(Audubon, IA) – Audubon will continue on to the regional final after defeating Ridge View 6-0 in a shutout victory. While Ridge View wasn’t ever able to score, they kept the game tight the whole way throughout.
Ridge View looked like they were going to capitalize early with runners at the corners and two outs before Audubon’s Riley Miller was able to strike out Zoey Aschinger to retire the side. The Wheelers started off with a run in the bottom of the first after Taryn Petersen got things going with a single. After that single, Jordan Porsch knocked another single that would go on to score Petersen and put the Wheelers up 1-0.
In the top of the second inning, Miller pitched the Raptors into a flyout, groundout, and a strikeout to retire the side while Audubon’s Addie Hocker knocked a single in the bottom of the second inning but would only advance to third base and would be left stranded. Ridge View would do just about the same in the top of the third with a single from Emma Mentzer while Hawthorne hit into a groundout to put two outs on the board. Tatum Shepherd would earn a walk and would then be left stranded alongside Mentzer after Morgan Wright struck out.
The bottom of the third inning is the last time we would add any runs on the scoreboard. the inning would start with Mattie Nielsen earning a single and a steal to put a runner on second. Taryn Petersen would then hit a key single that would score Mattie Nielsen to give the Wheelers a 2-0 advantage. Jordan Porsch would go on to add another RBI into her arsenal after hitting another key single to score the speedy Petersen and put Audubon up 3-0. After Riley Miller reached on an error and Alexis Obermeier earned a walk, the Wheelers found themselves with bases loaded and no outs. Addie Hocker then came up to the plate and launched a first-pitch grand slam over the deep center field wall. Unfortunately through the excitement of it all, Hocker passed Obermeier on the base path would would be called out on her own home run. Fortunately for her, she would earn three RBIs and the Wheelers would go up 6-0.
After the third inning, the pace of the ballgame picked up after Ridge View would leave two stranded in the top of the fourth inning and Audubon would go on to do the same in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, both teams would feature three up-three down innings as Shepherd would pick up two strikeouts in the frame to go to the sixth inning. The Raptors would earn a walk in the top of the sixth to put a runner on, but Cudaback would strikeout looking to go to the bottom of the sixth. Audubon would get some momentum once again after Zoey Rasmussen would reach on an error, Mattie Nielsen would knock a single, and Jordan Porsch would gain a walk to put the bases loaded with two outs. Riley Miller would hit a shallow liner to short that would leave the bases loaded to head to the top of the seventh inning.
It was now all up to the Raptors to push back in the game. Unfortunately for them, Riley Miller was still on the mound. She would strikeout two straight and would force another to hit a deep fly ball to win the ballgame 6-0. Head Coach Andrea Schwery was proud of her girls for responding to the call and taking on one of the best teams in postseason action.
Both Taryn Petersen and Jordan Porsch had excellent nights at the plate and on the field. Petersen went 3-4 at the plate with three singles and had an RBI while Porsch went 2-2 with a walk and reached on an error to knock in two RBIs for the Wheelers.
Another top player in the lineup was center fielder Mattie Nielsen. The senior went 2-4 at the plate with two singles while also earning a steal on the basepath to put her in a key scoring position in the bottom of the third. She also made some impressive plays in the outfield as she maintained control of the team when that ball was hit toward the grass.
Now the Wheelers are looking ahead to Monday as they’ll face off against MVAOCOU in the Class 2A Region 2 Championship game. Coach Schwery is encouraging her girls to not look at stats but to look ahead to every pitch for their game against the Rams.
Audubon will host MVAOVOU this Monday, July 15th with the opening pitch at 7:00 p.m. KS95.7 will have all the coverage of this game with a pregame show at 6:45 p.m.
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