Softball team earns berth in 3A semi finals

Sue Rieder sports@beeherald.com

The unranked Greene County softball team secured a spot in the state softball 3A semi finals by defeating sixth ranked Center Point-Urbana 2-0 at Roger's Sports Complex in Fort Dodge. In the past 10 days, the Rams have upended four teams that were ranked in the top eleven on the final rankings of the Iowa High School Athletic Union, and now are one of the final four teams in the winner's bracket in their class.

The Stormin Pointers came into the tournament with a 28-9 record and were known for bunting and stealing a lot of bases. The very young squad from northwest Iowa did  steal bases when they could, but in order to steal bases, you have to get on base, and that didn't happen very often. Junior Marissa Promes had another excellent night on the mound, giving up no runs on three hits, while striking out six and walking none. Everytime the Pointers got one of their five base runners at second or third, Promes and the Ram defense did what was needed to keep the run from scoring.

Center Point-Urbana's freshman pitcher Bailey Smith threw enough off speed pitches to keep the Ram batters off balance, but the Greene County girls made their four hits count. Promes accented her marvelous pitching performance with a monster home run in the top of the fifth inning to give the scoreboard's home team the only run that they needed to win. The Rams scored their second run in the sixth when Carleigh Paup led off with a double, and Bailey Godwin hit a bunt down the first base line to move Paup to third. Kayla Mobley drove Paup in by ripping a single up the middle.

The Pointers were retired in order in the top of the seventh inning when center fielder Tressa Rasmussen, catcher Hannah Cooklin, and second baseman Emma Saddoris took turns catching fly balls. When Saddoris squeezed that last catch for the third out, a huge roar arose from the large contingent of Greene County followers, and the hugging,  cheering, and picture taking continued long after the team left the field.

Greene County has won 17 out of their last 19 games. The 3A winner's bracket resumes play on Thursday evening. Teams left in the winner's bracket are Bondurant-Farrar, the 3A defending champion, Clarke-Osceola, last year's 3A runner-up, second ranked East Marshall, and the Rams, who call themselves the number one underdog. "I like being in that company," said head coach Tom Kennedy after the game. "I am glad that we have a little time before we play again. It gives the girls some time to enjoy being winners. These girls just love playing softball, and I am glad that they got the experience of playing here."