Sheldon, Iowa — A 7 run 6th inning propelled the Sheldon Orab softball team to a 13-8 win over Algona Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of Class 3A’s Region 1.
With the win it’s on to the semis on Friday in Sioux Center against the Warriors who downed George Little Rock Central Lyon 9-2 on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs went up 3-0 in the first inning as Lily Elsbecker and Tora Solbach reached and scored. Moriah Knapp dove in a run with a sac fly before Lillian Etherington singled and scored on an error.
Sheldon answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the first. Makenna Kleinhesselink tripled and scored on a safety squeeze laid down by Emma Barwick. Tori Elgersma tripled and scored on a pass ball to cut the lead to 3-2.
Sheldon went up 4-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Reese Strouth and Makenna Kieinhesselink had back to back singles and scored on a 2 run triple to the left field corner by Barwick.
Algona went up 5-4 with a pair of runs in the third. Knapp led off with a double and scored on a double by Etherington. Etherington later scored on an error to give the Bulldogs a lead they held until the bottom of the 6th.
A 2 run homer to left by Olivia Rochleau scored Knapp who had singled ahead of her and Algona was up 7-4.
Sheldon got a run in the 5th as Barwick led off the inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch.
Algona got the run back in the top of the 6th as Elsbecker walked and scored on a ball put in play by Etherington. Sheldon avoided a big inning by the Bulldogs with a double play and a runner picked off third to end the threat.
The Orabs batted around in the bottom of the six inning as they plated 7 runs. Kourtney Dekker who had been hit in the stomach by a line drive stayed in the finish the 6th on the mound and then tripled to right to start the rally. Strouth would reach and score followed by Makenna Kleinhesselink, Barwick, Elgersma, Lode and Claire Johnson. The inning was highlighted by a 2 run triple by Barwick and rbi’s from Elgersma and Johnson. When the inning came to a close Sheldon was up 13-8.
Dekker retired Algona in order with a pair of strike outs in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Dekker got the win scattering 9 hits. She walked 2 and struck out 9. Ryan Haynes took the loss. she gave up 13 hits and walked 6 while striking out 6 in the contest.
With the win Sheldon is 19-3 on the season. Algona ends the year at 13-12. Sheldon will meet the Warriors in Sioux Center on Friday in the Region semifinals.
