Creston softball can’t keep up with Winterset

Of all the cliches that can be used in sports, Creston softball experienced one of them Saturday in the 6-3 loss at Winterset in the region 3 semifinal.

One step forward, two steps back.

Although Creston’s only lead was 2-1 in the fifth inning, it appeared whatever the Panthers did afterward, the Huskies doubled their results.

“We had a mix up early and didn’t catch a shallow pop fly. We just didn’t make the play. They got a run early. We are trying to relax and be fun and play through things. But when it’s win or go home, it’s hard to play from behind, especially on the road,” said Creston coach David Hartman.

With two outs in their half of the third, Panther Zoey Vandevender hit a double. Senior Nevaeh Randall was intentionally walked. Daile Keeler then hit a RBI to tie the game at 1. Randall, who had advanced to third, scored on a passed throw from Winterset’s catcher to second base. That gave Creston the 2-1 lead.

Winterset took a 1-0 lead in the first as Creston misplayed a hit to centerfield bringing in Brynn Acton.

“We got dominated the first inning or two at the plate. We were trying to hit everything, not something,” Hartman said. “But they answered with a couple of big runs. That was huge for them.”

With two outs in the their half of the third, Winterset hit consecutive singles. Molly Breeding hit a two-run double for Winterset to regain the lead. Another double by Acton scored Winterset’s fourth run to lead 4-2.

Creston responded in the fourth.

Mila Kuhns hit a single and stole second. Sophie Hagle hit a RBI double to cut the deficit to 4-3. At that point, Winterset changed pitchers from Breeding to Acton and Creston couldn’t do any more. Kuhns had two of the team’s five hits. Creston drew two walks and struck out 13 times.

Again with two outs, Winterset had two on base, one by bunt, as Acton hit a two-run double in the fourth to extend Winterset’s lead to 6-3.

That would be all the scoring the rest of the way; nine combined runs only over two innings.

“Typically, a lot of the time they say if you score in three innings or more you win 98 percent of the time. I think that is pretty accurate,” Hartman said. “In these playoff games, a team that scores first typically wins 80 percent of the time,” Hartman said. “We fought and fought. We just came up short tonight.”

Creston would not be able to make a serious threat to score the rest of the way. Keeler drew a walk in the fifth inning only to be left stranded there. Kuhns had a single in the sixth and didn’t get farther. No one reached base in the seventh. The Panthers finished the season 24-11.

Creston senior Keely Coen replaced starting pitcher Taryn Fredrickson in the sixth inning.

I wanted Keely to finish,” Hartman said. “I wish we could have got her in earlier, we didn’t think she was ready and warmed up. I told her that is hard spot to be in. That takes a lot of character to do it,” Hartman said. “I knew we would need them both to win a state title. Keely came in and did her job.”

Coen said she will always remember the “family atmosphere” of the Creston softball program as that is what she enjoyed most about her playing days. She added the most special moment was the win over Atlantic to get to the state tournament that concluded her freshman year.

Randall leaves the Creston program with most career home runs and in a single season.

“Every time, every season, it was great,” she said about her playing days. She goes on to Grand View to continue to play softball. She is ready to go to the next level.

“Where that takes me and if it takes me farther, I’m happy to play,” she said.

Other seniors leaving the program are Jacy Kralik, Caitlin Bruce and Keeler.

Hartman said his first season was solid.

“We had some goals in front of us and we came up short but they were lofty goals. I’m not ashamed of anything, I really thought defensively at the beginning of the year we were not very good and we got better at the end of the year to stay in games and beat good teams. We put ourselves in a position to do things we wanted to do.”

Winterset (24-12) advances to the region 3 final Tuesday at Indianola (27-11).