Williamsburg plays a complete game, blanks West Liberty in state softball quarterfinals

Raiders accumulate 14 hits, Peyton Driscoll impresses and the result is a 6-inning, 10-0 stroll

Jul. 20, 2021 3:09 pm, Updated: Jul. 20, 2021 4:22 pm

Williamsburg catcher Carly Campbell (10) lunges for a popup during their Class 3A quarterfinal Tuesday at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge. The Raiders beat West Liberty, 10-0. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

FORT DODGE — The Williamsburg Raiders had no holes in their lineup, no flaws in the field.

Hitting up and down the order, the third-ranked Raiders made a first-round statement, a 10-0 six-inning rout of No. 8 West Liberty in a Class 3A quarterfinal at the state softball tournament Tuesday afternoon at the Rogers Sports Complex.

“We put it all together,” freshman leadoff hitter Shannon Finn said. “I like to get it started, and the rest of us can keep it rolling.”

Here’s how it started, and here’s how it kept rolling:

Finn led off with an infield single. And though she got thrown out attempting to steal, it was a sign of things to come.

Makenna Hughes singled. Carly Campbell followed with an RBI double. Elle Ridgeway drove in another with a single. Jenna Thurm walked. Charlotte Wetjen poked an RBI single. Peyton Driscoll did the same. Rylee Vercande walked.

Eight batters. All reached base. Six of them delivered hits. The Raiders led 4-0.

“We were ready to go,” Williamsburg Coach Adam Berte said. “We came out in the first inning, and we swung the bats really well.”

And they never really stopped. The Raiders (32-10) finished with 14 hits, and all of their runs were earned.

The reward is a semifinal showdown with Wamac Conference rival Mount Vernon. The No. 2 Mustangs (35-4) handled Estherville-Lincoln Central, 7-0.

First pitch is 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Raiders and the Mustangs split a June 7 doubleheader.

Sophomore pitcher Peyton Driscoll, who led the Raiders to a 3A runner-up finish last year, tossed a tidy two-hitter. She struck out just three, but her teammates made all the plays behind her.

“I definitely get better as the season goes along,” Driscoll said. “When I get here, my confidence goes up a lot. We have the motivation to win a state title.”

West Liberty (23-9) threatened early, with two runners on and one out in the top of the first. But Driscoll escaped further trouble, and by the time the Comets came up again, they were down 4-0.

Williamsburg tacked on two runs in the second, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to put this one to bed early.

“They were hitting the ball where it was supposed to go,” Comets pitcher Sailor Hall said. “The strike zone was small, and they took advantage. Kudos to (Driscoll). She threw really well.”

Hitting stars were plentiful for the Raiders. All nine starters reached base at least once, and seven had at least one hit.

Highlights:

· Finn was 3 for 4 and scored twice.

· Campbell was 2 for 3 and knocked in two runs.

· Ridgeway was 2 for 2, also delivered two sacrifice flys and drove in three.

· Wetjen was 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

· Driscoll was 2 for 3 and knocked in a pair.

“We spend a lot of time hitting in practice,” Driscoll said. “We focus on putting the bat on the ball. It will happen. Everyone can hit the ball.”

West Liberty meets ELC (23-9) in a consolation game at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

WILLIAMSBURG 10, WEST LIBERTY 0 (6)

Class 3A State Quarterfinal, at Fort Dodge

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