Solon hitters bang out a record

FORT DODGE - Jim White had that queasy, uneasy feeling once again.

'When the pairings came out, honestly, I thought I was going to throw up,” he said.

Monday, his team's bats put his stomach to rest.

Third-ranked Solon posted an all-time state-tournament record with 21 hits in a 15-4 victory over Clear Creek Amana in a Class 4A quarterfinal full of storylines at the Rogers Sports Complex.

'We're a team that, once one person hits it, we hit and hit and hit,” said Ali Herdliska, whose three hits included a home run.

The Spartans (38-2) advance to face No. 4 Carlisle (34-2) in a semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Wildcats beat No. 13 Oskaloosa, 7-2, Monday.

They wiped away the bitter memory of a shocking first-round loss last year to Washington (Iowa). And, for this year at least, they left behind a rivalry with the Clippers (22-18), which continues to be awkward, to say the least.

White coached at CCA for 18 highly successsul seasons, which included six state championships. That run ended after the 2012 season, when he took the job at archrival Solon. A handful of players followed him, including current starters Mallory Madsen and Riley Ogden.

'It's like I said when I made my decision ... it's a decision I have to live with,” White said. 'I was thrilled that (CCA) made it here.”

Herdliska said, 'When we saw the pairings, we all kind of laughed. Of course, that would happen to us.

'It was just more motivation to come out strong.”

Hitting stars were everywhere for the Spartans. Emily Ira wasn't her normal dominant self in the pitching circle, but more than made up for it with a 4-for-5, four-RBI performance. Taylor Nearad was 4-for-5 and scored four times. Monika Bevans joined Herdliska with three hits.

'We really wanted to get on top of the ball,” Nearad said.

West Des Moines Dowling (1992, vs Ottumwa) and Missouri Valley (2011, vs. Central Springs) held the old record for hits in a game, with 19.

The Spartans jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the first, but CCA had a brief window of opportunity, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first.

It came away empty.

'You've got to score in that situation,” CCA Coach Barb Lynn said. 'This is Fort Dodge. You've got to put the ball in play. That could have given us a lot of momentum right there.”

The Clippers had nine hits of their own.

'I think the humidity really played a factor,” White said. 'Ira and (CCA pitcher Lexi) Kinnaird both generally create a lot of movement, and both were pretty flat with their pitches today. The air was so heavy.”

CCA plays its consolation semifinal at 10 a.m. Wednesday against Oskaloosa (29-10). The fifth- and seventh-place games are at 2 p.m.

SOLON 15, CLEAR CREEK AMANA 4 (Class 4A Quarterfinal)

Solon 104 215 2 - 15 21 2

Clear Creek Amana 001 021 0 - 4 9 1

Emily Ira and Monika Bevans. Lexi Kinnaird and Eden Campbell. W - Ira (22-1). L - Kinnaird (18-8). HR - SOL: Herdliska (7), CCA: Neubauer (6).

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