Williamsburg fights past PCM, reaches its 5th straight 3A state softball semifinal

FORT DODGE — That wasn’t Peyton Driscoll firing a series of zeros in succession.

No, that was Jersey Metz.

And yes, that’s Williamsburg back in the Class 3A state semifinals. Again.

With the second-ranked Raiders facing an early 3-1 deficit, Metz held No. 8 Monroe PCM in place for the final five innings, and the Williamsburg bats eventually came around. The Raiders won Monday’s 3A state quarterfinal, 8-3, at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“I was adjusting to the strike zone,” said Metz (21-6), a sophomore. “It was a big adjustment to me.

“I’d never pitched at the state tournament before. I wanted to be over the plate, but not too much over it.”

Williamsburg (31-12) advances to the 3A semifinals for the fifth consecutive year and has a Wednesday afternoon date with No. 3 Dubuque Wahlert (30-12), a 9-8, eight-inning winner over Sumner-Fredericksburg.

First pitch is scheduled for 2:30.

The Raiders finished second in 2020, placed third in 2021 and 2022, then won it all last season. Driscoll was in the circle for each of those four teams.

Now, it’s Metz’s turn in the middle of the action. And after the first two innings, in which PCM (24-5) racked up six hits, she was dynamite.

The Mustangs managed only two more baserunners the rest of the way ... and no hits.

“I knew that if I could spin the ball, everything would be fine,” she said.

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Still, down 3-1 after two innings, the Raiders needed runs to rally.

“There have been times we’ve been down way more than that, and we’ve been able to pull it out,” Taylor Pitlick said.

Shannon Finn led off the bottom of the third inning with a double, then Carly Rich followed with a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed for an error and a run.

Alley Gorsh’s sacrifice bunt got the Raiders back even at 3-3.

Williamsburg took the lead for good in the fifth.

Pitlick’s double plated Rich, who had led off with a walk. Then, with one out, Taylor Sanchez’s drive to deep right field went off a glove, off the top of the fence, then over for a two-run home run and some breathing room at 6-3.

“I saw it go off her glove,” Sanchez said. “I should send a thank-you card.

“We play great competition all year, and that helps us get ready for big moments like this.”

Rich’s fielder’s choice chased home two more runs in the sixth.

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Photos: Williamsburg vs. PCM in Class 3A state softball quarterfinals

So ... five straight years in the semifinals. How does that happen? And what does that mean?

“I think it means we play pretty good softball,” Coach Adam Berte said. “The girls work hard, and they meet the challenge to play well when it matters most.

“We have talented kids for sure, that can do different things. But you’ve got to prove it every year.”

Finn and Pitlick had two hits apiece for the Raiders. Lark Drake and Addison Steenhoek each had two for PCM.

Williamsburg 8, Prairie City-Monroe 3

Class 3A State Quarterfinal, at Fort Dodge

PCM 030 000 0 — 3 6 2

Williamsburg 102 032 x — 8 9 3

Rylee Parsons, Camden Webb (4) and Addison Steenhoek. Jersey Metz and Ashlynn Fuhrman. W — Metz (21-6). L — Webb (7-2). HR — Wmsbg: Taylor Sanchez (3).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com