Regina unwinds, then shocks No. 1 St. Edmond in state semifinals

FORT DODGE - Who knew a lip-sync contest was the key to get Iowa City Regina players ready to play in one of the biggest games of the season?

The laid back and relaxed approach isn't one Regals coach Jon Prottsman is used to, but that doesn't mean he isn't embracing it. After all, it's gotten his team all the way to the state championship game.

'When somebody who's my age and coached as long as I have, that's hard to buy into of the relaxed atmosphere or not taking themselves too seriously,” Prottsman said. 'But it works for these kids so I've got to adapt a little myself and understand that's who they are.”

Regina used key errors by Fort Dodge St. Edmond to find its offense, winning 4-1 at Rogers Sports Complex on Thursday. The Regals (25-14) will face River Valley Conference foe Cascade at 10 a.m. Friday and try to claim their first state softball title since 2011.

Back to that lip-syncing competition, it proved to be just what seniors Madison Scott and Lauren Clapp needed to get the bats going. Both were 3-for-3 hitting and responsible for batting in all four Regals runners.

Scott picked up where she left off Tuesday - she hit in the game-winning run against Durant - and said a shot at beating the top-ranked Gaels (29-8) was an opportunity she couldn't wait for.

'We've been the underdogs the whole time and it's kind of fun to be doubted because you have no pressure on you,” Scott said. 'I was really relaxed and when I got up there.”

'When (Scott) has two strikes on her, I don't think she thinks about a thing,” Prottsman said. 'I really don't.”

Clapp, unofficially crowned the best lip-sync performer, was just as comfortable in the batter's box. After going 2-for-4 in the opening game, she responded with three singles and put the Regals on the board 2-0 after an error by Gaels shortstop Anna Yung.

'I go into the box every time thinking I'm going to hit the ball,” Clapp said. 'I just do what I have to do for the team. I think it was just a good day for me. I was on today and let's hope I'm on tomorrow again.”

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com