Stormin’ Pointers return to state

INDEPENDENCE - Claire Holtz got a second chance, and made it count.

Moments after her pop foul dropped harmlessly, Holtz roped a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning for the tie-breaking hit, and eighth-ranked Center Point-Urbana downed No. 6 Waterloo Columbus, 4-2, in a Class 3A softball regional final Monday night at the Independence community baseball/softball complex.

'It's the best feeling ever,” Holtz said. 'I love it.”

The Stormin' Pointers (29-13) return to state for the second consecutive year. They'll face No. 7 Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (31-3) in a 3A quarterfinal at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge.

CPU was sixth last year.

'You're really lucky if you get to go to state once,” said catcher Elizabeth Hearn. To go twice, it's really an honor.”

Hearn started the winning rally by walking with one out, then - after a wild pitch - Maddie Karr did the same to set the stage for Holtz.

'I hadn't had a solid hit yet and I had struck out twice,” Holtz said. 'I just needed to keep believing and get a solid hit.”

Holtz worked the count to 2-and-1, then lifted the ball foul, in front of the Columbus dugout. First baseman Sydney Hogan overran it, giving Holtz new life.

The next pitch, Holtz drilled to the left-center field fence to score two runs and put the Stormin' Pointers in front.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, CPU pitcher Samantha Croghan set down the bottom of the Sailors order, in order.

After she fanned Kayla Sproul for the second out, Croghan waved to the CPU crowd to stand. She forced a groundout from pinch-hitter Grace Sullivan to close it out.

'I felt a lot more confident with a two-run lead,” Croghan said. 'I knew we were down to the bottom of the order, and I wanted to put them away.”

Columbus retired at 29-6 and lost for the first time in 18 games. The Sailors seemed to have the momentum when they tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Hogan and Grace Surma.

'Everybody was getting down, but (Hearn) is a great senior leader and kept us all up,” Holtz said. 'She kept telling us that it wasn't over yet.”

CPU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, thanks in part to three Columbus errors. Claire Chandler had an RBI single.

Croghan retired 10 of the last 11 batters she faced.

'Hearn called 90 percent of the pitches,” said CPU Coach John Olachnovitch. 'Sam has the right to shake her off. The only input I really have is when I want to intentionally walk somebody.

'When the kids are involved, the kids are having more fun.”

CENTER POINT-URBANA 4, WATERLOO COLUMBUS 2

Class 3A Regional Final, at Independence

Center Point-Urbana 002 000 2 - 4 5 2

Waterloo Columbus 000 200 0 - 2 5 5

Samantha Croghan and Elizabeth Hearn. Brooke Craig and Emma Shannon. W - Croghan (17-8). L - Craig (20-5).

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