Softball: Assumption ensures lengthy stay at state

Font Size:

By Andrew Petersen | Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:14 PM CDT | () comments

FORT DODGE, Iowa — A year ago, the Davenport Assumption softball team was thankful just to make it to the end of a four-hour bus ride.

Stepping on the field at Rogers Sports Complex was an honor, but the girls hadn’t thought much beyond that.

This year, state became the expectation, and they came to Fort Dodge prepared, toting microwaves, portable TVs, food and laundry bags.

And after Wednesday’s 2-1 win over ADM in the opening Class 3A quarterfinal, the Knights might have to toss a load or two of clothes in the wash.

“We had to make sure we took care of business,” Assumption coach Bob Matthys said. “We played great defense, and that’s our trademark.”

Assumption (30-11) stamped its seal with a pair of spot-on throws in the top of the third inning to preserve a 1-0 lead.

ADM (27-14) tried to bring home Jaime Schrandt from second on a single to left. But, Knights left fielder Krysta Tutsch fired the ball home, and catcher Paige Sheeder relayed back to Morgan Finn at third to escape trouble.

With the victory, the Knights advance to Friday’s semifinal at 6 p.m. against Fort Madison. The Bloodhounds (33-9) beat Carlisle 7-0 on Wednesday.

Sheeder led Assumption, going 3-for-3 and scoring the game’s first run on an RBI single up the middle from Tutsch in the second inning.

Behind the plate, Sheeder, a graduated senior, twice caught fouled popups as Assumption limited ADM to five hits.

“It’s a huge relief to get past a well-rounded team like ADM,” Sheeder said.

Assumption added a run to its lead in the fourth, when Finn hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

Junior-to-be Alyson Spinas-Valainis earned the win, striking out five in seven innings. She gave up a two-out solo home run to Sarah Madden in the fifth, but otherwise, the Tigers were without an extra-base hit.

ADM’s all-state pitcher Nicole Ackelson did her part, scattering eight hits, but two defensive errors gave Assumption its 24th win in 27 games.

“They’re very scrappy,” Tigers coach Michelle Fowler said of the Knights. “Sometimes you can only prepare so much. I would have rather have had that home run with someone on base, but we’ll be OK.”

In its fourth state tournament appearance, Assumption is guaranteed its best finish in 12 years. In 1996, the Knights took fourth in Class 2A, going on to finish fifth in 3A in 2001 and 2007.

They beat the state’s No. 1 team in Clear Creek-Amana 3-2 in a regional final last week.

Wednesday’s quarterfinal win was the third straight one-run win for the Knights.

Andrew Petersen can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or apetersen@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qcvarsity.com.