Class 5A — Linn-Mar Lions vs. Waukee Northwest Wolves

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From the home of the Floyd of Rosedale, right next to the water park here in Fort Dodge, Iowa, just up north, it's time to hand out another 2025 softball state championship title trophy. It is the class 5A matchup, and this is your classic Aly, number 1 Waukee Northwest against number 2 Linn-Mar. The top two seeds advance all the way to the final. She's Aly Cappaert and I’m Brad Wells and Aly, Linn-Mar comes out of eastern Iowa. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Dubuque, Cedar Falls, Waterloo schools and for Waukee Northwest that's CIML league. That's always so tough, these two teams, since they got here to state, have been on a collision course. And we're finally there.

And these two teams actually have a very similar style of play. They have very, very strong pitchers in the circles. I can't wait to see that matchup today.

It's going to be a lot of fun as we learn a little bit more about each of these teams, we take a look at Linn-Mar. They have a second-year head coach leading them into the state tournament for the ninth time and making just their second appearance in a state championship game. Senior pitcher Emily Koranda, you talked about her 200 strikeouts on the season. She's been great.

She's been phenomenal this entire state tournament has 17 strikeouts on the tournament, but she does it at the plate as well with a 448 batting average.

She's coming off an injury, as is fellow senior Emma Barnes, the shortstop. Both missed last year. They were not ranked in the preseason poll and these kids had a little chip on their shoulder because of that. Those two are difference makers on this team. Meanwhile, for the top seeded, top ranked Waukee Northwest Wolves. It's their fourth straight trip to state. Every year this school has been in existence they've been at the state softball tournament. They won it all the first year in 2022.

And this year it's freshman pitcher Sophia Schlader. She is a top recruit in the country, not just in the state of Iowa. She leads class 5A with strikeouts. Also, the quarterfinal game on Monday, 15 Ks in one game.

Absolutely dynamite. That is a class 5A tournament record. And Aunya Van Zetten has been so tough offensively. She'll play college ball at Indian Hills. Just some natural athleticism you don't find very often on the softball diamond. We get ready to welcome these teams to Fort Dodge for the championship game. Tim Fitzpatrick is our public address announcer for the evening.

Ladies and gentlemen, 2025 marks the 44th year that the greatest high school softball players in Iowa have been inducted into the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Softball Hall of Fame. Today, four more of the state's greats, join 149 of their peers as this year's Hall of Fame inductees. Presenting awards is IGHSAU executive Director Erin Gerlach.

Now let's meet the Hall of Fame class of 2025. Today's first inductee is Lindsey Digmann from Linn-Mar. As a five-year varsity starter, Lindsey compiled a career batting average of 441, totaled 334 hits and swiped 217 bases. As a freshman in 2002, she batted 336 and showcased her speed with 28 stolen bases. By her sophomore season, she elevated her game with a 497 batting average and 38 steals, earning special mention All-State honors in class 3A. That year, she helped Linn-Mar qualify for the state tournament, where she scored a run and stole two bases. Lindsey earned special mention All-State honors again in 2004, batting 443 and tallying 53 stolen bases. She delivered at state as well, hitting 400 and scoring three runs to help her team place fourth. She enjoyed her best season as a junior, batting 500 with ten triples and a home run, and recorded 61 stolen bases, all while posting a 662 slugging percentage. Her all around dominance earned her elite All-State recognition despite missing part of her senior season with a broken toe. Lindsey was able to hit 381, earned elite All-State honors once again, and led Linn-Mar to a second place finish in class 4A at the state tournament. She batted 455 and was named to the all-tournament team. After high school, Lindsey continued her softball journey at the University of Iowa, where she was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes. In her senior season in 2010, she led the team in batting average at 357, earning third team All-Big ten and second team all-region honors. She finished her college career with over 50 stolen bases and appeared in two NCAA tournaments while earning academic All-Big ten honors twice. She returned to Linn-Mar to become head coach of the Lions in 2018, and guided the Lions to two state tournament appearances. Let's welcome her back to Rogers Park from Linn-Mar Hall of Famer Lindsey Digmann Murray.

