8th-inning run sends Northwest past Linn-Mar in 5A state softball final

FORT DODGE — Sophia Schlader was spectacular, of course.

She had to be. Simply great wouldn’t have been good enough.

A freshman and the all-tournament captain, Schlader struck out 15, and top-ranked Waukee Northwest outlasted No. 2 Linn-Mar, 1-0, in an eight-inning Class 5A championship thriller at the state softball tournament Thursday night at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“I have to give it all to my team,” Schlader said after Northwest (40-5) earned its second state championship; the other came in 2022.

“They were out there, blocking balls, saving runs. They’re such special people.”

Laurel Richards’ one-out single chased Aunya Van Zetten home from third base in the bottom of the eighth for the lone tally.

It came on the heels of a two-out Linn-Mar rally in the top of the eighth, which ended with the bases loaded.

“We gave everything we had,” Linn-Mar Coach Maddy Colbert said. “We gave ourselves some opportunities. Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way.”

Northwest finished with six hits; Linn-Mar (35-7) had five. Both teams left seven runners on base.

“We did all we could,” said Linn-Mar pitcher Emily Koranda, who likely would have been all-tournament captain had the score been reversed. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from our players and coaches.”

Koranda (19-4) struck out six. The lone run she surrendered was unearned.

“She’s a competitor. Tough as nails,” Colbert said.

If Linn-Mar left with any regrets, they probably would have arose with some baserunning mistakes. In the fifth inning and again in the sixth, the Lions had a runner tagged out in a rundown between third base and home.

Then in the seventh, a double play stemming from an interference call.

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The Lions had another crack at it in the eighth. With two outs, Brynna Gander singled and Hayden Koutny walked.

Northwest elected to walk Koranda and load the bases, a move that ultimately paid off when Schlader followed with her 15th and final strikeout.

“We talked about it before the game, and I trusted (Coach) Carrie (Eby),” said Schlader, who finished 29-1 in the circle this season. “Whatever she wanted to do, I’d go with it.”

“Yeah, probably,” Koranda said, when asked if she’d have done the same thing.

Northwest’s winning rally arose with one out. Van Zetten singled and ran all the way to third when the ball was misplayed in the outfield.

Richards singled on a 1-2 count, and the Wolves were champions.

“It was a great game, really exciting,” Linn-Mar’s Annie Cassidy said. “We came up a little short in the end.”

Koranda, Cassidy, Emma Barnes and Karsyn Michael represented Linn-Mar on the all-tournament team.

Linn-Mar will host a welcome-home celebration at 4 p.m. Friday in the high school cafeteria.

Waukee Northwest 1, Linn-Mar 0 (8)

Class 5A State Final, at Fort Dodge

Linn-Mar 000 000 00 — 0 5 2

Waukee Northwest 000 000 01 — 1 6 3

Emily Koranda and Kaylie Alvey. Sophia Schlader and Kenley Sanger. W — Schlader (29-1). L — Koranda (19-4).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com