Steepleton, Indians shock Saints

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kim Knapp didn't hesitate.

Biggest win of her coaching career? 'I would say so,” she said. 'Definitely.”

Madison Wilson drove home Livvy Draves on a fifth-inning groundout, then Alicia Steepleton made the single tally hold up as Marion knocked off 15th-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier, 1-0, in a Class 4A softball regional semifinal Saturday night at Bob Erusha Field.

'This is awesome,” Steepleton said. 'We've gotten so much better this year. I'm so proud of getting this far.”

A seven-win team in 2014, Marion (22-14) has more than tripled that victory output and advances to Tuesday's regional final opposite Pella. The Dutch (20-13) shocked No. 2 Indianola, 4-0, Saturday.

As of now, the game is slated to be played at Indianola. But it's a good bet it may be moved.

Steepleton and Xavier pitcher Maria Steffen both were magnificent. Steepleton (15-9) pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out three and walking one.

'She did a great job,” Knapp said. 'She hit her spots and had some pop on the ball. She was focused and ready to go.”

Steffen (9-6) fanned 10 and walked one in a two-hitter.

'Maria threw a very good game, and we played great defense behind her,” said Xavier Coach Nikki Gahring. 'But we just didn't make enough adjustments offensively.

'We didn't hit to the opposite field instead of the little bloopers and fly balls.”

It was the third straight year Xavier (24-16) had a first-round bye and a regional semifinal at home. And it was the third straight year the Saints were upset.

'A first-round bye can be a great thing. It can also be a curse,” Gahring said. 'They were able to get the tightness and jitters out (in a 4-3 opening-round win over Vinton-Shellsburg on Thursday).

Marion didn't threaten against Steffen in the first four innings. But Steepleton opened the top of the fifth with a single, and Knapp summoned Draves to courtesy-run.

Shannon Sellers bunted Draves to second, then Draves advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilson grounded the ball up the middle, and Xavier shortstop Hannah Helms made a nice pickup and whirling throw to first. But Davies scored on the play to put Marion in front.

'We wanted more,” Knapp said. 'One run is never enough.”

Saturday, though, it was. Xavier had only one baserunner after the Indians took the lead - a two-out single by Morgan Breitbach in the sixth.

In the seventh, right fielder Camryn Cannoy threw out Stephanie Wehr at first for the second out, then center fielder Bayley Fuller gloved Claire Christianson's sinking liner to end it.

Breitbach had two of Xavier's four hits.

MARION 1, CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER 0

Class 4A Regional Semifinal, at Bob Erusha Field

Marion 000 010 0 - 1 2 0

C.R. Xavier 000 000 0 - 0 4 0

Alicia Steepleton and Sydney Nielsen. Maria Steffen and Stephanie Wehr. W - Steepleton (15-9). L - Steffen (9-6).

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