Valley edges North in 4A title game, 2-1
By Jason Cowley, Journal sports writer | Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008
North pitcher Erica Denney reacts to her team’s 2-1 loss to West Des Moines Valley in the class 4A championship game Sunday at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
FORT DODGE, Iowa -- It's a shame somebody had to lose.
Sioux City North and West Des Moines Valley hooked up in an Iowa state softball tournament championship game thriller.
Victoria Whitaker's single through a drawn in infield with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh lifted top-ranked Valley to a 2-1 win over the Stars in the Class 4A state championship game Sunday afternoon at Rogers Sports Complex.
It was such an epic game, that had begun on Saturday evening, before heavy rain and strong thunderstorms swept through the Fort Dodge area, forcing a suspension of play and adding another day to the state tournament.
"It was an awesome ball game," said North Coach Kevin Dicus. "My hats off to the Valley Tigers, they're awesomely coached. Tom Bakey does a great job with his kids, they're well coached, they're a great ball club.
"My hats off to my kids, they never laid down. There's probably not a whole lot of people in the state of Iowa that thought we had a chance."
The game was tied 1-1 when play was suspended Saturday in the bottom of the third with Valley batting with a runner on second and one out.
When play resumed, North starter Erica Denney got Jonnie Dowling to fly out and struck out Katelyn Bakey to end the threat.
The teams then traded 1-2-3 innings, until the seventh when North got its lone baserunner on Sunday.
Alexa Rudeen singled with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. However, Valley pitcher Courtney McKelvogue struck out Denney and Lindsey Remien to end the threat.
McKelvogue, allowed one run -- Denney's solo homer in the second inning -- on three hits with no walks and eight strike outs.
McKelvogue, a senior, gave the Tigers the school's fifth state title and fourth in the past six years, after winning championships in 2003, 2005 and last summer.
While Valley Coach Bakey earned his fourth state championship, the ninth-ranked Stars were making Sioux City history, becoming the first team from the city to ever play for a state softball title.
"We talked about it yesterday, it's going to be a one-run game, it's going to be a miscue, but I'm glad it wasn't a miscue," said Dicus. "My kids battled and you lose it in the bottom of the seventh, 2-1.
"Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose. But I'll tell you what, the North Stars in my mind are champions."
The Tigers won the game in the bottom of the seventh, similar to how Valley snuck through its first-round victory in 13 innings over Linn-Mar.
Erin Johnson, the No. 3 hitter in the Tigers order, led off the inning with a solid single to left field.
Cleanup batter Laura Turner then laid down a bunt that Remien dove for and missed, allowing Johnson to move up to third and Turner to go to second.
While attempting to intentionally walk Emily Cooper, the junior swung and drove the ball to centerfield. Kristen Chartier, though, was able to make the catch and keep Johnson from tagging up and scoring.
Denney, who finished with nine strikeouts and four hits allowed, walked Maren Idso intentionally to lead the bases with one out.
Whitaker, a sophomore, then lined a ball just under the outstretched glove of North second baseman Heather Cook.
"You always think you can push through it," said Rudeen. "As soon as that girl hit the pop up to center and we kept her (Johnson) on base with one out, I thought we were going to get out of the inning.
"That girl (Whitaker) came through with a clutch hit, what can you do?"
The Tigers, who tied the game late Saturday on Angela Davis' RBI double, left four runners on base in the title game.
"We had no choice, we have to load the bases," said Dicus of the seventh inning strategy. "We have to play for the force out there.
"We practice that situation all the time. The girl made a nice hit, what a great way to end the state championship."
The Stars had advanced to the title game with victories over 14th-ranked Davenport West, 13-10, after rallying from a 9-2 deficit, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 6-2, in the semifinals.
While North was playing in its first state softball championship game, Valley was playing in the school's sixth championship contest, finishing second in 1992.
"It's been a great senior year," said Rudeen, who is headed to the University of South Dakota. "We had a rough first week (back in May).
