116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
'Honest Amber’ lifts Alburnett
Jul. 14, 2014 8:33 pm, Updated: Jul. 15, 2014 12:42 am
CEDAR RAPIDS - Amber Porter was tremendous. And honest.
On her penchant for forcing fly balls:
'Some was the high curveball. Some was the riseball. But I'm not going to lie, some were just missed spots that they popped up.”
On her home run:
'I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed. It felt right. But I honestly think my eyes were closed.”
Porter tossed a seven-hit shutout and poked an insurance-run homer as 15th-ranked Alburnett blanked No. 14 North Cedar, 2-0,in a Class 2A softball regional final Monday night at Larry Niemeyer Field.
One strike away last year before getting their hearts broken by Jesup in the regional final, the Pirates (26-12) got that elusive 21st out this time.
The reward is a trip to the state tournament next week at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge. Alburnett will face No. 5 Eddyville EBF (24-5) at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
'This feels so awesome,” said shortstop Taylor Huber, who drove in the Pirates' first run with a third-inning single. 'We were so close last year and we wanted it so bad.”
North Cedar closed at 20-13. The Knights had their seven hits, but couldn't bunch them together against Porter (14-7). They didn't advance a runner past ssecond base.
'I have a great defense behind me, and I knew they had my back,” Porter said.
The state berth is Alburnett's ninth, its first since 2008.
'This felt like old-fashioned softball,” Alburnett Coach Kevin Johnson said. 'The pitcher throws a goose egg and hits a homer.”
Even if she didn't see it.
Madeline Avery hit a one-out double - about a foot from the top of the left-field fence - in the bottom of the third, then scored on Huber's single to left.
It stayed 1-0 until Porter stroked a fifth-inning liner about 3 feet over the fence in left, her first homer of the season. Then, it was a matter of counting down outs, and, ultimately, celebrating.
Alison Malaby and Olivia Brown had two hits apiece for North Cedar.
ALBURNETT 2, NORTH CEDAR 0 (Class 2A Regional Final)
North Cedar 000 000 0 - 0 7 0
Alburnett 001 010 x - 2 5 0
Olivia Baxa and Meranda Thimmes. Amber Porter and Maddie Volesky. W - Porter (14-7). L - Baxa (19-7). HR - Porter (1).
l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@sourcemedia.net
Alburnett's players celebrate a victory over North Cedar in a Class 2A regional final at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, July 14, 2014. Alburnett won the game 2-0 to qualify for next week's state softball tournament in Fort Dodge. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Alburnett's players cheer Amber Porter (12) back to home plate after she hit a solo home run against North Cedar in a Class 2A regional final at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, July 14, 2014. Alburnett won the game 2-0 to qualify for next week's state softball tournament in Fort Dodge. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Alburnett's Maddison Volesky (3) beats the throw to North Cedar's Jordan Bendixen in a Class 2A regional final at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, July 14, 2014. Alburnett won the game 2-0 to qualify for next week's state softball tournament in Fort Dodge. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Alburnett's Taylor Huber slides safely into 2nd base ahead of the tag by North Cedar's Jordan Bendixen in a Class 2A regional final at the Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Monday, July 14, 2014. Alburnett won the game 2-0 to qualify for next week's state softball tournament in Fort Dodge. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
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