Boyden Iowa — #11 Boyden Hull Rock Valley scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to set the tone for a 5-3 win over #10 Sioux Center Friday night. The semifinal win sets up a meeting with #7 Sergeant Bluff Luton Monday night in Sergeant Bluff for the 3A Region 1 title and a trip to the State Tournament. The Nighthawks are looking to get back after earning their first State Tournament softball berth a year ago. In Sergeant Bluff Friday night the Warriors posted a 5-1 win over Cherokee.
The Nighthawks put three on the board in the first inning as Sam Blum singled, and moved to second on a bunt single by Cassie Van Beek. Both would score on a three run homer to straight away center field by Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag.
Sioux Center made it 3-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Mandy Sitzman walked and moved to third on a double by Camryn Cleveringa. Sitzman came in to score on a single by Sydney Gesink. On the play Cleveringa was gunned down at the plate.
In the fourth the Nighthawks got a run back as Keely Swanson opened the half inning with a double. A sacrifice bunt by Joanne Luevano moved the runner to third and the run came in on a ground ball to the right side of the infield by Sam Greene to make it 4-2.
Sioux Center made it 4-3 with a run in the top of the 5th as Cleveringa drilled a solo home run over the fence in left.
Boyden Hull got the run back in the home half of the 5th as Taylor Richter reached on an error and later scored from third on a ground out to the right side of the infield by Cassie Van Beek to make the final 5-3.
Kaitllyn Van Der Zwaag went the distance for the win. She gave up 5 hits, struck out 8 and walked just 1. Hannah Dykshorn took the loss going 6 innings scattering 6 hits, and walking 3. With the win Boyden Hull Rock Valley improves to 24-7 on the season. Sioux Center finishes at 19-10. The Nighthawks are on to the Region 1 Championship game Monday at Sergeant Bluff. We’ll bring you the coverage on KIWA FM 105.3 with pregame at 6:50 with first pitch at 7:00. We’ll stream from the website as www.kiwaradio.com.
