Given an opportunity for heroics, West Liberty’s Pearson Hall delivers

IOWA CITY — Facing an 0-and-2 count, Pearson Hall wanted one more strike.

One more ball to hit. One more opportunity.

At 2-and-2, she got it.

“If she was going to make a mistake and throw a strike, I was going to take advantage,” Hall said of Iowa City Regina pitcher Ashley Webb.

“She threw one a little high and a little wide ... and, yeah.”

Hall’s second home run of the night — and her 14th of the season — came in the top of the seventh inning, putting West Liberty in front to stay, and the Class 3A 15th-ranked Comets shocked 2A No. 1 Regina, 6-4, in a River Valley Conference South Division showdown Thursday night at Regina High School.

The outcome, coupled with Wilton’s win over West Branch, meant Regina (24-8 overall, 14-4 RVC South) and Wilton (27-8, 14-4) share the divisional title and dampened the Regals’ Senior Night.

West Liberty (17-9, 13-5), which took two of three from the Regals this week, finished one game behind the co-champions.

Hall, who also hit a two-run homer in the third inning, wasn’t surprised Regina opted to pitch to her with a runner at second, two outs and first base open in the seventh.

Neither was her coach (and mother), Trisha Hall.

“Not at all,” Coach Hall said. “Webb is a confident pitcher, and should be. I’m just glad Pearson got that chance.”

She did — even with a .570 batting average, 45 runs, 45 RBIs and nary a strikeout all season — and she delivered with a no-doubter.

“I didn’t lose confidence at 0-and-2,” she said.

West Liberty prevailed despite Regina’s 9-4 advantage in hits. The Comets left only two runners on base; the Regals stranded 11.

Hall’s first home run, in the top of the third, marked West Liberty’s first hit and put the Comets up 3-1.

Regina chipped away and took a 4-3 lead when Courtney Kessler raced home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth.

Finley Hall’s solo homer tied it, 4-4, in the sixth.

Trisha Hall has three daughters in the lineup. Finley, a senior, is the catcher. Pearson, a sophomore, plays shortstop. Sully, an eighth-grader, is the center fielder.

“I’m having so much fun,” Trisha said. “I coached all of these girls in junior high. They know how I coach. We’re going to have fun, and I’m going to get on them.”

Dani Laughlin collected three hits for Regina.

West Liberty 6, Iowa City Regina 4

At Iowa City

West Liberty 012 001 2 — 6 4 3

Iowa City Regina 101 200 0 — 4 9 1

Mallory Wulf and Finley Hall. Ashley Webb and Courtney Kessler. W — Wulf (NA). L — Webb (13-6). HR — WL: Pearson Hall 2 (14), F. Hall (5).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com