Storm Lake Times Pilot

Newell-Fonda to play for state title

Mustangs beat Southeast Warren 7-3 in semifinals


Newell-Fonda’s Kinzee Hinders slides into home plate before Southeast Warren catcher Breanna Nolte can tag her during their Class 1A state semifinal game on Wednesday in Fort Dodge. TIMES photo by JAMIE KNAPP

Played Lisbon in 1A title game on Thursday

Newell-Fonda traded in its small ball for some big ball.

After relying on some bunts to scratch across a couple of runs in the state quarterfinals against North Butler on Monday, Newell-Fonda used some hits to the outfield to prosuce its runs in the state semifinals on Wednesday as the top-ranked Mustangs tallied eight hits in a 7-3 win over No. 5 Southeast Warren at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

Newell-Fonda (37-4) played Lisbon (37-8) in the state championship game on Thursday night.

“Before batting practice the girls said you know what coach we haven’t had a great big hitting game yet,” Newell-Fonda coach Courtney Darrow said. “I told them that’s going to change. The first game we played a little small ball. This game we played a little big ball.”

“Before the game I said what am I going to tell you? They said you’ve got to score to win,” Darrow added. “I said you’re exactly right and we’re going to score more than one and they proved that.”

“We just wanted to come up with some big hits,” senior center fielder Bailey Sievers said. “We felt like our hits weren’t on. We came out and slapped some big hits.”

The game got off to a rough start for the Mustangs as the Warhawks scored a run in the top of the first inning. Josie Hartman led off the game with a double and later scored on a throwing error on a bunt by Brooklyn Page.

Newwell-Fonda answered with a run in the second inning. Anna Bellcock singled and pinch-runner Isabel Bartek scored when Sophie Stewart hit a ball to right field but was thrown out at first base.

Newell-Fonda took a 3-1 lead in the third inning. Mia Walker singled and Bailey Sievers bunted her to second. Macy Sievers then hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped, allowing Walker to score. Ella Larsen singled and Maggie Walker followed with a single to load the bases. Bellcock drew a walk to score Sievers.

Southeast Warren got singles from Natalie Geisler and Jaycee Neer and a walk to Kaylee Tigner, but could not score a run in the fourth.

In the bottom half, the Mustangs plated four runs to break the game open. McKenna Sievers led off by reaching on a dropped third strike. Bailey Sievers then doubled into the right field corner. Macy Sievers struck out, but the catcher dropped the ball and threw to first base to retire Sievers. Pinch-runner Kinzee Hinders scored on the throw to first for a 4-1 lead.

Larsen walked and Maggie Walker reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to score Bailey Sievers. Bellcock followed with a single to left field to score Larsen and Maggie Walker to make it 7-1.

The Warhawks got singles from Breanna Nolte and Makayla Ruble in the sixth inning, but a flyout to center, a groundout to third base and a popout ended the threat.

Southeast Warren threatened in the top of the seventh inning. The Warhawks got a single from Kaylee Bauer and a single from Page to put runners on first and second with one out. Nolte then roped a double to score both runners and make it 7-3. The Mustangs, however, got the final out to preserve the win.

Bellcock had two of the Mustangs’ eight hits. Larsen and Mia Walker also had two hits apiece. Bailey Sievers and Maggie Walker each added one hit apiece. Bellcock finished with three RBI.

Kierra Jungers was the winning pitcher. She pitched all seven innings and allowed nine hits and three runs, two of which were earned, walked two and struck out seven.

“I thought my outing was pretty good,” Jungers said. “They were a great hitting team and they were definitely putting the pressure on us.”

“Kierra’s held herself very well,” Darrow said. “She was in a 3-2 count with their No. 6 hitter and I kept asking her what pitch do you want and she called her pitch and she struck her out on it. She has confidence in all of her pitches and that was awesome to see.”

Alivia Rubel took the loss. She gave up eight hits and seven runs, only three of which were earned, walked two and struck out four.

Nolte had two hits and two RBI to lead Southeast Warren.

The Mustangs talked about what made the difference.

“Our bats were on fire,” Jungers said. “That releases a lot of pressure for our defense and I think everyone was just a lot more calm.”

“When we can use our speed and put the pressure on them it just allows us to use our speed on the bases and it puts pressure on them,” Darrow said.

Playing in the state title game was the goal all along for Newell-Fonda.

“We always have goals at the beginning of the season and it’s to win conference and make it to state and win state,” Sievers said. “We’ve been checking those goals off and now we just want to check off that last goal.”