What we learned from Ames' 5A Region 1 softball title game loss to No. 1 Valley

WEST DES MOINES — The Ames softball team had no answers for No. 1 West Des Moines Valley during the Class 5A Region 1 championship game Tuesday at the Valley Softball Field.

The Little Cyclones saw their season end with a 12-0 loss to the Tigers in just three innings.

"I was in shock," said Ames coach Meghan Von Behren. "I felt like we were ready. I just didn't expect that."

With the loss Ames finished its season at 23-18. The Little Cyclones have now won at least 20 games four years in a row, and they made the regional finals for the third-consecutive season.

Valley will take a 36-4 record into the state softball tournament held next Monday through Friday (July 22-26) at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Here is what we learned from Ames' regional final loss.

Valley is explosive

Valley entered Tuesday's regional final ranked third in the state in home runs with 40 and fifth in runs scored with 345.

The Tigers ranked second among 5A teams behind Pleasant Valley in both categories. Ames saw why during the regional final.

More: What we learned from Ames' 1-0 4A substate quarterfinal loss to Dowling Catholic

Valley finished the game with three home runs. The Tigers broke the game open with eight runs in the second inning and ended up with 10 hits.

"Man, did they hit the ball," Von Behren said. "All three of our pitchers are good. They were just ready to hit everything we threw. That was tough."

Marin Heller hit a two-run homer for Valley in the first inning. Audrey Heller and Emma Scully each hit solo shots to ignite the Tigers' big second inning.

Katie Riesselman breaks up Alexa Stevermer's perfect game

Ames senior Katie Riesselman made sure Valley pitcher Alexa Stevermer did not throw three perfect innings.

Riesselman singled with two outs in the top of the second inning to account for the only Ames base runner in the game. It was her final at-bat as a Little Cyclone, and it was the perfect follow-up to senior teammate Kyra Anderson homering in her final at-bat at the Ames High Softball Field last week against Gilbert.

More: How seniors Kyra Anderson and Katie Riesselman have benefited the Ames softball program

"I was expecting a high pitch, but she (Stevermer) pitched it right in there, so I took it," Riesselman said. "It just happened to go not where they were. This one felt good to end it (my career) off."

Little Cyclones still headed in the right direction

Ames followed up last year's 23-17 season with nearly an identical record and the Iowa Alliance Conference North Division title in 2024.

The Little Cyclones did it despite losing three Division 1 athletes, including two softball players, off last year's team in current Drake softball player Ellie Lynch, Iowa State softball player Ireland Buss and Iowa track and field runner Ali Frandsen.

"That's what makes them so special," Von Behren said. "We've got a big group of girls and they are just special together. They all get along well. There is no drama, no issues. They all get along well. I love to be around them."

More: The Ames softball team is setting a new standard for the program in 2024

Riesselman and Anderson were tremendous leaders, and they locked down third base and catcher, respectively. Junior pitcher Josie Theilen stepped up to have the best year of her career, both in the circle and at the plate, and her younger sister Jaya stepped up in center field as an eighth-grader.

Kaylee Mescher and Nora Morken did a great job at the corner spots in the outfield. Mya Geffre was great at first base, and she had a huge season hitting the ball.

Katie Nigh was a rock at second base, Urbandale transfer Camryn Johnson stepped into Lynch's former spot at shortstop and became a huge weapon in the field and at the plate, and Sydney Smalley turned in another solid season at pitcher while also making valuable contributions on offense.

With Riesselman and Anderson the only losses among the starting group, and eighth-grader Kiley Sodahl stepping up this season in the circle to give Ames three returning pitchers with varsity experience, Ames has a chance to take the next step in 2025 and become the first team in program history to qualify for state.

"We're going to get over the hump," Von Behren said. "We will."

Riesselman is going on to play college ball at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. She said she cannot wait to see what her returning teammates do in 2025.

"I will be coming back, absolutely," Riesselman said. "I want to see all seven of next year's seniors succeed."

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What we learned from Ames' 5A Region 1 softball title game loss to No. 1 Valley