5th place: Jefferson tops Prairie

FORT DODGE -- Alyssa Olson ventured into new territory Wednesday. Two games in one day.She handled it like a champ.Olson pitched an eight-strikeout two-hitter as Cedar Rapids Jefferson finished fifth the Class 5A portion of the state softball tournament, defeating Cedar Rapids Prairie, 4-1, at the Rogers Sports Complex.The J-Hawks (33-12) defeated West Des Moines Valley, 2-1, earlier in the day."I iced between games, and I stretched a lot before the second one," Olson said. "I think the break between games helped."Maddie Hansen hit a two-run single in the third inning, then Erin Kuba added a two-run hit in the sixth.Hansen finished the season with 69 RBIs, and Jefferson had its highest state finish since 2008."We had a great season," Hansen said. "Everybody kind of underestimated us. This is what we worked for."Olivia Usher drove in Mallory Jones in the fourth inning for Prairie's lone run. The Hawks concluded their first state appearance at 29-16."The season was great. I'm proud of our kids," Prairie coach Joe Yegge said. "It's something special for these kids to be part of a first trip to state."Both teams won their consolation semifinals in extra innings.Jefferson beat Valley when Dani Stromert singled home Savannah Fowler in the bottom of the eighth. Stromert slapped the ball through the infield to score Fowler from second.Kuba homered for the J-Hawks.Prairie outlasted Dubuque Senior, 5-4, in 11 innings.Senior took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 11th, but Natalie Rumer got the Hawks even with a double, then Aly O'Brian's bases-loaded walk won the game.Elsewhere in Wednesday's consolation play:* Karly Olson hit a grand slam as Winterset beat Solon, 7-4, in the 4A fifth-place game. The Spartans defeated Waverly-Shell Rock, 10-0, earlier in the day.* Mid-Prairie used a four-run fourth inning to defeat Estherville-Lincoln Central, 6-2, in the 3A fifth-place game. The Golden Hawks beat East Marshall, 8-3, in the morning.* Monticello finished seventh in 3A, edging East Marshall, 7-6, in eight innings. The Panthers lost to ELC, 11-5, earlier in the day.* Kelsey Lough picked up her 140th career win as Jesup beat Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 4-3, for fifth place in Class 2A. The J-Hawks beat Iowa City Regina, 2-0, in the consolation semifinals.* Regina salvaged seventh place with a 5-2 win over Lawton-Bronson.