Strong start from Jessa DeMoss helps Kirkwood softball to 5-1 win over Northeast to open regional

FORT DODGE – Kirkwood Coach Eric Frese has watched freshman pitcher Jessa DeMoss progress this season.

After a strong performance a week ago against Northeast Community College, he was confident in putting her back in the circle to open the Eagles’ postseason. DeMoss proved it was the correct choice.

DeMoss tossed a complete game and limited Northeast to just two hit in a 5-1 victory in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XI-B softball tournament Friday at Iowa Central.

“Jessa did a really good job,” Frese said. “We just played them last Sunday. She had a really good start, so we went with Jessa. She did a really nice job.”

DeMoss improved to 5-1 overall and also has a save to her credit, shrinking her 4.17 earned-run average before the start.

The former Benton Community all-stater was effective, allowing one run and striking out three. Her ability to throw strikes and surrender just one walk demonstrates the strides she has made in her initial season in the program.

“She struggled part of the year with the strike zone at times,” Frese said. “The last three or four times she’s been out there she’s done a tremendous job of throwing strikes. Her best pitch today was her outside fastball and it was called for a strike. Her changeup got better as the game went on.”

Runs were a little tougher to come by against Northeast compared to the 30 runs scored in last week’s doubleheader.

Sophomore Kiya Johnson, a University of Northern Iowa signee, provided another clutch hit. She belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the third.

“That ball was it a long way,” Frese said. “That made everybody breathe a little bit because it’s the postseason. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. It’s little bit of a different pressure and she did a great job.”

Peyton Johnson also had an RBI double to score Rachael Schlotter, who opened with a leadoff single. Mischa Reiners went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored on a passed ball for the first run in the second inning.

“The four-run inning really broke things open,” Frese said. “It gave Jessa some breathing room and our defense was tremendous today.”

Kirkwood (45-14) will face Iowa Central. The winner advances to the championship and will have to be defeated twice for the title on Sunday. All four of their previous games were close.

“They’re going to be a great test for us,” Frese said. “We’re going to throw strikes and play defense. Honestly, we’re going to have to hit the ball well because they’re going to score some runs. We’re going to have one of our better offensive outputs that we’ve had in a while.”

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