(Martensdale, IA) – In regional championship action, the Griswold Tigers couldn’t add any runs on the scoreboard as Martensdale-St Marys ended up as the Class 1A Region 4 champions with an 8-0 victory.
The top of the first inning was a short one for Griswold as Marissa Askeland struck out swinging to bring up Abby Gohlinghorst. Gohlinghorst would, unfortunately, get hit in the wrist and put her out of the ballgame but put a runner on first. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they would get into a flyout and strikeout to retire the side.
Martensdale-St Marys would start things off with a single by Brynnly German as she would go on to steal second to put a runner at second with one out. Campbell German would earn a walk and Abby Hughes would go on to strikeout to put two outs on the board. Sydney Bears would hit a grounder to short which would result in a throwing error that would go on to score two runs and leave a runner on second. Shelby Woods would then hit a single to score Bears from second that would push the lead to 3-0.
After Griswold couldn’t score in the second, it was up to the Martensdale-St Mary’s offense once again. Maryann Hart would cap off the inning with a single that Mac German followed. Ellie Baker would hit another single that would eventually allow Hart to score and put the Blue Devils in a 4-0 lead to head to the third inning.
Both teams would go scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings to go to the top of the sixth where the Tigers would feature a three-up-three-down inning to go to the bottom of the sixth. Sydney Bears would start off the inning with a single to lead to Shelby Woods where the freshman launched a two-run homer over the left field wall to go up 6-0. Mac German would hit a single that would roll past Addison Adams in center field and she would advance to third base with just two outs on the board. Ellie Baker would follow up that hit with one of her own and score German to go up 7-0. Brynnly German would knock another single and score Baker to eventually earn the 8-0 victory.
When it comes down to it, Griswold fell to a team that had no errors in the entirety of the ballgame. Blue Devil pitcher Campbell German earned 14 strikeouts and only walked three while allowing no hits on one of the top-hitting teams in southwest Iowa. Griswold fell to a team that has a chance to take the title in Fort Dodge.
While this game didn’t go in Griswold’s favor, the Tigers featured another successful season with a 26-5 overall record which marks the fourth straight year that the Tigers have 20+ wins. This season went down in the books as another top season for Tiger softball and was one for the girls to only learn from moving forward.
Griswold’s three seniors Dakota Reynolds, Whitney Pennock, and Karly Millikan all finished off their high school careers in Monday night’s regional game. These three not only had a lasting impact on the Griswold softball program, but a lasting impact on Head Coach Jody Rossell.
Congratulations to the Griswold seniors on all of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing what the Tigers do next season. Martensdale-St Marys will head to Fort Dodge as they await their opponent due to multiple postponements of regional championship games.
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