Williamsburg bunts Albia dizzy, rolls in a 3A state softball quarterfinal

FORT DODGE — Adam Berte’s philosophy on the bunt game?

“Do it until they stop it,” he said.

Albia couldn’t stop it.

Top-ranked Williamsburg mixed in a big dose of small ball with its capable cast of sluggers and routed No. 12 Albia, 11-1, in a six-inning Class 3A quarterfinal at the state softball tournament Monday night at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“It kind of depends on the pitcher, and where the defense is playing,” Shannon Finn said. “We see how they field it first.”

The Raiders (34-9) advance to the semifinal round for the fourth consecutive year. They’ll face No. 5 Estherville-Lincoln Central (32-3) at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

ELC knocked off No. 4 Davis County, 11-3, Monday.

You wouldn’t know it by the final score, but there was a crossroads in this game.

Williamsburg led 4-1 in the top of the third inning, but Albia (21-9) had the bases loaded with no outs.

Berte, the Raiders’ coach, went out to talk to the team. Jersey Metz warmed up in the bullpen.

“You don’t want to take somebody like Peyton (Driscoll) out, and I probably wouldn’t have done it unless (Albia) took the lead,” Berte said. “She wasn’t hitting her spots.”

Driscoll (17-3) regained her mojo after the mound visit, retiring the next three batters (two via strikeout), and she went on to set down the final 12 hitters she faced.

“I told myself, ‘no more runners,’” said Driscoll, who surrendered four early hits and finished with nine strikeouts and one walk. “I had so much adrenaline from that point on.”

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Photos: Williamsburg vs. Albia in state softball quarterfinals

Albia scored first, on Ashley Beary’s solo home run with two outs in the top of the first inning.

Williamsburg answered quickly.

Finn singled, then stole second and third base. Carly Rich knocked her in.

Jenna Thurm’s sacrifice bunt scored the second run. A bunt single by Alley Gorsh tallied another. Then it was Driscoll’s RBI single for a 4-1 Raiders advantage.

The Raiders tacked on five runs, with the bunt the big weapon, in the fourth. In one stretch, five straight batters bunted with positive results.

“Do it until they stop it,” and Albia couldn’t.

An RBI double by Rich and a run-scoring single by Gorsh ended the game in the sixth.

Rich was 3-for-4, scored three runs and knocked in three more.

“I was confident and patient,” she said. “I know I can hit the ball.”

Finn scored three times. Thurm and Gorsh drove in two apiece. And the Raiders finished with 13 hits.

Four straight trips to the 3A semifinals: “It’s a testament to the girls,” Berte said. “They invest a lot of time.

“To do this four years in a row, without slipping up, that’s impressive.”

But the Raiders didn’t come this far, just to come this far.

“See you Friday,” Driscoll said, referring to the date of the 3A championship game.

Williamsburg 11, Albia 1

Class 3A State Quarterfinal, at Fort Dodge

Albia 100 000 — 1 4 1

Williamsburg 400 502 — 11 13 0

Addy Halstead, Grace Bence (4) and Sydney Hoskins. Peyton Driscoll and Jenna Thurm. W — Driscoll (17-3). L — Halstead (13-8). HR — ALB: Ashley Beary (5).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com