HIGH SCHOOL

State softball roundup: Newton wins after decades-long lapse

Cody Goodwin John Naughton
The Des Moines Register

Newton's Payton Maher at bat during the state softball quarterfinal between Newton and Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

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).

Newton's Payton Maher pitches the ball during the state softball quarterfinal between Newton and Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

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.

Indianola's Sydney Sickels pitches during the state softball quarterfinal between Indianola and Dubuque Hempstead on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

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

Indianola's Sydney Sickels at bat during the state softball quarterfinal between Indianola and Dubuque Hempstead on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.