Trojans survive semifinal scare

FAIRFIELD - It wasn't easy for the third-ranked team in Class 4A on Saturday night. The heavily-favored Trojans had to stage a small comeback to knock out Fort Madison, winning 3-2, and advancing to Tuesday night's regional final.

After the Trojans stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, starting pitcher Allison Rebling helped her own cause in the bottom of the second. Rebling blooped a single down the left field line to score a run and give the Trojans the early 1-0 advantage.

Fairfield's bats weren't quite as ferocious as normal, however, and Fort Madison was able to grab a short-lived lead. Bloodhound eighth-grader Lexi Whaley blasted a two-run home run to left field in the third, and a scoreless bottom of the inning left the Trojans down 2-1 after three.

Fairfield staged a two-out rally in the fourth inning. Destiny Gridley, the ninth batter in the lineup, reached base with a double down the left field line, and came around to tie the game on a wild pitch. The Trojans then loaded the bases for the powerful Hannah Simpson.

Simpson stepped up and delivered a big swing, but she got under the ball and popped it straight up in the air over Fort Madison pitcher Neely Rehm. Nobody on the Bloodhound defense stepped up to catch the ball, however, and it hit the ground for an infield-single, scoring the go-ahead run.

'Fort Madison played very well, and their pitcher has improved 100 percent since we saw them the first time,” said Trojan head coach Bob Bradfield. 'We just couldn't get anything going offensively, but the key thing at this point is to win and move on, otherwise you get ready for your postseason banquet.”

Fairfield ended the game with just four hits. Rebling went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Simpson was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Gridley went 1-for-2 with a double, and Danielle Breen went 1-for-3 with a single.

'It's nice to not play our best and still come out and get that win,” said Gridley. 'It's huge for us.”

Rebling was solid all night, giving up just two earned runs on four hits. She struck out 13 Bloodhounds and walked just two.

The Trojans are still one of the hottest teams in Class 4A, having won their last 21 games. They'll host No. 12 Burlington on Tuesday night where they will try and go 3-0 against the Grayhounds this season, and earn a ticket to the Class 4A state tournament.

'We're definitely excited, and glad we get to host it,” says Rebling. 'We're excited, and we're going to be ready.”