Raider softball team carries #1 ranking into season

As the state’s top-ranked softball team in Class 3A entering the 2023 season, Williamsburg is wearing a bull's-eye on its back.

The Raiders will be getting the best from everyone wanting to knock them off their high perch, and so far none have succeeded.

Behind a productive offense and pitching of senior Peyton Driscoll, who last week became the school’s career strikeout leader, and freshman Jersey Metz, Williamsburg is 9-0 heading into Monday’s doubleheader at South Tama, having outscored its six opponents by a combined total of 81-16.

The Raiders’ No. 1 ranking doesn’t carry much weight right now with coach Adam Berte. It’s being there at the end of the season as the state champion that counts.

“It’s nice the state thinks we have a good team, and we do,” Berte said, “but we want to be No. 1 at the end of the year. Now it’s not as important.”

A problem facing Berte, one many coaches would like to have, is finding enough playing time for all the talent he possesses.

So far, so good.

The Raiders remained unbeaten Saturday, June 3, with a 5-2 win at home against Class 5A No. 4 Linn-Mar.

Williamsburg took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Rylie Metz singled, stole second, went to third on an over throw and scored on a squeeze bunt by Elle Ridgeway. Linn-Mar tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, 1-1, but Williamsburg put up four more runs in the bottom of the frame to go up 5-1.

Taylor Sanchez reached base on an error to begin the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Makenna Hughes walked and stole second with Sanchez scoring on the throw trying to get Hughes out. Carly Rich then doubled to drive in Hughes, Shannon Finn singled and Rich and Finn both scored on wild pitches.

Driscoll made those runs stand up, striking out nine Lions and allowing just four hits in a complete game performance.

Sweep Bobcats

Williamsburg took both ends of a WaMaC double dip against Class 3A No. 15 Benton Community Thursday, June 1, at Jim Turner Field.

The Raiders won the opener, 3-0, as Driscoll struck out 15 Bobcats and with her 768th career K in the fourth inning, broke Kim Folkmann’s school record of 767 K’s.

Kalon Sprat had two of the Raiders’ four hits, including a double, and Jenna Thurm also doubled to drive in a run.

Jersey Metz pitched shutout ball for six innings, allowing just five hits and striking out six, as Williamsburg took the nightcap, 5-1.

A solo home run by Ridgeway, a two RBI double by Taylor Pitlick, and RBI singles by Thurm and Rylie Metz accounted for the Raiders’ scoring. Finn added a single and triple.

Jim Turner Classic

Williamsburg picked up a pair of wins in their own tournament — the Jim Turner Classic — Saturday, May 27, at the Williamsburg Sports Complex.

The Raiders pounded out 12 hits in a 16-2 win over East Marshall. Thurm and Sanchez led the attack. Thurm was 2-for-2 with a double, homer and four RBI, and Sanchez 2-for-2 with a triple and five RBI.

Spratt, Pitlick and Ridgeway added two hits apiece, scoring six times and driving in four runs between them.

Metz was the winning pitcher, tossing a two-strikeout, two-hitter with no walks.

Williamsburg also beat Bondurant-Farrar 8-0, as Driscoll twirled a one-hit shutout, striking out five.

Spratt homered for the Raiders and Thurm, Ridgeway and Rich each doubled and combined for six RBI.

"I think the girls have played well," Coach Berte said of his team's 9-0 start. "We're actually unbeaten at all levels right now so the girls should be proud of that. We have played a lot of girls and everyone is helping the team. We have only used two pitchers so far but we have some seven and eight game weeks coming up so we are going to need more than Peyton and Jersey starting this week. Both of them have been phenomenal."