Tigerhawks cruise into 1A regional final

CONRAD — The location changed, and the time was pushed up. That didn’t affect the Class 1A No. 12 Colfax-Mingo softball team though.

Junior Amy Russell allowed two hits and two walks in the circle and collected a pair of hits at the plate, and the Tigerhawks blanked Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 5-0, during a 1A Region 6 semifinal on Friday.

Sophomores Ries Wilson and Rhiannon Haley matched Russell with two hits, one run and one RBI and freshman Chelsea Russell also had two hits as the Tigerhawks seek their first state tournament appearance since 2001 when they travel to fourth-ranked Martensdale-St. Marys at 7 p.m. Monday in Martensdale.

Colfax-Mingo (25-9) jumped out to an early lead and scored in each of the first four innings. That was all the Tigerhawks would need.

Russell, and the Colfax-Mingo defense allowed only one Rebel runner to reach second base.

Russell improved to 16-4 on the year. She fanned nine Rebel batters. She also was 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI and one walk at the plate.

Marissa Berendes and Hayley Weber had Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s only hits. Megan Swanson was the only Rebel runner to reach second base, and she did so following a fielder’s choice out by the Tigerhawks.

The Tigerhawks finished with 10 hits and zero errors. The Rebels (7-18) had more errors (3) than hits (2).

Colfax-Mingo’s regional final against fourth-ranked Martensdale-St. Marys (31-6) is the team’s first regional title appearance since advancing to state back in 2001.

The Blue Devils ended the Tigerhawks’ season last year. Martensdale-St. Marys, ranked 14th then, defeated Colfax-Mingo 12-0 in five innings in the opening round of the 1A playoffs.

This season, both teams enter the game as ranked teams. And Monday’s contest is for a berth into the state softball tournament.