Dubuque Senior outlasts Linn-Mar in extra-inning thriller

MARION - The Linn-Mar Lions roared and then they scratched and clawed.But, it wasn't enough to overcome Mississippi Valley Conference foe Dubuque Senior.The Rams scored three runs in the top of the 10th to claim a 9-6 Class 5A Region 4 softball semifinal victory over Linn-Mar Saturday night at Linn-Mar.Dubuque Senior (34-6) took advantage of two Lions errors and received a two-run by Kristie Sommer to move within a win of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament. The Lions gave the Rams too many chances, a sign of a young team that Linn-Mar Coach Jon Harms said will come back stronger next year.“We just gave them too many opportunities and let them in,” Linn-Mar Coach Jon Harms said. “Just not being able to make plays and not give them extra outs and that's what we did.“We allowed them to get back in the game, and that's sometimes how it goes.”The Rams fell into a big hole early but steadily battled back in the game. Senior answered a big first inning with three in the second, powered by Liz Reuter's two-run single. Reuter later scored on Katie Sommer's single, pulling the Rams within two.Sydney Tigges and Reuter tied the game 5-5 in the fifth. Tigges nailed a solo home run to center, while Reuter added an RBI single.The Lions threatened in the bottom of the seventh, placing the go-ahead run at second. Maggie Rizor hit a base hit to right but Haley Zenner threw out Kelsey Duggan at the plate to force extra innings and eventually winning.“We really wanted to win that one,” Linn-Mar's Maggie Rizor said. “I don't think we really gave up. We kept fighting.”Linn-Mar showed heart, battling until the end.“We made a lot of progress on that the second half of the year,” Harms said. “That's good they are taking to heart some of the things that we tell them.“I was really happy with what I saw on that end of it. It's a shame we came up short.”Linn-Mar stayed alive in the ninth, when they fell behind 6-5 on Zenner's solo home run over the left center field fence. Down to their final out, they rallied. Kortlan Ollinger and Kelsey Duggan had consecutive singles and Alexis Kelsey loaded the bases with a walk, bringing up cleanup hitter Maggie Rizor, who hit a single to right field, sending the game to the 10th.The Lions exploded for their first five runs in the opening inning. The big blow came from Rizor, who blasted a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence, scoring Kortlan Ollinger and Alexis Kelsey for a 3-0 lead.Linn-Mar kept the offense rolling when Lauren Swanson hit a two-run single just out of reach of Zenner's glove, chasing Maddy Ryan and Georgia Kolf home to end their scoring until the ninth.“We all felt confident up there,” Rizor said. “We just couldn't come around.”Rizor powered the Lions, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a run. Rizor, and her twin sister Ellie Rizor, who has been out due to a shoulder injury, are moving to Minnesota later this summer. Harms praised her heart and her desire to compete at a high level, knowing her career at Linn-Mar was coming to a close.“She's an awesome kid,” Harms said. “She had a great game tonight, and it would have been nice to keep her to continue to play for us.”Rizor was emotional, as were many of the Lions, after the game. Not only was the end of the season tough to swallow, but it also means an end of an era at Linn-Mar for her and her sister."We're also saying goodbye to our team," Rizor said. "We had a lot of good times with them and really grew this year. It's hard to stop growing with them and end it here for us."Linn-Mar finished the season 22-18. The loss spoiled Linn-Mar's last game at this diamond. The school is building a new complex that should be operational next year. The players paid homage by leaving their shoes at home plate and even gathering some dirt as a keepsake.“We wanted to make sure we recognized all those kids over the years that gave up their summers to play softball for Linn-Mar,” Harms said. “We wanted to recognize them in a way in a fitting tribute for the families that support them.”Senior will face fifth-ranked Pleasant Valley in the regional championship game Tuesday at Pleasant Valley, starting at 5:30 p.m. Pleasant Valley beat Bettendorf, 11-1, in six innings Saturday.