Our next inductee starred at Creston from 2008 through 2012. She was one of the most dominant pitchers in Iowa during her tenure, recording 148 wins with 1584 strikeouts. She earned a career E.R.A. of 1.07 while earning first team all-state honors three times, and was a second team selection once. Her senior season, she struck out 356 batters and had a 0.73 E.R.A. She continued her softball journey at the University of South Dakota, where she once again made her mark. She earned first team all-league honors in 2016 and second team recognition in 2015, amassing over 500 collegiate innings and finished fourth in school history in career victories. She has returned to her hometown and is an insurance agent for State Farm. Let's welcome her to the state softball tournament. One of the finest pitchers from southwest Iowa and the first Creston athlete to be inducted into the Sioux Softball Hall of Fame. Madison Frain Peterson.

Our next inductee becomes the second player from Akron-Westfield to earn induction into the Softball Hall of Fame. She is part of four state championship teams for the Westerners as a pitcher for the Westerners from 2010 to 2014. Her career was nothing short of legendary. She compiled an astonishing 61 and two record in the circle with 11 saves, a minuscule 0.41 career E.R.A. And nearly 500 strikeouts. Her control was unmatched, with a 10 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio and in the biggest moments on the state's biggest stage, she was flawless in six state tournament pitching appearances, she never lost, going six zero with an E.R.A. Of 0.17, allowing just one earned run in 40 and two thirds innings while striking out 29 and walking only six. Her postseason poise helped Akron-Westfield secure three class AA state championships in four years. Her final two seasons showcased the peak of her dominance. In 2013, she was named the class one pitcher of the year, going 727 and 2 with a 0.21 E.R.A. And leading her team to a state title. In 2014, she went a perfect 24 zero with a 0.56 E.R.A., 200 strikeouts, and a 0.121 opponent batting average. Once again guiding her team to an undefeated 38 and season and another state championship, she was named captain of the all-tournament team both years. Her talent continued at Northwestern College, where she was a four-year starter, earning all-conference honors in three seasons. She recorded 53 career wins, 73 complete games, and finished third in program history in both strikeouts and complete games. She now serves as an assistant athletic trainer at her alma mater. Let's welcome one of the most clutch pitchers to step into the state tournament circle from Akron-Westfield Hall of Famer Kayla Tindall.

Today's final inductee was a generational talent for Johnston High School from 2013 through 2017, a five-time class 5A first team all-state selection and four-time selection to the class five, an all-tournament team. Her career numbers are staggering. She owned a 524 career batting average with 86 doubles, 18 triples, 21 home runs, 279 runs scored, 175 RBIs, and 128 stolen bases. From the very beginning, in 2013, she set the tone, helping her team to a state runner up finish. In 2014, she elevated her game, hitting 538 with 63 hits, 58 runs and a perfect 29 for 29 stolen bases. Even more impressively, she struck out only twice in 149 plate appearances. That season ended in a state championship, and her being named captain of the all-tournament team. Then came 2015, where she batted over 500, driving in 48 RBIs with 24 stolen bases. Her team returned to the state title game, finishing runner up. Her junior season, she hit 600 with 84 hits, 67 runs scored, and a second state championship title. As a senior, she hit 532 with 75 hits, 59 runs, 12 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 42 RBIs while striking out only once in 158 plate appearances. She took her talents to the University of Missouri and continued to shine over five seasons. She became a pillar of the Tigers lineup, a three-time first team all SEC selection, she hit for power and average and led her teams to multiple NCAA tournament appearances, including a Super Regional in 2021. That season, she hit 373 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs, earning third team All-American honors. Her college career included a 345 career batting average with 41 home runs, 164 RBIs, and 259 starts in 263 career games. She continues to be involved in softball, as she is an assistant softball coach at Binghamton University in New York. Welcome back to Rogers Park and welcome to the Softball Hall of Fame. From Johnston, Brooke Wilmes.

And presenting to you our 2025 IGA Softball Hall of Fame class of 2025 from Linn-Mar. Lindsey Digmann from Creston, Madison Frain from Akron-Westfield, Kayla Tindall and from Johnston, Brooke Wilmes. Congratulations ladies, and congratulations on being a member of the Hall of Fame.

