished the season with a record of 33-8. Durant will say goodbye to four seniors from their team. They are right fielder Kelly Alexander, catcher Cathy Ralfs, second baseman Aubrey Werthmann and third baseman Haleigh Carnes. The quartet left quite a mark on the program. All four had at least 120 hits and 80 RBI’s.
Ralfs had 206 hits, 152 RBI’s, 46 doubles and 7 home runs. Werth- mann had 168 hits, 130 RBI’s, 33 doubles and 33 stolen bases. Alexander had 134 hits, 100 RBI’s, 34 doubles, 17 stolen bases and five home runs. Carnes had 124 hits, 84 RBI’s, 23 stolen bases and two home runs.
I-35 finished the season with a record of 27-6. In the past five sea- sons, the Roadrunners have com- piled a record of 126-30 mainly with the help of their six-player senior class.
Durant had two players named to the all-tournament team in senior catcher Cathy Ralfs and sophomore centerfielder Ruby Kappeler.
Ralfs batted .500 with a big home run in the Wildcats opening round win over Logan-Magnolia. Ralfs said that the key to the game was the leadership that the four Wildcat seniors had. In the game, seniors Aubrey Werthmann, Haleigh Carnes and Kelly Alexander were 3-for-9 with a RBI at the plate. Defensively, Ralfs and Carnes led, not letting the Wildcats be denied of their 33rd win of the year.
“The four seniors did a good job showing leadership tonight. I think that all four of us split that up well tonight and had a presence on the field tonight. Without that leader- ship, you won’t make it far,” said Ralfs.
“I know that we wanted to finish tonight. We haven’t always played well after a loss and we wanted to not make tonight’s game another loss. We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us and finish the highest we could. It’s not the finish we wanted, but it’s the finish we got. That’s what we have to live with, but it is still a happy end- ing for us,” she said.
Kappeler had another solid three- game run, batting .333 with three stolen bases and was on base a lot.
“I’m excited to be named to the all-tournament team. I have been working hard to get better this year. I do my part and get on base. I am fortunate to have Hannah (Happ) who gets her bunts down and the hitters behind her to move me along,” said Kappeler.
Kappeler echoed Ralfs comments about knowing that the Wildcats had another game to play and that they didn’t want to end the season with
a loss. Last year, the Wildcats lost their first consolation game after los- ing in the opening round a year ago.
“Coming back from a loss is hard to shake off. We shook it off easier this year and didn’t hold onto it and coming into today, we didn’t want to beat ourselves. We did and we came out on top,” she said.
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