Jefferson overcomes Cedar Falls

CEDAR RAPIDS-The fourth-ranked softball team in Iowa was struggling last night when Maddie Koolbeck stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Cedar Falls just scored four runs in the top of the inning to tie No. 4 Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 4-4.

Koolbeck stepped up though, driving a ball over the leftfield fence to claim the lead for good for the J-Hawks (36-5), catapulting them into the regional final on Monday with a 6-5 victory over the Tigers (12-27).

It was far from easy though for the J-Hawks against a feisty Cedar Falls squad, according to Coach Larry Niemeyer.

"Typical Jefferson softball, we couldn't field, we couldn't bunt and we just made a lot of mistakes tonight."

After sweeping Cedar Falls in the regular season, Jefferson committed errors and was outplayed by the Tigers.

The Tigers missed opportunities when they loaded the bases in two innings, but each time J-Hawk starter Hannah Petersen met the challenge.

Jefferson wasted no time; scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first inning, gaining a 3-0 advantage. Senior Kenna Fry recorded the first of her two RBI singles.

Cedar Falls finally took advantage of seven walks thrown by Petersen in the fourth inning, lighting up the J-Hawks for four runs. Sophomore Mercedes Hutchens started out the scoring with a two-RBI single with the bases loaded.

The comeback didn't last long though with Koolbeck's homer on the second pitch in the inning by Tiger starter Brittni Wright, giving Jefferson the lead for good.

Amber Grimm also scored in the fourth on a throwing error, giving Jefferson the insurance run it needed to hold off the pesky Tigers.

"I told the girls I would rather lose by 14 than by one, what a tough performance by our girls tonight," Tiger Coach Eliott Kranz said.

Tiger junior McKenzie Sesterhenn led the way for Cedar Falls with three hits and an RBI.

Niemeyer was back on the field coaching third base Saturday. He has battled sickness the entire season, limiting him to coach from the bench.

Jefferson takes on Davenport West at Jefferson Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a state tournament berth on the line.