So many connections here at state, Brooke Wilmes teammate Addie Pender just coached the North Polk team in the four-title game, played together at Johnston. Part of that championship team in 2014, and the teams now Waukee Northwest in their light blue and Linn-Mar and their black uniforms, red socks. They get ready for the announcement of our individuals that will be competing for a class five, a state championship here in Fort Dodge.

Good evening softball fans, and welcome to Rogers Sports Complex. And this 5A state championship game between the Linn-Mar Lions and the Waukee Northwest Wolves.

Now let's meet our teams. First of all, the visitors from Linn-Mar, here are your nonstarters. Number 8 Makinley Sweet. Number 13 Addi Peters. Number 14 Ainsley Johnson. Number 22 Emerson Rutan. Your assistant coaches Shannon Aguero Jones and Megan Pisarik.

Now, here's your starting lineup for the Lions of Linn-Mar. Leading off playing first base number 10 Brynna Gander. Batting second in center field, number 5 Hayden Koutny. Batting third and doing the pitching, number 9 Emily Koranda, cleanup hitter for the Lions at third base, number 17 Annie Cassidy. Batting fifth and playing shortstop, number 11 Emma Barnes. Batting sixth in left field, number 1 Mallory Palmer. Batting 7th, the designated player, number 3 Lexus Krug. Batting 8th and doing the catching, number 4 Kaylie Alvey. Batting in the 9th position at second base, number two Karsyn Michael. Your flex player in right field is number 6 Reggan Borchers. Head coach for the Lions, Maddy Colbert.

Now let's meet the team from Waukee Northwest. Here are your nonstarters. Number 00 Sophie Homan, number 3 Edie Collins. Number 4 Natalie Zatloukal. Number 8 Peyton Olson. Number 9 Gabby Kerschke. Number 12 Kennedy Jarvis. Number 13 Neva Polc. Number 15 Isla Hansen. Number 18 Aaliyah Glenn. Number 20 Ella Wuebben. Number 21 Sophia Walton. Number 22 Payton Smith. And number 23 Claire Martins. Your assistant coaches. Andy Briggs, Kaitlyn Williams and Emily Jameson.

And now here's your starting lineup for the Northwest Wolves leading off and doing the pitching, number 11 Sophia Schlader. Batting second in right field, number 1 Anna Van Zetten. Batting third at first base, number 7 Laurel Richards. Cleanup hitter for the Wolves at shortstop. Number 2 Maggie Allen. Batting fifth in left field, number 17 Meredith Thompson. Batting sixth in center field, number 14 Leela Appeldorn. Batting seventh, playing third base, number 5 Hazel Leinen. Batting eighth at second base, number 6 Elena Schulte. Batting ninth the DP number 16 Shay Davis, and your flex player doing the catching number 10 Kenley Sanger. Head coach for the Wolves is Carrie Eby.

And now, fans, if you turn your attention to the home plate area, the umpires assigned to this state championship five-a contest by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union at first base, Tim Rogers. At third base, Aaron Schmidt and calling the balls and strikes this evening, Jason Lewis. All right, who's ready to win a state championship?

It's number 1 verse number 2. At the top of the first will have Waukee Northwest the home team out on defense as the sun sets here in Fort Dodge. Thompson Appeldorn Van Zetten initially registered. We do have a switch. Shay Davis is going to be in center field, but we do have Leinen Allen left side of the infield. Schulte at second Richards at first, Sanger behind the plate, and Sophia Schlader is in the circle. They came and said at the plate meeting with the umpires, Leela Appeldorn will be the DP and Shay Davis will be the center fielder to start for Waukee Northwest. Sophia Schlader in the circle. Just a freshman. But Allie, as you mentioned, she is one of the best in the country. In 29 and one this season.

Her freshman year, 281 strikeouts. Absolutely amazing. She throws a rise ball really, really well. She's going to throw it for a strike. And as a chase pitch, these hitters need to be prepared for that upward spin.

