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Washington Evening Journal
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Iowa Valley continues historic run
Reach second regional final in program history
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
VICTOR — Thirty-two combined hits and 29 runs scored.
Only one team could prevail in this high-scoring affair. That team was Iowa Valley.
The Tigers edged HLV-TC 16-13 in a Class 1A Region 4 softball semifinal Saturday.
The Tigers’ historical postseason run will continue to the regional final. They’ll play for a trip to state Monday night for the second time in program history, advancing to the regional final.
Seniors Lydia and Izzy Kriegel shared a similar sentiment when asked how to describe this postseason run.
“I don’t even know,” they each said.
“We just came in expecting the unexpected, like we did with Southeast Warren,” Lydia Kriegel added.
Coming off the upset of the softball postseason, the Tigers continued their hot hitting with runs in six of seven innings played.
An RBI-single from Maeci Marshall in the first gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead. A big six-run inning from the Warriors in the third gave them their first lead at 11-10.
In the fifth, the Tigers reclaimed the lead for good.
A two-RBI double from Izzy Kriegel, followed by an RBI-single from Skyler Hoyt, gave the Tigers a 13-11 lead.
To provide more cushion, the Tigers scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh off a single from Olyvia Grant for a 16-12 lead.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, things became interesting. A double play ended the potential big inning and the game.
“We played them once this season, and we came in with a chip on our shoulder,” Lydia Kriegel said following the win. The Warriors won the regular season matchup 9-1.
The Tigers totaled 17 hits to the Warriors 15 in Saturday’s game.
Lydia Kriegel and Izzy Kriegel each had four hits for the Tigers. Izzy Krigel had a game-high five RBIs.
Ema Roberts had four hits for the Warriors. Raegan Molyneux had three RBIs, and Erilea Kupka added four.
The Warriors, behind a strong group of seniors, close the season 19-7 with the most wins they’ve had in a season since 2008.
An unprecedented run for the Tigers will continue.
“None of us have been in this position before, and to be able to do it as a team is so much fun,” said Lydia Kriegel.
“We’re playing the best softball we can at the perfect time,” Izzy Kriegel said.
Lydia and Izzy, the lone two seniors, hope this run can inspire confidence moving forward in Tigers’ athletics.
“I think this also brings a lot to girls sports at Iowa Valley,” Izzy Kriegel said. “We’ve been the short end of the stick.
“ (This run) has opened our eyes to [the fact] that we can be good. A lot of us didn't have that confidence.”
