Estherville Iowa — For the second game in a row it was extra inning heroics that allowed Boyden Hull Rock Valley to advance in the 3A Region 1 Tournament. This time it was a 4-run top of the 8th that broke a 1-1 tie with Estherville Lincoln Central and set the stage for a 5-2 win in 8 innings.
With the win the Nighthawks move on to the Region Finals on Monday in Spirit Lake against an Indians team that downed Sioux Center 10-4 in the other semifinal on Friday night.
Estherville Lincoln Central got on the board first with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Moore led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amara Heinrichs. Moore scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the game.
The Nighthawks answered with a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 1-1. Emma Zoet led off with a bunt single and stole second. A sacrifice bunt by Ellie Woelber moved her to third and Zoet scored when Marissa Pottebaum flared an rbi single to left field. The next two innings were scoreless and the game went into the top of the 8th inning tied at 1-1.
In the 8th Gabi Luevano led off with a double off the glove of the Midgets third baseman that went up the line in left field. Kyler Bomgaars came on to run for Luevano and advanced to third on a bunt attempt by Lizzy Blum. An error left Blum safe at first and Bomgaars scored on the play. After that Brooke Zylstra singled to center to drive in Blum. Jewel Bergstrom followed with a bunt single. Zylstra scored on a sacrifice bunt by Zoet and Bergstrom came in on a single to center by Jenny Luevano. With no further scoring the Nighthawks took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 8th.
Tatum Dunlavy led off with a single up the middle for E-LC. She stole second and on a steal of third was hit by the throw. She came in to score as the ball went into foul territory to cut the lead to 5-2. After that the Nighthawks were able to retire the Midgets in order for a 5-2 win.
Senior Lizzy Blum earned the win going 8 innings. She gave up 2 runs on just 3 hits and struck out 9. 8th grader Tatum Dunlavy took the loss going 8 innings as well. She gave up 6 hits throwing a 2 hitter until the 8th inning. She struck out 7.
With the win BHRV is 13-2 on the year heading into the Region final on Monday. Estherville Lincoln Central who saw 9 games cancelled due to a COVID-19 quarantine end the year at 10-4.
