Hawks rally in final at-bat to reach 1A regional final

SULLY — Something had to give Friday night.

Two teams were out to keep on track to reach the 2015 Iowa Class 1A State Softball Tournament. Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks and Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devils were locked in a 4-4 tie going into the bottom of the seventh inning of their Class 1A Region 6 semifinal.

The Hawks were down to their final out to win the game without going extra innings.

“Kasiah is a tough out at the plate and on the base paths. She runs hard and fast on the bases. She got the walk and did what she does,” said Stacey Alberts, Lynnville-Sully head coach.

Junior Kasiah Ehresman worked a walk against Blue Devil ace pitcher Riley Verwers. Ehresman, who leads the Hawks in stolen bases, swiped her 53rd of the season and ended up on third base because of an errant throw.

Sophomore Lizzy Van Manen, who is second on the team in RBIs, blasted a pitch to left field for a walk-off RBI single. Manen has driven in 42 runs this season and none bigger than the one Friday night.

“Lizzy had a great at-bat. She was down two strikes and did what she does — got the hit we needed,” Alberts said.

Lynnville-Sully knocked off Martensdale-St. Marys with a 5-4 decision to advance to Monday’s Region 6 final at Pleasantville. The Hawks (34-3) take on Murray (27-4) at 7 p.m. Murray upended No. 10 Wayne, 3-2, Friday.

It is the first time in Lynnville-Sully softball history for a win over Martensdale-St. Marys. The Hawks keep their goal of a fourth straight state tournament appearance within reach while snapping a seven-year state tournament appearance streak for the Blue Devils.

“I just went up there trying to do my job. Coach always says, we all have jobs to do,” Ehresman said. “This was a huge win for us and I’m proud of the whole team. We were nervous coming into the game because Martensdale-St. Marys is a really good team, but we were confident we could play our game.”

Winning the coin toss and being the home team at home was big for the Hawks. They had senior Madison Rasmusson, who confirmed she will be pitching for DMACC in Boone next year, in the circle.

Rasmusson also made it happen on the bases for the Hawks. She beat out a two-out bunt for a single in the first inning, ending up at second on an overthrow by the Blue Devils. Senior Lysandra James blooped an RBI single over third base.

Lynnville-Sully scored three runs in the third inning to gain a 4-0 lead. Ehresman had a bunt single, swiped second base and scored on a double by Van Manen. Rasmusson delivered a sacrifice bunt and Lysandra James drilled a single to left field to drive in a run. Sophomore Brianna Lanser’s double to left scored a run.

The Hawks defense had several big plays in the game. One game in the fourth with two Blue Devils on base and no outs. Van Manen had an errant throw which sent Kaitlyn Schad running to third base. Schad slid past the bag and Lynnville-Sully’s Lanser made a diving tag.

“I went for the tag and saw she was off the bag. I thought ‘she’s not getting this base,’ and tagged her out” Lanser said of the play.

Two ground outs later, Lynnville-Sully still had a 4-0 lead.

Martensdale-St. Marys made a pitching change in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Kaci Sherwood started for the Blue Devils, but gave way to Verwers at that point. Until Van Manen’s game-winning hit in the seventh, Verwers handled the Hawks’ lineup.

The Blue Devils clawed back into the game with a three-run fifth innings. The inning ended when Lysandra James made a running catch in right center field for the Hawks. Lynnville-Sully led 4-3.

Haley James, a sophomore, made a diving catch in shallow left field to start the top of the sixth, then ran down another Blue Devil hit down the left-field line.

“Lysandra makes a great catch in center and Haley James was all over the place tonight making plays. Our infielders continued to make plays,” Alberts said. “We have 12 players who step up and do their jobs. It was fun to see it happen tonight against a very talented Martensdale-St. Marys team.”

Lynnville-Sully was protecting a one-run lead as the teams reached the seventh inning. Rasmusson worked back from a 2-0 count to get a strikeout, then came a pop-up to Ehresman at second base. Two outs were in the book.

The Blue Devils battled to get a single by senior Gentry Davidson, who moved to second on a passed ball. Schad doubled to centerfield to drive in the tying run. Senior Kylah Schumacher beat out a bunt for a base hit.

Rasmusson faced junior Jamie Jordan, and it went to a full count — three balls, two strikes. Rasmusson notched her third strikeout of the game to send the game to the bottom of the seventh still tied at 4-all.

Then came the Hawk rally.

“It was pure guts and determination. These girls have played a lot of good competition this season and just wanted it tonight,” Alberts said. “These girls have their eyes set on state and they are determined to get there. Tonight, they took one more step to that goal.”

Rasmusson (34-3) allowed seven hits, walked on and struck out three as the winning pitcher.

“You’re suppose to have fun playing the game and that was my goal for the whole night — to have fun. I knew it was a big game, but I trusted my teammates to get through it,” Rasmusson said. “When I get down in the count against a batter, I tell myself to come on Madison and just do it.”

Rasmusson said the Hawks would relax after Friday’s win then the game plan for their opponent in the regional title game would be put in place.

“A game like this just helps us get ready for Monday’s game and for state, if we get there. We know every team we face is going to be tough and we have to play well to win,” Rasmusson said.

Van Manen had a single and a double while Lysandra James hit two singles. Lanser doubled. Ehresman and Rasmusson each had a single.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com