She'll do it offensively as well. She was the Wolves number 1 pitcher last year as an eighth grader and has had a pretty fun season here in 2025 for the Linn-Mar Lions you heard the order as they were announced. The Gander Koutny Koranda will lead things off. This is a Linn-Mar Lions offense. They can play small ball, they'll move some runners around. They will put pressure on a defense.

There's a reason this championship is one versus two. Both of these teams play with grit.

Brynna Gander to lead things off. First pitch strike to the freshman first baseman. First pitch at 810. Here in our five a game. Second pitch is fouled straight back. Gander just a freshman, but very confident. And coach says it's been a lot more vocal this season. Does not chase Schlader pitch up in the zone on the zero two.

A big thing you'll notice is the velocity out of the hand. Sophia Schlader you'll see a chase a rise ball right there. Her first K of the game.

Gander down on strikes as Schlader embracing that Iowa girl. Pink of the state tournament. I like that pink laced in that ponytail. First pitch fouled straight back by Hayden Koutny.

These Linn-Mar hitters need to be prepared at the plate. Schlader plays with a pace. As soon as she gets the ball back, she wants to get on the mound and throwing at these hitters.

Koutny was two for three in the semifinal win over sixth seeded Cedar Falls. Koutny looks at one up in the zone. Here's the one. One popped up, giving Chase line in the third baseman and the catcher Sanger and it falls to the dirt. Tough spot, landing right by the corner of the dugout there, just to the left of that yellow post.

And both of them going all out for it. And almost had it a tough play to make.

Sanger and Leinen, both sophomores, Leinen at third Sanger got the catcher's mitt on it, but could not hold on. It is strike two though, and the one two is right down the middle. Koutny down looking two batters, two strikeouts for Schlader.

Sophia. I mean, there's not a lot of words left to say, and we're only in the first inning. Picture perfect paints the outside corner of the strike zone.

So, Emily Koranda the batter, the senior pitcher swings through strike one. Koranda has got a powerful bat. She will be playing softball at Missouri State. And the leadership on the field for Koranda has grown. She used to be the quiet, calm kid and always the hardest worker. A little bit more vocal now, but she is still that calm presence out on the field.

And it's been so interesting with this Linn-Mar team having their leaders come back from injury this year and be able to step right into that role and get here to the state championship.

Koranda fouls one straight back. She tore her ACL during the 2023, 2024 basketball season and just returned in January. Played some off-season ball with her Nebraska gold team and. There's a high pop fly. To shortstop. Maggie Allen settling underneath it makes the catch three up, three down, two strikeouts here in the top of the first for Sophia Schlader.

Three up, three down lineup here.

As we take a look now at the defense of the Lions Palmer Koutny Borchers in the outfield. Cassidy at third Barnes at short Michael second baseman and the freshman Gander at first base. Kaylie Alvey the senior behind the plate, catching fellow senior Emily Koranda in the circle. Seniors up the middle. Catcher, pitcher, shortstop, all seniors. And there's a look at Emily Koranda 19 wins. Looking for win number 20 as the best-earned run average in all of 5A.

And we've given Sophia Schlader her flowers from northwest. But how about Emily Koranda in the circle for Linn-Mar? As you mentioned, best era in Five-a. She's coming into this game with 213 strikeouts. This game is set up to be a pitcher's duel.

And she will be facing a lineup that begins with Sophia Schlader not only excellent in the circle, but in the batter's box as well. She'll be followed by Van Zetten, Richards, Allen Thompson, Appeldorn Leinen, Schulte, and Davis. Schlader. Offensively, RBI double in the semifinals, drew two walks as well. A walk in the quarterfinals as well, a win over Dowling Catholic, four zero in the quarters and a semifinal win over Ankeny Centennial 11 to 3.

How about the batting gloves in the shin guard to match the pink hair?

First pitch from Koranda.

You're not going to see quite as much velocity out of the arm of Koranda, but it's her movement that is so deadly against the hitters she faces.

One zero catches the lower part of the zone, one and one is the count. Down in the dirt.

Sophia Schlader at the plate hasn't quite had the tournament. She was hoping for at the plate, but it's been completely overshadowed by what she's done in the circle.

