A wild finish

FORT DODGE – There were very few moments even Hollywood could have scripted in Mount Ayr’s 3-2, eight-inning win over Beckman Catholic Monday to open the 2019 Class 2A State Softball Tournament.

The storybook ending eventually unfolded exactly how a movie producer would have wanted as leadoff hitter Sam Stewart poked a ball in between third base and shortstop to score Rachel Sobotka and clinch Mount Ayr a spot in the state semifinals.

Wednesday’s semifinal match with top-seeded North Linn (40-4) will start Wednesday at 3 p.m. on Kruger Seeds Field at the Rogers Sports Complex.

The win guarantees Mount Ayr two more games in Fort Dodge and solidifies a top four finish, which will be the highest finish in school history.

“It means so much. I am so proud of my team and I am so proud of our community. There are so many white shirts out here,” said Mount Ayr pitcher Caroline McAlexander. “I feel like we’re playing for everyone right now.”

Walk-off winners

After the middle of the lineup sputtered in the seventh inning with three strikeouts in four plate appearances, the bottom of the order got the fire started in the eighth.

Rachel Sobotka and Halsie Barnes both singled to leadoff the home half of the eighth inning, sending Sobotka to third with no outs.

The Raiderettes’ eight and nine hitters both grounded out, bringing in Stewart with the game on the line.

On the first pitch, Stewart sent the third base sideline home happy.

“I would rather see her take a few pitches, but she is that girl that will jump the first pitch,” said Ruggles.

Sobotka crossed home plate as the Raiderettes poured out of the dugout to celebrate with her at the plate as Stewart and McAlexander embraced in the infield.

“I love our resiliency,” said Ruggles. “Every time we make a mistake, we refocus. They go to their own huddle. I haven’t had many teams do that. ... We find a way to just keep battling and keep fighting.”

Stewart ended the night as one of three Mount Ayr batters with multiple hits as she joined Alexa Anderson and Channler Henle, all of whom had two hits apiece.

Defense holds strong

Beckman Catholic had chances to break the game open in both the sixth and seventh innings.

After three straight Trailblazer batters reached in the top half of the sixth, Beckman Catholic had the bases loaded, no outs and a 2-1 lead.

McAlexander induced an infield popout to get the first out before chaos ensued.

BC’s Shea Steffen looped a ball behind the second base bag, which was brought down by Stewart.

Stewart lunged behind the bag, from her original shortstop position, doing enough for the umpire to rule it a catch on the fly before the ball rolled loose.

As all of the Trailblazer runners started to move, Stewart hopped up from the dirt and tagged a Beckman Catholic runner who had strayed off second base in the confusion for the final out of the inning.

The umpires followed with a long conference, deciding whether the runner from third scored, but since the initial ruling was a catch on a fly ball the Raiderettes kept the deficit at one.

“I didn’t know what they were going to call it, ... so I figured I’d tag them both,” said Stewart.

With two on and two out, Mount Ayr freshman Payten Lambert singled into left-center field to tie the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth.

Beckman Catholic threatened again in the seventh as a leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt put a Trailblazer runner on third with one out.

Two walks, one of which was intentional, loaded the bases for BC’s two-hole hitter Jadyn Welling.

Welling grounded back to McAlexander who went home for a force out and the second out of the inning. A few pitches later, Sydney Steffen popped a pitch up to the backstop that MA catcher Abbigail Barnes hauled in against the fence to once again allow Mount Ayr to escape a bases loaded threat.

“It was absolutely so big. So amazing,” said McAlexander of Barnes’ catch. “I thought it was going to hit the fence. ... I was so proud of her.”

In the eighth it was more of the same as left fielder MaKayla Jones made a sliding catch at the foul line to take away another Trailblazer opportunity with runners in scoring position.

The defensive plays made up for a couple of Raiderette miscues, including two baserunning mistakes that led to outs at the plate in the game’s early going.

“I told our girls, you don’t have to play perfect,” said Ruggles. “I think that’s one lie that comes up here. Everyone thinks you have to play perfect.

“But man, do our girls fight,” added Ruggles.

UP NEXT – With top-seeded North Linn up next, the Raiderettes won’t have time to celebrate for too long as Tuesday Ruggles hopes to practice before the tilt Wednesday afternoon.

The Mount Ayr players are already well aware of North Linn’s strength on the field.

“I know they’re pretty good, but we’re definitely ready for it,” said Stewart. “We’re ready for some good competition.”

For updates throughout the game you can follow @CarterEckl on Twitter. You can also view a free live stream through the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union at www.ighsau.org

Mount Ayr 3, Beckman Catholic 2

R H E

BC 000 200 00 — 2 7 4

MA 001 001 01 — 3 10 1

BC: Sydney Steffen 3K 3BB and Kamryn Klas. MA: Caroline McAlexander 5K 4BB and Abbigail Barnes. W — McAlexander (20-2). L— Steffen (23-13). HR — None. 3B — None. 2B — BC: Emily Wulfekuhle. RBI — BC: Shea Steffen (2). MA: Sam Stewart, Payten Lambert. Multiple hitters — BC: Jadyn Welling (2). MA: Stewart (2), Alexa Anderson (2), Channler Henle (2).