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WASHINGTON — If it had to happen, better it happen on Saturday than in the weeks to come.
Third-ranked (3A) Albia, the only Iowa high school softball team in the state that entered the weekend with an unbeaten record, suffered its first loss of the season in a thrilling conclusion to the Eddie Jones Memorial Tournament. Seventh-ranked (3A) Davenport Assumption squeezed in a run in the fourth inning against the Lady Dees for the only run of the game, earning a 1-0 victory on Saturday at Washington High School.
"The main thing is that we have to bounce back and put this behind us," Albia head softball coach Larry Achenbach said. "A loss doesn't define you. What defines you is how you react to that. I think that's what we have to do. We have to come back ready to play this week and be ready to right the ship."
Albia and Assumption put on a battle on Saturday that featured a similar intensity to a state tournament contest. Grace Pence, the state ERA leader (0.22), allowed just her fifth overall run of the season in her 21st overall start in the pitching circle for the Lady Dees when Marissa Boynton's squeeze bunt brought in Madison Edwards from third base. Edwards opened the fourth inning with an infield single and reached third on a line drive by Kathyn Snyder that was dropped in center field by Aliyah Hood.
Albia's best chance to tie or take the lead came in the sixth inning after Zoey Zanoni and Madeline Van Loon opened the frame with back-to-back hits. Assumption freshman pitcher Taylor Williamson responded by forcing a pop up by Addi Hill to third followed by a pair of fly outs to right by Hood and Addie Pearson, ending Albia's best rally.
"When it comes right down to it, they made the plays they needed to do to score and we did not," Achenbach said. "We couldn't get a bunt down with runners at first and second. We had our top hitters up and couldn't get the ball on the ground to move them up or get them in."
Albia improved to a program-best 25-0 on the season earlier in the tournament on Saturday, winning 9-4 over Davenport West. Presley Fisher connected on a team-leading three hits against the Falcons while Brooke Rubel doubled and drove in three runs, supporting Addie Pearson who struck out nine batters over five innings improving to 5-0 on the season.
"This wasn't a conference game. This wasn't a tournament game. Assumption is a really good team. If we had to lose some time, it was better to lose now than during the postseason," Pearson said. "We might see Assumption again at state. If we do, we need to get everything down and working. We're going to come back and we're going to get them."
After returning to South Central Conference play at Knoxville on Monday, the Lady Dees (25-1, 12-0 SCC) returns home to host Chariton on Tuesday for the final conference game of the season. Albia wraps up the regular season on Friday competing against Central Lee and Fairfield in the opening two games of the 53rd Ottumwa Classic at Frank Huston Field.
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Third-ranked (3A) Albia, the only Iowa high school softball team in the state that entered the weekend with an unbeaten record, suffered its first loss of the season in a thrilling conclusion to the Eddie Jones Memorial Tournament. Seventh-ranked (3A) Davenport Assumption squeezed in a run in the fourth inning against the Lady Dees for the only run of the game, earning a 1-0 victory on Saturday at Washington High School.
"The main thing is that we have to bounce back and put this behind us," Albia head softball coach Larry Achenbach said. "A loss doesn't define you. What defines you is how you react to that. I think that's what we have to do. We have to come back ready to play this week and be ready to right the ship."
Albia and Assumption put on a battle on Saturday that featured a similar intensity to a state tournament contest. Grace Pence, the state ERA leader (0.22), allowed just her fifth overall run of the season in her 21st overall start in the pitching circle for the Lady Dees when Marissa Boynton's squeeze bunt brought in Madison Edwards from third base. Edwards opened the fourth inning with an infield single and reached third on a line drive by Kathyn Snyder that was dropped in center field by Aliyah Hood.
Albia's best chance to tie or take the lead came in the sixth inning after Zoey Zanoni and Madeline Van Loon opened the frame with back-to-back hits. Assumption freshman pitcher Taylor Williamson responded by forcing a pop up by Addi Hill to third followed by a pair of fly outs to right by Hood and Addie Pearson, ending Albia's best rally.
"When it comes right down to it, they made the plays they needed to do to score and we did not," Achenbach said. "We couldn't get a bunt down with runners at first and second. We had our top hitters up and couldn't get the ball on the ground to move them up or get them in."
Albia improved to a program-best 25-0 on the season earlier in the tournament on Saturday, winning 9-4 over Davenport West. Presley Fisher connected on a team-leading three hits against the Falcons while Brooke Rubel doubled and drove in three runs, supporting Addie Pearson who struck out nine batters over five innings improving to 5-0 on the season.
"This wasn't a conference game. This wasn't a tournament game. Assumption is a really good team. If we had to lose some time, it was better to lose now than during the postseason," Pearson said. "We might see Assumption again at state. If we do, we need to get everything down and working. We're going to come back and we're going to get them."
After returning to South Central Conference play at Knoxville on Monday, the Lady Dees (25-1, 12-0 SCC) returns home to host Chariton on Tuesday for the final conference game of the season. Albia wraps up the regular season on Friday competing against Central Lee and Fairfield in the opening two games of the 53rd Ottumwa Classic at Frank Huston Field.
Continue reading...
