No. 1 Assumption rolls to 3A state softball title game

FORT DODGE — It would have taken a near-perfect effort to derail this train.

Instead, Center Point-Urbana fed it a little extra coal with some early errors. And the Davenport Assumption express rolls on.

Top-ranked Assumption scored at least one run in the first six innings and handled No. 7 CPU, 9-1, in a Class 3A semifinal at the state softball tournament Thursday afternoon at the Rogers Sports Complex.

'They were definitely very solid, all around,' CPU's Claire Chandler said.

Last year's 3A runner-up, Assumpton (43-1) won its 43rd consecutive game after a season-opening loss to Moline (Ill.). The Knights will face No. 9 Albia (30-8) for the championship at 7:09 Friday night.

Assumption pitcher Nicole Timmons (24-0) struck out 10 in five innings of work and extended her season total to 301.

'I just did what I know how to do,' Timmons said. 'Everybody said that (CPU) had really, really good hitters, and I just wanted to do what I've been doing.'

The Stormin' Pointers got a tally off Timmons in the bottom of the first inning, snapping Assumption's postseason shutout streak at 27 2/3 innings.

Olivia Brecht drew a leadoff walk, then Chandler followed with a single. Both runners moved up a base on an illegal pitch, then Brecht raced home on a ground-out by Taylor Henderson.

'We really wanted to score early, and we did,' Katelyn Banning said.

That tied the game at 1-1, but it didn't stay even for long.

The Knights reclaimed the lead 2-1 on a ssecond-inning error, then pulled steadily away.

Assumption tacked on two runs in the third inning, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Four of the Knights' first five runs were unearned.

Lea Nelson was 4-for-4, highlighting Assumption's 14-hit attack.

Chandler had two of CPU's three hits.

CPU (30-11) meets Mount Vernon (29-16) in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

'We have seven seniors, and we don't want to end on a loss,' Banning said. 'We're going to come out and take care of business.'

DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION 9, CENTER POINT-URBANA 1

Class 3A State Semifinal, at Fort Dodge

Davenport Assumption 112 113 0 — 9 14 1

Center Point-Urbana 100 000 x — 1 3 5

Nicole Timmons, Hannah Kelley (6) and Emma Valainis. Bailey Smith, Natalea Cook (4), Smith (5) and Claire Holtz, Taylor Henderson (4), Holtz (5). W — Timmons (24-0). L — Smith (13-5).

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