CARTER: Championship Friday at the state softball tournament a treat for all

FORT DODGE — Five championships. Five celebrations.

Unbelievably loud fans.

Tears of joy.

Tears of sadness.

One day that will linger in the minds of thousands.

I had the privilege of going up to Fort Dodge and the Harlan Rogers Sports Complex to watch three straight days worth of softball.

While Creston’s run was cut short in a seventh place finish, I chose to stay and watch championship Friday unfold.

My wicked forearm and neck burns just tell one part of the story.

After having been in Iowa for almost exactly two months, I was able to take part in covering state softball.

What a treat it was.

In a span of around 11 hours I was a witness to the very end of the season of 10 teams fighting for a championship, and the varying emotions that came with it.

The first game I was a witness to, Benton’s Amber Fiser struck out 19 batters in a one-hitter to defeat Davenport Assumption for the Class 3A title.

Fiser’s performance was perhaps the most impressive single-game effort I’ve ever seen in person, to win a state championship no less.

The second game was one of two walk-off winners on the day.

Tied 3-3 going into the seventh of the 4A championship, perennial powerhouse Carlisle scored two runs to go up on Oskaloosa. The Indians pulled off a miraculous comeback with three in the bottom of the seventh to win the game on a sacrifice fly 6-5.

I could not help but grin ear-to-ear as pandemonium ensued.

Things got better.

In Class 5A, Johnston and Pleasant Valley demonstrated that they might have had the biggest hearts of all.

A scoreless nail-biter going into the bottom of the sixth, Johnston squeaked out a run to go up with a chance to finish the game.

Pleasant Valley’s turn came at the plate in the top of the seventh. Down to their last strike with the bases loaded, the Spartans’ Rylee Carlson ripped a 2-2 single into right field to score two runs and grab the lead.

More drama followed.

Down to two outs with two runners on, Johnston earned a walk. A bunt single loaded the bases.

Pleasant Valley made a pitching change, in what was probably around the 75th extended break in the action in the game’s final two innings (exaggeration, but you get the point).

Brooke Wilmes coaxed a walk to tie it.

Brooke Standstoe then made the play of her life. She poked a single into left field to score the winning run and send another group of folks at Buena Vista University Field into a frenzy.

In the 1A game, I saw one of the wildest plays ever unfold before me.

Kee, Lansing held a 7-1 advantage over Akron-Westfield heading into the final inning and managed to produce utter insanity.

With two runners on, a dropped line drive at first base resulted in a force out at first and a throw to second to try and retire the runner. Except the tag wasn’t applied. Kee began celebrating while the Akron-Westfield runners circled the bases. The Westerners’ fans were sent into jubilation while confused Kee players slowly realized the game wasn’t over.

Kee did end up winning, but not before things got more tense with two more runners reaching base/

The final game of the day made everything else seem civilian. Van Meter pulled out a 3-0 victory over defending state champions, Iowa City Regina.

In the face of great sadness and pain, the joy that filled me in watching five of those teams celebrate a state title was a feeling that is hard to be replicated.

Even with dejected faces littering area in and around diamond, I couldn’t help but glow at the sight of so much unfiltered happiness before me.

And that was what I’ll take away from Fort Dodge. That and the pics of so many wonderful smiles and expressions of unfiltered joy. I love softball, and I love championship season.