Jefferson makes its way back to state

CEDAR RAPIDS — For the common team, the situation screamed sacrifice.

But Cedar Rapids Jefferson isn't a common team. When you're stacked with sluggers, you don't give away outs.

'Not with our 3-4-5 hitters,' J-Hawks Coach Brian Erbe said. 'No way. Absolutely not. Not a chance.'

Instead, Emily Oler clubbed a game-breaking two-run home run, and third-ranked Jefferson downed Dubuque Hempstead, 6-2, in a Class 5A softball regional final Tuesday night at Larry Niemeyer Field.

Jefferson (38-4) advances to the state tournament for the 23rd time — its fourth in the last five years under Coach Brian Erbe. The J-Hawks will face No. 6 Urbandale (31-8) in a 5A quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge.

'It feels really good, especially after (a regional-final loss) last year,' senior Avery Guy said. It's great to be back.'

Fort Dodge summers are routine for most of the J-Hawks. Not for Oler, who — with her sister, Erica — transferred from Cedar Rapids Washington two years ago.

'It was scary to come over here, but it's totally worth it now,' Emily Oler said.

Erica Oler was the winning pitcher, improving to 19-3. She gave up seven hits, just one in the final three innings.

Hempstead retired at 24-17. But the Mustangs were right in it for most of the game. It was 2-2 after four innings, before the J-Hawks' bats awoke.

Kaylee Donner singled with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, then Guy followed with a two-out double to the center-field fence for the go-ahead run.

'I've been in somewhat of a slump,' Guy said. 'But I didn't think about it. I just wanted to help the team.'

Guy scored for a 4-2 lead when Liv Erickson's infield grounder was misplayed.

Emily Oler's blast made it 6-2 in the sixth. Kennedy Dighton led off the inning with a double, but Erbe wasn't playing for merely one more run, and Oler complied with her 12th bomb of the season.

'I let the first one go by. I thought the next good one was coming,' she said.

All of the J-Hawks write a word in marker on their left arm before each game.

Oler's pet word is CONFIDENCE.

'I have to have confidence in myself,' she said. 'I had confidence at the plate there, and I went for it.'

Jefferson has hit 65 homers this season, a state record.

Kaylie Springer's RBI double put Hempstead on top in the third inning, then Jefferson came right back with two unearned runs in the bottom half.

With runners at second and third and one out, Erickson hit a deep sacrifice fly to right. Sydney Briney scored easily, then Guy chased her home on a missed cutoff throw.

Jenna Springer's RBI single tied it at 2-all in the fifth, then Jefferson owned the late stages.

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 6, DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD 2

Class 5A Regional Final, at C.R. Jefferson

Dubuque Hempstead 001 100 0 — 2 7 3

C.R. Jefferson 002 022 x — 6 6 0

Julia Meehan and Kayla LaPage. Erica Oler and Hannah Markham. W — Oler (19-3). L — Meehan (7-8). HR — CRJ: Emily Oler (12).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com