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Emotional end for Iowa Wesleyan softball
Krieger’s game-winning homer highlights bittersweet ending to Tiger program
MT. PLEASANT — It had been just one month since the announcement came that Iowa Wesleyan University would be no more by the end of May, and just over a month until the school closed its doors for the final time. On Thursday, a major chapter in the university’s history came to an end, as the Tiger softball team played in the very last athletic event to be hosted by the university.
The Tigers played one more non-conference doubleheader against Hannibal La-Grange University, a school that was meant to be a conference rival when Iowa Wesleyan joined the American Midwest Conference next season. Instead, it was the last school the Tigers would ever face at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.
Destiny reared its head in the sixth inning of Game 2, when former New London prep Kara Krieger stepped to the plate with two outs and blasted a two-run go-ahead home run to help the Tigers pull ahead of the Trojans 6-4. Iowa Wesleyan would win by that exact margin, completing a sweep after an 8-1 victory earlier in the day.
“I knew going in there that it was going to be my last at-bat at Mapleleaf Field, and in Henry County in general,” Krieger said. “It was very emotional.”
Krieger’s homer capped off a comeback for the Tigers, who trailed 4-2 after a three-run HLGU top of the fifth. Iowa Wesleyan scored two in the fifth to tie it up, and Krieger’s two-out blast brought an end to the scoring.
Iowa Wesleyan pitcher Ariana Wolfard, who came in to relieve Jordan Morthland after five innings, threw a one-two-three seventh to close it out.
Krieger says she felt like it was destiny for a local to come up with the big hit, not only for the team, but for Coach Mike Hampton, who is in his 30th and final season of coaching the team.
“We wanted to win these last two games, not only for ourselves and our teammates, but we wanted to win it for Coach Hampton because it was his last hurrah,” Krieger said. “We wanted to make the best of it.”
Krieger co-led the team with two RBIs in the win. Jordan Lantz was 3-for-3 with two RBIs of her own.
In Game 1, Alexis Davis was 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Haiden Molter pitched a complete game for the win.
“I think it was very emotional for them,” Hampton said. “It's the last two home games, and in their minds, they know it's my end too.”
The Tigers followed the sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange on Thursday with another two-game sweep the next day. Iowa Wesleyan waxed would-be AMC rival Harris Stowe State University, beating them 13-0 in Game 1 and 12-2 in Game 2.
Coach Hampton ended his coaching career with 668 wins.
“I have to thank my wife,” Hampton said. “She has seen me coach a lot of games, and been at games. My three kids and my wife have been great supporters.”
Shortly after the wins against HLGU, Hampton was given a surprise at the 2023 Wesleys, when Iowa Wesleyan inducted him into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
This year’s Iowa Wesleyan softball team finished the season 19-24 overall. Despite being a perfect 4-0 in the Continental Athletic Conference, the Tigers weren’t selected for the four-team conference tournament, which was announced before Thursday’s games.
In closing, Coach Hampton looked back on his time coaching, thanking those who played for him over his long, illustrious career.
“I've been honored to have at the high school level and the collegiate level, a great bunch of young ladies,” Hampton said.
