State softball roundup: Newton wins after decades-long lapse
FORT DODGE, Ia. — Emily Valtman hit a walk-off solo home run to give Newton a successful return to the state softball tournament.
Valtman blasted a one-out homer and Newton beat Cedar Rapids Xavier, 1-0, in a Class 4A state quarterfinal Tuesday at Rogers Sports Complex.
Newton had previously reached the state summer tournament once, in 1983, when the team finished fourth. The Cardinals also played in the 1986 fall tournament.
Peyton Maher threw a three-hit shutout for Newton (25-7).
Xavier's Maria Steffen allowed five hits for her team, which fell to 25-17.
Newton will play in a semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday against ADM of Adel.
CLASS 5A
Pleasant Valley 4, Iowa City High 0
Ellie Spelhaug and Alexia Lara combined to throw a three-hit shutout. The defending state champs advanced to a semifinal, and Emily Wood had three of her team's nine hits.
Indianola 4, Dubuque Hempstead 1
Sydney Sickles threw a one-hitter against first-time state qualifier Hempstead.
Indianola trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring all four of its runs.
Sickles improved her record to 25-1 this season.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3, Fort Dodge 1
Lindsey Culver smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning for the victory.
In the eighth, Kaylee Donner singled. Culver followed with a homer over the center field fence.
Jefferson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Fort Dodge tied it in the third.
CLASS 4A
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 3, Independence 2
Bradee Bouman threw a six-hitter and Madelyn Mogensen singled in Chloe Black with the game-winning run in the sixth inning.
CLASS 3A
Albia 10, Spirit Lake 0 (5 innings)
The second-seeded Lady Dees made quick work of Spirit Lake on Tuesday morning. Albia led 4-0 after two innings and 7-0 entering the fifth, where a three-run single to the fence from Alex Beard sealed the mercy-rule victory.
Roland-Story 6, Waterloo Columbus 1
A five-run third inning lifted the sixth-seeded Norse to an upset victory over Waterloo Columbus, which suffered just its third loss of the season. Jenna Clark and Hailey Louw both batted in two runs.
CONSOLATION GAMES
CLASS 3A
Benton (Van Horne) 8, Atlantic 1
CLASS 2A
Logan-Magnolia 4, Wilton 3
Earlham 15, Alta-Aurelia 3
CLASS 1A
Newell-Fonda 14, Martensdale-St. Marys 10
Janesville 7, New London 0