(Ft. Dodge, IA) — The Wheelers came oooh so close but the Audubon softball team fell just short of their goal — winning a state title. Top seeded Van Meter used a 2 run HR from Mady Schnell in the bottom of the 6th inning to win the 2A State Championship 5-3 on Friday night.
The game started a half hour late because the 3A championship game went long because of a lot of offense. Williamsburg would beat Davenport Assumption 12-9 but Audubon and Van Meter would settle into a pitchers duel between Riley Miller and Maddie Waldorf, at least to start.
Both pitchers were a little shaky with their control, walking 2 batters in the opening inning but neither team could score. In the bottom of the 2nd, Kennedy Weidman would reach on an Audubon error; then steal second. Next, Bianca Pickett put a bunt down that the Wheelers misplayed for another error and Weidman raced around to score the game’s first run.
It was the Bulldogs turn to make mistakes in the top of the 3rd. Waldorf continued to have control problems — she hit Mattie Nielsen with a pitch, Taryn Petersen bunted her to 2nd and then Jordan Porsch singled for the Wheelers first hit, Nielsen had to stop at 3rd. Porsch would eventually take 2nd and after Riley Miller struck out, Alexis Obermeier stepped up and Waldorf uncorked a wild pitch. Nielsen scored easily and then when the catcher Cali Richards threw the ball wide, Porsch would score from 2nd and Audubon had a 2-1 lead.
The Wheelers added to it in the top of the 4th — with Nielsen on first and 2 outs, Petersen ripped a shot off Van Meter reliever Bianca Prickett to the wall for a RBI double scoring Nielsen and Audubon led 3-1.
Miller had retired the Bulldogs in order in the 3rd, only gave up an infield single in the 4th — her first hit allowed — but Van Meter would tie the game in the 5th. A leadoff walk for Alice Ruggles, Mady Schnell bunted and another Audubon error left her safe on first. Finley Netten reached on an infield single to load the bases with none out. Miller would walk Lauren Wallace to force in 1 run but she got a pop out and a strikeout from the 3 and 4 hitters (Richards and Waldorf) but Halle Karaidos singled to center scoring the tying run. Nielsen did make a great throw home to get Netten to retire the side. Considering the bases were loaded and none out; Audubon was fortunate to walk away from the 5th with a 3-3 tie.
Prickett, meanwhile, kept the Audubon hitters off balance with her slow stuff — after Peterson’s hit in 4th, she would retire 9 in a row. In the bottom of the 6th, Wiedman got a leadoff single. After Pickett popped out and Ruggles struck out, Schnell would hit a shot of Miller to right center that would just clear the fence for a 2 run HR. She hit the walkoff homer to beat East Marshall in the semifinals, now she hit the game winning dinger in the championship game, Both homers are the only two that the 8th grader hit all year.
Trailing 5-3, Prickett got 2 quick outs in the top of the 7th but Porsch singled to left and then Miller lined one up the middle. She was the potential tying run but she never got past first base. Alexis Obermeier bounced one to third for the force play and the season was over. The top seeded Van Meter Bulldogs win 5-3.
Audubon Head Coach Andrea Schwery
Audubon Freshman Riley Miller made the all tournament team; against Van Meter she gave up 5 runs, only 2 earned on 5 hits, walked 4 and struck out 7. No doubt she was disappointed but felt this team achieved a lot
Audubon Freshman Taryn Petersen would also make the all tournament team
Audubon Senior Jordan Porsch also made the all tournament team and says this season has been an incredible ride and she has no regrets
Audubon finishes their season at 29-5, Van Meter 43-1.
2A All Tournament Team
Captain — Mady Schnell, Van Meter
Riley Miller, Audubon
Taryn Petersen, Audubon
Jordan Porsch, Audubon
Kennedy Wiedman, Van Meter
Lauren Wallace, Van Meter
Finley Netten, Van Meter
Morgan Neuroth, East Marshall
Payton Grabenbauer, East Marshall
Kate Schafer, Eddyville
Megan Lobberecht, Eddyville
Audubon, 3 runs, 5 hits, 3 errors, 8 LOB
Van Meter, 5 runs, 5 hits, 2 errors, 5 LOB
Win: Prickett 14-0
Loss: Miller 17-3
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