Iowa City Regina knocks off No. 1 Central Springs to reach 2A state softball title game

Iowa City Regina Regals Emma Nibaur (29) cheers on her teammate Iowa City Regina Regals Laci Chambliss (42) as she runs into home and gets a run for the Regals to bring the score to 3-2 in the fourth inning of the game against Central Springs during the 2A state semifinals at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

FORT DODGE — It’s dangerous to let any underdog hang around at the state softball tournament.

Doing it against Iowa City Regina is extremely dangerous.

The Regals showed once again why they can never be counted out, stunning top-ranked Central Springs here in a Class 2A semifinal Wednesday evening, 7-4.

Up next for No. 4 Iowa City Regina will be seventh-ranked Wilton, which upset No. 2 North Union in the other semifinal. First-pitch is set for 5 p.m. Friday night at Rogers Park.

After allowing a pair of solo home runs in the first, the Regals finally solved Cooper Klaahsen in the fourth. Courtney Kessler singled, Emma Nibaur reached on an error and Kennedy Connor drove in Kessler.

Junior Jillian Panther delivered a two-RBI single on a 3-2 pitch to put Regina ahead.

» State softball photos: Iowa City Regina vs. Central Springs

The inning before, the Regal defense turned a double-play to get out of a situation, which sparked the offensive effort at the plate.

“We could definitely feel the momentum going in our favor,” Panther said. “Our dugout does a great job of keeping us hyped and we knew we just had to execute.

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“Once we had that big inning, we knew we could continue to get hits.”

In the bottom of the fourth, Nibaur struck out the No. 2 hitter for Central Springs with the bases loaded to escape a jam. She helped her own cause in the fifth with a two-RBI single, as a third run came across after a fielding error.

“We just have to have fun and we’ll play well,” Regina Coach Angela Kessler said. “The girls are always full of energy and I know we’ll have that going (Friday night).”

Central Springs cut into the deficit with a couple runs in the fifth, but Regina escaped without any further damage as the Panthers stranded runners on second and third.

Nibaur finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Panther drove in three and had two hits. Kessler scored twice.

Iowa City Regina will be looking to secure its fourth state title Friday night.