Gardner’s homer, Lehman’s pitching lift Iowa City Regina back to state

DYERSVILLE - Paisley Gardner launched a three-run homer in the second inning and Sarah Lehman struck out 13 in a two-hit shutout as No. 8 Iowa City Regina beat No. 7 Dyersville Beckman, 5-0, in a 2A regional final Monday night at Beckman High School.

Gardner - the No. 8 hitter - entered the game hitting just .227.

'I did not think I would do that,” Gardner said. 'I thought I would hit a pop fly or a ground ball, not a home run over the fence.”

As a result, and because of Lehman's arm, the Regals get a chance to avenge some disappointment.

Regina (27-11-1) lost to Durant in last season's Class 2A state championship game after defeating Cascade for the 2015 title.

'We definitely have unfinished business and we all have that in the backs of our minds,” said Lehman, who recorded the win in the 2015 title game. 'We're going to do some damage. We're going to get this. Going out with a bang our senior years. Me and Emma (Corkery) have had this on our minds the whole season and we're just ready to get back there.”

Beckman (30-12) was trying to reach Fort Dodge for the first time in program history. It was the first time Blazers Coach Tom Tegeler can recall Beckman hosting a regional final.

'I told (the players) in the huddle, you got us here. We've got to learn from this, but use this to fuel next year,” Tegeler said. 'We're going to get there, it's only a matter of time.”

Lehman struck out seven over the first three innings. She retired the final 11 batters of the game.

'We're not used to seeing that variety of pitches,” Tegeler said.

The Regals added a two runs on Carrigan O'Conner's single and Jessica Hunter's double in the sixth.