"To come into state and make it to the championship game and to play a great team like Valley, they're unbelievable, four times winning state, that's great. We couldn't ask for more."
Sioux City North and West Des Moines Valley hooked up in an Iowa state softball tournament championship game thriller.
Victoria Whitaker's single through a drawn in infield with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh lifted top-ranked Valley to a 2-1 win over the Stars in the Class 4A state championship game Sunday afternoon at Rogers Sports Complex.
It was such an epic game, that had begun on Saturday evening, before heavy rain and strong thunderstorms swept through the Fort Dodge area, forcing a suspension of play and adding another day to the state tournament.
"It was an awesome ball game," said North Coach Kevin Dicus. "My hats off to the Valley Tigers, they're awesomely coached. Tom Bakey does a great job with his kids, they're well coached, they're a great ball club.
"My hats off to my kids, they never laid down. There's probably not a whole lot of people in the state of Iowa that thought we had a chance."
The game was tied 1-1 when play was suspended Saturday in the bottom of the third with Valley batting with a runner on second and one out.
When play resumed, North starter Erica Denney got Jonnie Dowling to fly out and struck out Katelyn Bakey to end the threat.
The teams then traded 1-2-3 innings, until the seventh when North got its lone baserunner on Sunday.
Alexa Rudeen singled with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. However, Valley pitcher Courtney McKelvogue struck out Denney and Lindsey Remien to end the threat.
McKelvogue, allowed one run -- Denney's solo homer in the second inning -- on three hits with no walks and eight strike outs.
McKelvogue, a senior, gave the Tigers the school's fifth state title and fourth in the past six years, after winning championships in 2003, 2005 and last summer.
While Valley Coach Bakey earned his fourth state championship, the ninth-ranked Stars were making Sioux City history, becoming the first team from the city to ever play for a state softball title.
"We talked about it yesterday, it's going to be a one-run game, it's going to be a miscue, but I'm glad it wasn't a miscue," said Dicus. "My kids battled and you lose it in the bottom of the seventh, 2-1.
"Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose. But I'll tell you what, the North Stars in my mind are champions."
The Tigers won the game in the bottom of the seventh, similar to how Valley snuck through its first-round victory in 13 innings over Linn-Mar.
Erin Johnson, the No. 3 hitter in the Tigers order, led off the inning with a solid single to left field.
Cleanup batter Laura Turner then laid down a bunt that Remien dove for and missed, allowing Johnson to move up to third and Turner to go to second.
While attempting to intentionally walk Emily Cooper, the junior swung and drove the ball to centerfield. Kristen Chartier, though, was able to make the catch and keep Johnson from tagging up and scoring.
Denney, who finished with nine strikeouts and four hits allowed, walked Maren Idso intentionally to lead the bases with one out.
Whitaker, a sophomore, then lined a ball just under the outstretched glove of North second baseman Heather Cook.
"You always think you can push through it," said Rudeen. "As soon as that girl hit the pop up to center and we kept her (Johnson) on base with one out, I thought we were going to get out of the inning.
"That girl (Whitaker) came through with a clutch hit, what can you do?"
The Tigers, who tied the game late Saturday on Angela Davis' RBI double, left four runners on base in the title game.
"We had no choice, we have to load the bases," said Dicus of the seventh inning strategy. "We have to play for the force out there.
"We practice that situation all the time. The girl made a nice hit, what a great way to end the state championship."
The Stars had advanced to the title game with victories over 14th-ranked Davenport West, 13-10, after rallying from a 9-2 deficit, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 6-2, in the semifinals.
While North was playing in its first state softball championship game, Valley was playing in the school's sixth championship contest, finishing second in 1992.
"It's been a great senior year," said Rudeen, who is headed to the University of South Dakota. "We had a rough first week (back in May).
"To come into state and make it to the championship game and to play a great team like Valley, they're unbelievable, four times winning state, that's great. We couldn't ask for more."
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D Franco wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:45 PM:
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