Mustangs To Play For Region Softball Title

Date posted - July 6, 2012

A two run top of the sixth inning was the difference as George Little Rock Central Lyon turned back Boyden Hull Rock Valley 5-4 at Centennial Park in Boyden. The two teams were matched in the upper bracket semifinal of Class 3A Region 1. With the win the Mustangs will go against Estherville Lincoln Central Monday night in Sheldon for a trip to the State Tournament. The Midgets posted a 3-0 home win over Humboldt in the other semifinal Friday night.

The Mustangs got on the board first as Keeley Kruse led off the second inning with a single and came in to score on a single to left by Morgan Herda.

George Little Rock Central Lyon made it 2-0 in the top of the third as Jessica Hilbrands opened with a single and scored on an rbi single to the left side of the infield off the bat of Kruse.

In the bottom of the fifth Boyden Hull Rock Valley put three runs on the board to take a 3-2 lead. Nicole Reinke opened with a single with Whitney Vander Maten reaching on an error. A wide throw at first sent the ball into right field and both were able to score. The Nighthawks moved ahead as Nicole Ewoldt single and later scored on a sac fly by Cassidy Van Voorst.

The Mustangs regained the lead with a two run 6th inning. Herda reached on a single and later scored on a throwing error at first on a ball put in play by Kelsey Ackerman who moved to third on the play. Lexi Ackerman plated Kelsey with a sac fly to right field and the Mustangs took a 5-3 lead and held the Nighthawks scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

The Mustangs got an important insurance run in the top of the seventh as Kruse singled and later scored on a single to right field off the bat of Taylor Carstensen.

Boyden Hull Rock Valley got a run back in the bottom of the seventh inning as Ewoldt doubled to open the inning and scored from third on a sac fly to center by Van Voorst to make it 5-4 with two outs. The Mustangs were able to get the final out and post the 5-4 win.

Abby Eben went the distance for the win giving up 4 runs on 5 hits with 2 runs earned. She struck out 8 and walked 2.

C.J. Vander Zwaag was tagged with the loss in relief of Joanna Heemstra who left after 4 innings with the Nighthawks down 2-0. Heemstra scattered 8 hits and struck out 2. Vander Zwaag went the final three innings giving up 3 runs on just 3 hits and walked 2.

With the win George Little Rock Central Lyon improves to 22-8 on the year while the Nighthawks wrap up the year as the Siouxland Conference Champions posting a 24-8 mark.

We’ll bring you the broadcast Monday night as the Mustangs go against Estherville Lincoln Central for the Region title and a State Tournament berth. Pregame will come your way at 6:50 with first pitch at 7:00.