Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Raiders advance to 2nd straight State Championship game
Kalon Spratt’s back-to-back plays are pivotal in the victory
FORT DODGE — In a Class 3A semifinal against Dubuque Wahlert Wednesday, two moments from Williamsburg’s Kalon Spratt were critical in the Raiders advancing to their second straight State Championship game in the 3-2 victory.
Spratt’s spectacular catch at shoe-level to end the top of the fifth prevented two runs from scoring for the Golden Eagles.
After making the run saving catch, Spratt connected on a leadoff first-pitch home run over left center field to give the Raiders the 2-1 lead.
“I struck out in my first at-bat not swinging at the first pitch and got caught on a riseball,” Spratt said.
“I wanted to swing at the first pitch in my next at-bat knowing the pitcher was throwing it down the middle. Once I hit it, I knew it was gone.”
The Golden Eagles got the early lead in the first.
After back-to-back singles from Julia Roth and Addison Klein and a walk to start the game, the Golden Eagles had the bases loaded with one out.
The Raiders got out of the inning allowing only one off a fielder’s choice RBI from Kylie Sieverding.
In both the first and second, the Raiders got base runners on third with one out, but could not capitalize.
That changed in the fourth.
After an error and single from Taylor Sanchez, Jersey Metz connected on an RBI single to tie things up.
The Golden Eagles tied things back up in the sixth.
After a double from Sadie Schultz and a walk, Zoey Knepper brought in a run to tie things up 2-2 in the sixth.
Metz reached base to start the bottom of the sixth off an error.
Ava Hocker came in to pinch run and used her state track speed (some would say) and stole both second and third.
Hocker was halfway between third and home as a groundout went to Wahlert pitcher Julia Roth, and Hocker scored after an error on the throw to the plate.
This gave the Raiders the 3-2 lead heading to the seventh.
A leadoff single from Ruth Taeber made things interesting.
After two ground outs and an intentional walk, the Golden Eagles had runners on first and second.
A diving catch from second baseman Sanchez ended the game for the Raiders victory.
“Intense games I love the most. We had a rocky start but we always remains confident in each other,” Williamsburg senior Shannon Finn said.
Finn has been a key senior leader for the Raiders not only on the field but in the dugout too. Finn had two hits in the semifinal.
“I’m happy we pulled it out,” Williamsburg coach Adam Berte said.
Both teams had multiple scoring chances and the four-to-zero error difference played a huge role in the games outcome.
The Raiders will now look to defend their state title in the Championship game Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Williamsburg 3, Dubuque Wahlert 2
Class 3A State Semifinal, at Fort Dodge
Dubuque Wahlert 100 001 0 — 2 6 4
Williamsburg 000 111 x — 3 6 0
Julia Roth and Lily Oberhoffer. Jersey Metz and Ashlynn Fuhrman. W — Metz (22-6). L — Roth (19-4). HR — Wmsbg: Kalon Spratt (5).
