‘We don’t want to be done here yet:’ Jefferson topples Prairie in 5A softball regional semifinal

CEDAR RAPIDS — In about six weeks, they’ll be enrolled at Coe College.

For now, Morgan Hewitt and Ava Erger are intent on ending their high school athletics careers with a big bang.

“We don’t want to be done here yet,” Erger said. “We have stuff yet to do.”

Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s veterans played with urgency, and the J-Hawks toppled No. 13 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 3-1, in a Class 5A softball regional quarterfinal Saturday night at Prairie High School.

“We had a great approach at the plate, and the whole team bought into the scouting concept and played so well,” Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba said.

The J-Hawks (16-24) advanced to Tuesday’s regional final at West Des Moines Dowling (14-18), a 12-4 upset winner over No. 6 Johnston.

Win that, and Jefferson advances to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.

“This whole season, we’ve been known as a dark horse,” Erger said. “We want to show everyone what we’ve got.”

Prairie retired at 23-18. The Hawks swept Jefferson on opening night, back in May.

This time, Hewitt (12-13) limited the Hawks to five hits, only one in the final four innings.

“After last time, we had to come up with something different,” she said. “They hit off us pretty well last time. We had to trust the pitch-calling.”

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Meanwhile, All three of Hewitt’s plate appearances played a prominent role in the J-Hawks’ scoring.

Sophia Kevitt led off the game with a single, moved to second on Erger’s sacrifice bunt and to third on Hewitt’s flyout to right field.

Kevitt scored when Lulu Ulrich’s grounder was misplayed for a 1-0 Jefferson lead.

Prairie got even on Emeri Hill’s RBI single with one out in the bottom of the first, but missed a big chance to score more, failing to convert on a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity.

Hewitt doubled home Erger in the third, then led off the sixth with another two-base hit. She scored on Ady Sacora’s single.

The Hawks’ last good opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth.

Two Jefferson errors put a pair of runners aboard with one out, but Erger’s diving catch of a liner ended the threat.

The J-Hawks’ shortstop, Erger was money on her six defensive opportunities.

“What was nice, when somebody made a mistake, we were able to flush it,” Kuba said. “All of the girls had some great pick-me-ups.”

Hewitt and Erger both will play softball at Coe. Erger plans to give basketball a go, too.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 3, Cedar Rapids Prairie 1

Class 5A Regional Semifinal, at C.R. Prairie

C.R. Jefferson 101 001 0 — 3 7 3

C.R. Prairie 100 000 0 — 1 5 1

Morgan Hewitt and Kayleigh Faulkner. Tatum Goerdt and Lola Hawkins. W — Hewitt (12-13). L — Goerdt (10-9).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com