(Fort Dodge, IA) — Riverside will square off with Newell Fonda in the first round of the Class 1A State Softball Tournament this evening, coverage on KSOM.
The Bulldogs are 24-3 and are making their first tournament appearance since 2009 and 5th overall. Riverside played a largely 2A schedule and only faced 2 1A opponents during the regular season — they actually have played more 1A games in the playoffs than the regular season and Bulldogs Head Coach Lacie Patterson hopes that will pay off at state
Newell Fonda is 24-11 and making their 15th appearance at state and first since 2022. The Mustangs have a dynamic 1-2 punch in their line up — Freshman Ellie Sievers is hitting .386, 9 HR and 36 RBI and Junior Jocee Walsh is batting .375 with 8 HR and 37 RBI. Riverside’s pitcher is Freshman Peyton Schafer who is 23-3 with a 2.22 ERA with 133 strikeouts and opponents are only hitting .192 against her. Patterson says there cannot be any early game jitters
Riverside has been together as a team from the get go which Patterson says was an emphasis
Riverside faces Newell Fonda in the Class 1A state tournament, game time is scheduled for 5:15 pm on Tuesday, coverage on KSOM. The winner will face either top seeded Wayne or #8 seed Highland Wednesday, July 23 at 7 pm. The losers will play each other in a consolation game on Wednesday at 12:45 pm.
