W’burg softball looks to advance in tournament

Williamsburg is one win away from making another trip to the state softball tournament and if they continue to hit the ball like they have in the first two rounds of the Class 3A regionals, it’s going to be awfully tough for anyone to beat them.

The Raiders, ranked No. 1 all season, rapped out 11 hits in each of their quarterfinal and semifinal victories over Union La Porte City and Hampton-Dumont last week, sending them into Tuesday night’s Region 5 final at home against Grinnell (23-15) with a trip to Fort Dodge on the line.

Seniors Elle Ridgeway and Jenna Thurm slugged home runs to power Williamsburg’s offensive attack Saturday, July 8, in a five-inning, 10-0 semifinal win over Hampton-Dumont.

Ridgeway cracked a towering, 260-foot blast in the first inning after sophomore Carly Rich had doubled to stake the Raiders to a 2-0 lead, and Thurm secured the win in the fifth inning with another no-doubter, a line drive, two-run shot into the West End Pond.

Thurm’s blow came a few pitches after Ridgeway had opened the inning with a high fly ball to center field that fell just shy of getting out of the park.

Junior Bailey Von Ahsen nearly went deep herself, leading off a six-run second inning with a screaming line drive that hit inches below the top of the left-center field fence for a double.

Sophomore Makenna Hughes then put down a bunt which the Hampton-Dumont pitcher threw away, allowing Von Ahsen to score and Hughes to move up to second. Hughes stole third and after a fly out and ground out, Rich reached base on another H-D error, sending Hughes home.

Rich then swiped second and scored on a base hit by Ridgeway. Thurm walked and sophomores Alley Gorsh and Taylor Pitlick followed with back-to-back RBI hits, Gorsh plating one run and Pitlick two.

Ridgeway finished the game 3-for-3, highlighted by her 12th homer of the season and RBIs No. 50, 51 and 52. Gorsh also went 3-for-3, hitting the ball hard each time up, beginning with a first-inning double.

Senior Peyton Driscoll and freshman Jersey Metz took care of the rest, combining to pitch a two-hit shutout. Driscoll worked the first two innings and Metz the last three, giving up one hit and striking out four batters apiece.

In Williamsburg’s four-inning, 12-0 victory over Union La Porte City Thursday, July 6,

Rich enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, driving in one run and scoring three times.

Thurm went 2-for-2 with three RBI, Ridgeway drove in three runs as well on a base hit, sacrifice and fielder’s choice, Hughes added a pair of hits and eighth-grader Taylor Sanchez had a two RBI double.

Driscoll dominated in the circle, holding Union scoreless on one hit. She didn’t walk anyone, struck out 10 and helped herself at the plate with a two RBI single in a five-run third inning.

SWEPT BY WOLVES

Williamsburg lost its final two games of the regular season Monday, July 3, to Class 5A No. 2 Waukee Northwest, 3-2 and 4-2.

Trailing 3-0 in the opener, the Raiders scored both of their runs in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Ridgeway and RBI single from Thurm.

Sanchez singled to drive in both Williamsburg runs in the nightcap.

The Wolves totaled 22 hits on the night off three Raider hurlers — Metz, Sloane Curtin and Kalon Spratt.