(Fort Dodge) — Riverside held off a late surge by St. Edmond to claim third place in the Class 1A State Softball Tournament on Friday.
The Bulldogs tallied five runs on six hits, while the Gaels matched them in hits with six, scoring four runs. Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson says the coaching staff entered the season with high expectations for this team.
Peyton Schafer earned her 24th win of the season for Riverside, going the distance with seven innings pitched. She allowed four runs (two earned), gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out four. Breckyn Ulrich took the loss for St. Edmond, surrendering five runs (three earned) on six hits, with one strikeout and four walks over 4.67 innings.
Sophia Fenner powered Riverside’s offense with a double and a single, while Kayden Schnack came through with a clutch two-RBI single. Peyton Schafer chipped in an RBI single, and Madison Kelley and Lilli Reed each added base hits.
For St. Edmond, Lauren Gibb stood out at the plate, tallying two singles and driving in three runs. Faith Shirbroun, Mariah Myers, Myrah Lemon, and Hadley Oswald each contributed a single.
The Bulldogs struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Adaline Martens led off with a walk, followed by Fenner’s sharp single. Schafer brought Martens home with a sacrifice fly to left, and Fenner later scored on a groundout by Sydney Somers.
Schafer also delivered a strong start in the circle, supported by Riverside’s defense, which turned three key double plays. However, St. Edmond found momentum at the top of the third. Oswald reached on an error, and Shirbroun drove her in with a sacrifice fly. Myers followed with a walk, and Gibb drove her home with an RBI single.
The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Bulldogs sent eight batters to the plate and pushed across three runs on three hits, extending their lead to 5-2. Sophia Fenner led off with a double and scored on Peyton Schafer’s RBI single. Kayden Schnack delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-RBI single, driving in Schafer and Sydney Somers, who had reached on an error.
Riverside carried a three-run lead into the top of the seventh and looked poised to close out the game, retiring the first two St. Edmond batters on a flyout to center and a strikeout. But the Gaels mounted one final rally. Hadley Oswald sparked the comeback with a two-out single, followed by a base hit from Faith Shirbroun. Mariah Myers then drew an automatic walk, setting the stage for Lauren Gibb, who delivered a clutch two-RBI single to cut the deficit to one. With the tying run on base, Adaline Martens fielded a grounder and fired to Madison Kelley at first for the final out, sealing the win and securing the third-place trophy for the Bulldogs.
Coach Patterson shares her thoughts during the Gaels’ late-game rally.
Elly Henderson is the lone graduating senior on the squad, Coach Patterson says the expectations will be the same next season, with the goal to return to the State Tournament.
Video Interviews with Peyton Schafer, and Kayden Snack are posted below the list of the members of the Class 1A all-tournament team.
Class 1A All-Tournament Team:
Catelynn Lodge, Clarksville
Ava Whitney, Wayne
Sophia Fenner, Riverside
Adaline Martens, Riverside
Mariah Myers, St. Edmond
Faith Shirbroun, St. Edmond
Emmalee Manwarren, Clarksville
Allie Jo Fortune, Wayne
Sydney Lovrien, Clarksville
Izzy Moore, Wayne
Claire Lodge, Clarksville (Captain)
