Photos: North Linn vs. Central Springs, Class 2A Iowa high school state softball semifinals

Lynx return to title game with 8-5 win

Jim Slosiarek Gazette Visuals

Gazette Visuals

Jul. 21, 2021 5:20 pm, Updated: Jul. 22, 2021 8:27 am

No. 2 North Linn beat No. 5 Central Springs 8-5 in a Class 2A state softball semifinal game Wednesday in Fort Dodge.

North Linn's Bryn Collum (16) high fives North Linn's Jill Smith (19) after Collum scored a run during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Central Springs' Emme Dietrich (left) high fives Central Springs head coach Belinda Nelson after Dietrich made a left field catch during their class 2A semifinal game against the North Linn Lynx at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn Lynx players celebrate their class 2A semifinal win over the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Central Springs' Cooper Klaahsen (16) pitches during their class 2A semifinal game against the North Linn Lynx at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Ellie Flanagan (13) pitches during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Jill Smith (19) slaps hands with North Linn Lynx head coach Chad Spore as she heads for home plate after hitting a home run during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Kenzie Bridgewater (10) gets a base hit during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthersat the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Addison Cira (11) is hit with a pitch during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthersat the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Teammates congratulate North Linn's Jill Smith (19) for hitting a home run during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Jill Smith (19) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during their class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Central Springs' Kaylea Fessler (8) reaches for a fly all after stumbling during their class 2A semifinal game against the North Linn Lynx at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

An umbrella goes airborne during their class 2A semifinal game between the North Linn Lynx and the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn's Kenzie Bridgewater (left) collides with Central Springs' Carly Ryan (14) along the base path near third base during their class 2A semifinal game at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

A tent goes airborne during their class 2A semifinal game between the North Linn Lynx and the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Teammates wait to congratulate Central Springs' Madisyn Kelley (12) after she hit an RBI home run during their class 2A semifinal game against the North Linn Lynx at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

North Linn assistant coach Taylor Henderson (center, left) hugs pitcher Ellie Flanagan (center, right) as they celebrate the Lynx's class 2A semifinal game against the Central Springs Panthers at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union 2021 State Softball Tournament at Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. North Linn won 8-5. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)