Waukee ends Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s state softball title bid

FORT DODGE — It wasn't for a lack of opportunities.

Fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy collected nine hits against Waukee ace Sarah Schaefer, but the Cougars couldn't get the clutch hit, and fell to the top-rated Warriors, 2-0, in a Class 5A semifinal at the state softball tournament Thursday afternoon at the Rogers Sports Complex.

'We had a lot of hits, but couldn't string them together,' Kennedy shortstop Ashley Hamilton said. 'We put our best out there, and that's all you can ask.'

Waukee (40-3) chases its fourth state title Friday, when it faces No. 7 Pleasant Valley (34-8) at 12:27 p.m. The Spartans edged No. 6 Urbandale, 2-1, Thursday.

'It was a little nerve-racking,' said Schaefer, who upped her record to 25-0. 'Kennedy has some really good batters, and I tried to throw my best stuff against their best hitters.'

Schaefer didn't walk a batter and struck out 10.

'She might be the best pitcher in the state,' Kennedy Coach Maddison LeClere said. 'We had a hit against her in every inning. They just weren't timely enough.'

Kennedy (36-8) will meet Urbandale (32-9) in the third-place game at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Regardless of outcome, it will conclude the best season in school history.

LeClere started eighth-grader Jayme Scheck (9-3) in the pitching circle, and she responded with a solid outing — one run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

'I found out right before the game, and I was really excited,' Scheck said. 'I wanted to put my best out there and do it for the team.'

Waukee struck for a run in the top of the first. Delaney Taylor singled, stole second, moved to third on Schaefer's single and scored on Morgan Nealey's sacrifice fly.

It stayed 1-0 until the sixth. when Kelli Fogt bunted home pinch-runner Mary Gray for an insurance run, an unearned tally against reliever Kaylin Kinney.

Meanwhile, Schaefer danced around danger most of the game.

Kennedy stranded nine runners, including three in the fifth.

With one out, Natalie Blank singled, Hamilton reached on an infield ground ball and Ashley Winterowd singled to load the bases.

Kinney grounded to shortstop Kasey Costa, who bounced the throw to catcher Natalie Wellet.

Wellet caught the ball on the short hop to force out Blank, then Schaefer struck out Megan Weber to end the threat.

Camryn Jeffords was 3-for-3 for Kennedy.

'I went up there, and I was really confident,' she said.

Hamilton, Winterowd and No. 9 hitter Natalie Blank added a pair of hits apiece.

WAUKEE 2, CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY 0

Class 5A State Semifinal, at Fort Dodge

Waukee 100 001 0 — 2 7 1

C.R. Kennedy 000 000 0 — 0 9 1

Sarah Schaefer and Natalie Wellet. Jayme Scheck, Kaylin Kinney (5) and Megan Weber. W — Schaefer (25-0). L — Scheck (9-3).

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