(Fort Dodge, IA) — The Class 1A State Softball Tournament continues today as Exira EHK Audubon meets Edgewood Colesburg, coverage on KSOM.
In the new double elimination format, the Spartans must beat the Vikings twice to advance to the 1A championship game. Ed-Co has not lost after beating Exira EHK Audubon 6-3 in the first round on Monday. The Vikings went on to beat Southeast Warren 8-5 Tuesday stay unbeaten. If the Spartans win the first game, the two teams would play again at 5:15.
The Vikings are led by their Senior Pitcher Rachel Eglseder — in the first round she allowed 3 ER on 3 hits, walked 3 and struck out 15. The only player to get a hit for Exira EHK Audubon was Riley Miller who went 3-3 and drove in all 3 runs. After the game, Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen says they have seen pitchers like Eglseder before but just did not make adjustments.
Against Southeast Warren, Eglseder allowed 5 runs, 2 earned on 11 hits, walked one and struck out 5 — Eglseder has over 1,000 career strikeouts.
Eglseder is a cancer survivor — she was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma and had to go through chemo. Last month, she was able to ring the bell when doctors said she was cancer free.
With the bats, Ed-Co has been led in the state tournament by Sophomore Addi Schmelzer who had never hit a home run in her varsity career but hit two homers against Exira EHK Audubon, going 2-2 with 3 RBI and a walk. Against Southeast Warren, she went 2-4 with a double, 2 more RBI and a run scored. Faith Dugan went 1-4 against the Spartans with a double and a run scored and against the Warhawks was 3-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored.
For Exira EHK Audubon, Miller has a 3.89 ERA in her three games and at the plate is 5 for 8 with a HR and 6 total RBI. Taryn Petersen is 3 for 7 with 5 stolen bases and 5 runs.
In other half of the 1A bracket, the defending champ Clarksville is in the driver’s seat. They are 2-0 and await the winner of Ft. Dodge St. Edmond and Remsen St. Mary’s who play this morning in an elimination game. The winner between the Gaels and Hawks will have to win three games today to advance to the finals.
Exira EHK Audubon (25-5) meets Edgewood Colesburg (29-10) with the first pitch at 12:45, coverage on KSOM.
