Raiderettes outrun Roadrunners

TRURO — Mount Ayr’s softball team notched a rare, their fourth victory in the 14 game series since 2006, over fifth-ranked Interstate 35 on Friday with a 4-2 final score.

“It was a crazy night,” Raiderette head coach Bret Ruggles said. “I told the girls that we didn’t have to play perfect, but we did. You talk about your defense and Jaxy Knight makes two great catches by the third base dugout.”

The Raiderettes (16-9), who were knocked out of the regional semifinals by Interstate 35 last season, were powered by the bat and hand of senior Addy Reynolds. Reynolds hit two home runs and struck out three Roadrunners.

Both teams tallied a run in the first inning, Reynolds hit her first home run of the night on the top half of the inning and Rylie Gardner added a Roadrunner run when Kadence Alery was hit by a pitch.

“Addy pitched a gem,” Ruggles said. “She worked a full count and then absolutely destroyed a ball to right center. It cleared the fence by 15 to 20 feet.”

Neither team scored in the second inning.

Alery was part of the second and final Roadrunner tally when she drove in junior shortstop Josie McCuddin.

Reynolds led off with a single in the top of the fourth inning, and would score on a passed ball.

The fifth inning for both teams was similar, one single, two ground outs, one pop out and zero runs scored, just in a different order for the respective squads.

Reynolds hit her second homer of the night to lead off the Raiderette bats in the top of the sixth inning.

Breya Nickle tried to follow in Reynolds’ spike-steps as best as she could, and connected bat-on-ball for a triple which prompted a mound visit.

SWCC signee Halsie Barnes drove in Nickle on a base hit for the final run in the Class 2A region No. 4 semifinal.

The Roadrunners experienced a three up three down situation in the bottom of the sixth, Alery popped out to Knight, Katie Murphy flew out to Tegan Streit and Cora Keller grounded out.

“Streit had an amazing night,” Ruggles said. “She had four catches that probably changed the game according to three or four runs.”

Streit led off with a single, but Hayden Ruggles and Tabby Henle struck out. Payten Lambert grounded out.

Cadi Carlson flew out to Knight, Rylie Gardner also flew out and Reynolds struck out Grace Knedler.

With the win, the Raiderettes host their first regional final since July 29, 1997, when they hosted Underwood. Tonight, Mount Ayr faces West Central Valley (28-8), first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Mount Ayr hosts, even though the Wildcats have a win percentage advantage of .778 to .640, due to the Raiderettes being 10-0 against the six common opponents the schools have faced. West Central Valley is 5-4 against those common opponents.

“Your first criteria is head-to-head,” Ruggles said. “A great opportunity for our community, a great opportunity for our community and for our girls that we’re going to be hosting a final.”