(Griswold) With one of the best defensive matchups in regional play, the Tigers fall to the Falcons 3-2 in the Class 1A Regional Championship game. Wayne was able to add on early runs to force a lead that never left the Falcons’ side throughout the entire contest.
Griswold started out the first inning of action, going three-up, three-down, something the Tigers offense has not been used to this season. Wayne looked to be doing the same with Milliken in the circle coming into the game with just a 0.53 ERA. However, Millikan walked Allie Jo Fortune and next came up Izzie Moore, who hit a deep home run over the right-center field fence. That added two early runs on the board for the Falcons. Griswold went both the second and third innings scoreless going three-up, three-down in each inning. Wayne looked to stay on the board with a lead, and Ava Whitney did exactly that as she hit a solo home run over the left field fence to make the ballgame 3-0.
But then the fifth inning lit a spark in the Tigers dugout as Dakota Reynolds scored off a grounder by Karly Milliken which was scored due to an overthrow at first base. This made the ballgame 3-1 with the Falcons still on top. Wayne came sprinting into the bottom of the 5th as the Falcons were able to add on two additional runs by Allie Jo Fortune knocking in two runs off a deep single that Addison Adams was able to throw back in quickly, but not before the game was 5-1.
Griswold came marching into the 6th inning as the Tigers had three singles in a row by Marissa Askeland, Whitney Pennock, and McKenna Wiechman as Askeland was able to score off of Wiechman’s hit. Weichman and MacKenna Askeland both scored as well off of Karly Millikan’s single that brought them both in home to make it 5-4.
Griswold’s Karly Milliken pitched a three-up, three-down 6th inning to lead the Tigers all to the 7th inning to come back into the ballgame. Abby Gohlinghorst started things off by a hard grounder to Izzie Moore who threw it over to Ella Whitney for the first out of the inning. Addison Adams came up next cranking the first pitch she saw and was caught by Laney Harvey in left field. It was all up to Joey Reynolds who made an athletic diving catch to end the 6th inning, and now she was looking to do it at the plate. After fouling off three balls, she swung and missed as she struck out to end the ballgame. The Falcons are champions and could not have been a better game for them to win to play next in Fort Dodge.
Leading the ballgame for the Falcons was Izzie Moore who went 2-3 with a single and a home run. Ava Whitney went 1-2 with a home run as well in the ballgame. Izzie Moore struck out six batters on the night and allowed five hits on just 3 earned runs.
For the Tigers, leading on the night was Dakota Reynolds who went 1-3 with a double in the ballgame, the only double for the Tigers. The Tigers also had Askeland and Weichman as well as Gohlinghorst all earn a single on the night. Karly Milliken also had a single that added on two RBIs on the night. Milliken had seven strikeouts and gave up four hits, two of which were home runs.
Coach Jody Rossell ended up with the loss but was proud of her squad for their accomplishments this season.
The Tigers had an impressive season, going 26-4 overall, and they’re looking to bounce back from this and commit and push for their next season.
Both Makenna Askeland and McKenna Wiechman will no longer be wearing the Tiger uniform after this ballgame as their four years in the diamond has come to a close and will now be leaders off the field as they have been leaders on the field for the last four seasons.
Wayne will move on to battle against Remsen-St. Mary’s who have only lost one game this season. That game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19th at Veteran’s Field with the opening pitch at 1:30 pm in Fort Dodge.
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