Solon downs PCM for fifth straight regional championship

GRINNELL – It takes as close as it gets to a perfect effort to beat Solon.

The top-ranked Spartans proved that when they weren't at their best in a 5-1 victory over Monroe PCM in a Class 3A regional final Monday night.

PCM was unranked and undaunted, but committed a few too many defensive errors and left a few too many runners in scoring position.

'These guys are a little spoiled with games we've been winning by 10-plus runs forever and ever,” Solon coach Jim White said. 'It was good for us, I hope.”

Solon (39-3) will make its fifth straight state tournament appearance next Tuesday when it takes on Clarke (20-17) at 1:30 p.m.

Emily Ira struggled with an inconsistent strike zone, but gave up just two hits and a run while striking out 14.

'That's how it's going to be at state. I had to get used to it,” Ira said. 'I knew that it wasn't going to be the best, so I just had to work with it and do what I know best. Just keep throwing.”

Her wild pitch scored PCM's Jayci Vos and tied the score in the second. Ira responded by doubling home Sydney Lawson for an unearned run in the next half inning.

Jess Heick added an RBI single later that inning, and the Spartans scored on an error in the fourth and an unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

After winning their first two regional games by a combined 25-2, Solon's typically outstanding bats weren't quite up to par, but still plenty good enough.

'It always feels good to have good hits and that always helps on the mound,” Ira said. 'I feel confident when I start getting hits and when everything starts to come together.”

PCM left the bases loaded in the third and two on in the fifth. After that, Ira struck out four of the last seven batters.

'I barked a little more than I usually do,” White said. 'I think that was getting to Em, too, because she was getting frustrated.

'I thought the last two, three innings, you could tell she was gonna do whatever she needed to do to win it.”

Ira provided a similar assessment.

'At the beginning, I wasn't getting frustrated, I just couldn't find it right away,” she said. 'Once I started believing in myself and just saying that I've got to pitch my game, then it started to work and it started to all go together.”

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