Kirkwood softball sweeps Southeast Community College for district title and national tournament berth

CEDAR RAPIDS – Kirkwood softball players celebrated with the same energy and excitement with which they played.

So much that Athletics Director Doug Wagemester had to shuffle out of the way when the Eagles mobbed the home plate area to snatch the championship trophy in the postgame ceremony.

They held it high and cheered after sweeping Southeast (Neb.) Community College in the best-of-3 series to claim the Northwest Plains A District title and earn a return trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series. The Eagles dominated the Bobcats, 15-1 and 8-0, ending both games in five inning.

“It’s big,” Kirkwood freshman Brenna Ross said. “This win means a lot and we’re going to take it over to South Carolina.”

The Eagles are making their ninth straight appearance in the national championships.

“It’s huge for us,” Eagles catcher and former Vinton-Shellsburg prep Sophia Kreutner said. “It’s really important to respect players who came before us and have gotten us this far. Do this for ourselves, too, because we know we’re competitive and able to do it. Just going out and executing was good today.”

This moment wasn’t taken for granted. Kirkwood Coach Eric Frese noted that this team only brought two veterans and another part-time player from last season. The journey started in August and the reward was earned with sweat.

“The amount of hours, sacrifices and effort these ladies have put in since that time,” Frese said. “To watch them run out there and grab that plaque, knowing they are going to the world series, is pretty rewarding to watch.”

Frese witnessed his pitchers limit Southeast to one run on three total hits. He observed batters pound Bobcat pitchers for 17 hits over the two shortened games. Ross sparked the Eagles in the first inning of both games, belting a 3-run home run off the scoreboard in Game 1.

“The home run was huge,” Ross said. “I felt the excitement and we were ready to go. We were rolling after that.”

Ross added a two-run double in the first of Game 2 to drive in Kiya and Peyton Johnson, advancing to third on the throw to the plate. The throw to get her at third skipped into left field, allowing her to scurry home for a “Little League home run” that gave Kirkwood another early lead.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a home run like that,” Ross said. “I was like ‘Let’s get home. Let’s get home.’”

Kreutner provided a powerful punch by smacking two solo home runs to center field. Her shot in the third made it 5-0 and her blast in the fifth enacted the mercy rule.

“My first few at-bats I was a little too tense,” Kreutner said. “I just needed to relax a little bit. I actually hit the ball harder when I’m not trying to hit it hard. For me, it’s about shortening up, getting on time and relaxing.”

Kirkwood used a balanced attack. Each starter scored and all but two drove in an RBI in the first game. Ross, Sydney Roe and Delia Schwartz each had two hits. Ross and Kiya Johnson scored three times, while Peyton Johnson and Rachael Schlotter scored twice.

In the nightcap, seven starters scored at least one run and eight reached base. Ross and Kreutner each had two hits and two RBIs. The order has no weak spots.

“Frese always says we have the best hitters, one through nine,” Ross said. “We’re hard to get out. We take our pitches. We take our walks. We have clutch hits when we need them. From top to bottom, we’re an amazing team.”

Starters Peyton Driscoll and Peyton Paulsen didn’t need much support. Driscoll tossed a complete game, allowing one hit and striking out 12 batters including seven straight from the first to third innings of Game 1. Paulsen allowed one hit in four innings, striking out six. Jenna Sprague closed the final inning, getting a double play to end it.

“It’s so nice. We have some of the best pitchers in the nation,” Kreutner said. “You see it weekend after weekend. For me, it’s nice to work back there for them. It’s all them. I’m just there to catch the ball.”

The Eagles (51-12) will compete at the national championships May 20-25 in Spartanburg, S.C. Frese said they have cleared the most stressful hurdle.

“Now, it’s just about competing,” Frese said. “Play the game that’s in front of you. Compete your butt off and see what happens.

“Getting there is the hard part, in reality. Anything can happen down there. You just have to enjoy it and play hard.”

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