Boyden Iowa — Boyden Hull Rock Valley put together a 6 run bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 6-2 win over Spirit Lake in the 3A Region 2 Championship Monday night. With the win the second ranked Nighthawks are on to State for the third straight year.
Boyden Hull Rock Valley found themselves down 2-0 to the #11 Indians after four innings. They had also been held hitless by Spirit Lake starter Kelsey Kannenberg. The Nighthawks put together 6 runs on 3 hits 2 errors and a pair of walks.
DH Brianna Kleinwolterink opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a pass ball. An error at first base on a ball put in play by Taylor Richter scored the first run for the Nighthawks as Kleinwolterink came in from third. A sacrifice bunt by Sammy Blum moved Richter over to third. Walks to Cassie Van Beek and Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag loaded the bases. Keely Swanson singled to drive in Richter and tie the game at 2-2. An error on a ball put in play by Joann Luevano allowed Van Beek to score and make it 3-2. A single by Morgan Halbur drove in courtesy runner Charli Bomgaars and Boyden Hull Rock Valley was up 4-2. Pinch hitter Erica Pottebaum drove a ball to right field that scored Swanson and Luevano to make the final score 6-2. Spirit Lake was held scoreless in the top of the seventh inning and the Nighthawks had the win.
Spirit Lake scored a run in the first as Karli Olsen led off the game with a double and later scored from third on a sac fly to center by Josie Fagen. Fagen had the other Indian rbi as well hitting a solo home run to left field to open the top half of the fourth inning.
Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag got the win going 7 innings. She scattered 3 hits giving up 2 runs. She struck out 9 and walked 4. Kelsey Kannenberg took the loss giving up just 3 hits in the contest. She walked 4 and struck out 5 batters.
With the win Boyden Hull Rock Valley is on to the State Tournament with a 32-2 record. Spirit Lake ends the year at 26-9 as the Lakes Conference Champions.
