Linn-Mar uses ‘huge’ 6th inning to advance to state softball for the first time since 2015

ANKENY — Redemption for Grace McCarty came in the form of home run that soared high over the center field fence.

Elation came as it became clear the Linn-Mar centerfielder’s homer had tied Tuesday’s Class 5A regional final with fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.

And the Lions were just getting started.

“We pick each other up,” said McCarty, whose third home run of the season keyed a seven-run half inning that propelled No. 8 Linn-Mar to a 9-4 win — and its first state tournament berth in seven years. “Our coach says we need back-to-back hits and that’s exactly what we do, and that’s exactly what we did that inning.”

Fellow sophomore Kaylee Bunn homered on the first pitch after McCarty’s blast to give the Lions their first lead of the game. It was her second home run of the season and part of a string of five consecutive hits for the Lions (36-4).

“I saw it off the barrel,” said Bunn, who has two home runs this season. “I was looking right at the ball and when I saw that thing shoot out, I was so excited. I was yelling all the way around the bases.”

She wasn’t alone.

Claire Michael drove in Linn-Mar’s sixth run with a sacrifice fly. Anna Streff singled in another run and Emily Koranda — who started the inning with a single — drove two more runs home.

“You’ve got to know coming in we were evenly matched,” said Lions coach Lindsey Murray, who helped lead the school to a runner-up finish as a player in the 2006 state tournament. “It was going to be a battle back and forth and the person who had a big inning was gonna win, and that was on us. It was huge. the bottom of our order came up clutch with back-to-back home runs, but honestly, this was up and down. Team effort.”

Koranda pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Jordyn Beck. The Jaguars loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Koranda struck out the final two batters to defuse the threat.

“It was kind of our game plan to bring them both in and it worked out,” Murray said. “A great game. Hard fought. An awesome outcome.”

Hannah Gralund drove in Linn-Mar’s first two runs with a sharply-hit two-out single in the top of the fifth. Caelynn Obleton and Megan Heidelbauer scored two runs each.

Heidelbauer also helped lift McCarty’s spirits after an error on a low line drive in the bottom of the fifth helped Ankeny take a 4-2 lead. The tough chance hit McCarty’s forearm, which then rippled with pain.

“Megan’s always been there for me,” McCarty said. “She’s one of my best friends. She just came out and gave me a pep talk, helped me get through it.”

Now — thanks in part to McCarty’s home run and the rally it sparked — the Lions are headed back to state for the first time since 2015.

“I’ve wanted this feeling for the girls since I became a head coach at Linn-Mar,” said Murray, who added that one of her assistants, Maddy Ryan played on the Lions’ last state tournament team. “You pour your heart and soul into a program as a kid, and being able to be a head coach is amazing, but then for them to be able to feel what you felt, and the pride for this school and this team? I’m so proud of them.”

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