Tigers earn bid to regional championship game

SIGOURNEY ? With a 5-0 win over No. 13 Sigourney, the New London softball team moves on to tonight?s Class 1A regional softball championship game.

The Tigers upped their record to 23-16 with the win and they will play Bellevue Marquette Catholic (16-16) at Iowa City West at 7 p.m. tonight.

New London pitcher Bria Mears and the Tiger defense haven?t allowed a run in their last four games, and they stretched their win streak to five games with the win over the Savages.

Mears gave up only four hits and one walk while striking out six in seven innings of work on Saturday.

Along with the defense, the Tiger offense seems to be peaking at the right time, as the New London girls have outscored their opponents 27-0 in their first three regional games.

On Saturday, Mears was supported by two New London runs in the third, two in the fourth and another one in the fifth.

Six different Tigers had one hit each.

Emily Parks and Jorgi Krieger were each 1-for-2 with an RBI and Parks also scored a run.

Charley Lorber and Emma Pry were each 1-for-3, and Morgan Christner was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Caitlin Chiri was 1-for-4 with a run scored and one knocked in.

The Tigers are now one win away from the state tournament ? a victory tonight will earn them a trip to Ft. Dodge. The state tournament begins on Monday, July 16.