There's a grounder right side. Michael charges. Oh, and bobbles it right out of the gates. A miscue defensively allows Schlader to reach here in the first.

As I mentioned, Koranda throws with a ton of spins. So Schlader that ball just continues to spin off her bat. Makes it a tough out and she finds her way on to first.

Ruled as an error on Michael. And courtesy runner Claire Martins in for the courtesy run position of Schlader. So, Anya Van Zetten, the batter, will play college softball at Indian Hills Community College next year. The senior looks at a first pitch strike. Hitting over 500 for a batting average, she has scored 59 runs as a little power as well. That one's down in the dirt. Headed towards second is Martins. She'll slide in without a throw. Wild pitch will go on. Koranda.

Northwest looking to attack early. They have in the semifinal game. That's exactly what they did against Ankeny Centennial.

As the one one. Hard hit foul, first base side. Van Zetten six of seven with two home runs here at state. How about two doubles as well? And six runs driven in?

Sounds like an all-tournament team appearance to me.

She is a front runner for sure. Moves the runner to third. The play made by Karsyn Michael for out number 1 and that brings up Laurel Richards. Here's another look.

Karsyn Michael at second base, getting her redemption on this ground ball, making the play at one.

All the way to third. Country to the plate. First baseman number 7. Laurel Richards.

Richards hitting better than 400 for a batting average. She's one of those clutch players. She will be attending Iowa in the fall to be a student. Here's a bunt right back to Koranda looks the runner back to third and gets the out at second. Oh, talk me through that fantastic defensive play.

Couldn't have played it better for Linn-Mar. Emily Koranda fields the bunt right up the middle. Sees her runner back. I mean, the runner had no option but to go back to third and able to get the out at one. Perfectly played for the Lions.

Maggie Allen first pitch fouled into the net. 26 runs driven in looking for one in the state championship game. Here in the bottom of the first. And that is fouled away. And the count goes to no balls. Two strikes.

Koranda settling in fast. She's working ahead of these northwest hitters, doing it all with the spin.

And coach Carrie Eby in that third base. Coach's box 489 career wins. Looking for 490 and another state title. She has won a number of state championships, two as a player at a state title at Waukee and has won here at Waukee Northwest.

In this northwest squad. Every year. They've been a school, they've been here.

All four years.

Yes.

Won it all the very first year in 2022.

They've never not made the state tournament. That's so.

Wild to think about. Here's the one two grounder right side. Koranda is going to hustle after it and make the flip to first in time. An error on the leadoff batter. But Linn-Mar defense gets out of it scoreless through the first inning.

No runs,

As you could feel that pressure. That state championship game and the crowd bringing the energy. Well, that bracket here in this five a tournament Waukee Northwest taking care of Dowling and then Ankeny Centennial after a win over Valley Linn-Mar defeated Pleasant Valley and then Cedar Falls who topped Southeast Polk in a high scoring affair in the quarterfinals. And now it's the number 1 seed. Waukee Northwest Wolves and the number 2 seed Linn-Mar Lions. As we get a score from the third place game, Ankeny Centennial A 10 to 2 win over Cedar Falls in six innings. Stay connected with Iowa PBS sports. No matter where you're watching from, join this conversation. Follow us on Facebook and X and use Hashtag Iowa PBS sports. Good crowd on hand. You can look for it even while you're in the stands. If you want, text your friends whether they're here at the game watching or watching from afar. It was a perfect one, two, three inning in the first for Sophia Schlader and the Waukee Northwest Wolves Annie Cassidy will lead off the second and swing at strike one.

I have a feeling it's going to take one time through the order for both these teams to get used to the pitching that they're seeing. It's just such top tier pitching in this game.

Cassidy at the plate. Just as sophomore says, her approach while hitting attack early. Look for my pitches and just put it in play. One ball, two strikes to count.

As much as you can simplify it, the better it's going to be. You want to be just a clean slate every time you're up there. Keep it simple. Attack the ball.

Here's the one. Two. Schlader trying to get Cassidy to chase the rise. Ball up. And the count. Even at two and two. Fouled straight back talking to Sophia yesterday, Allie, I said, okay, talk about some different pitches. She's like my rise ball. My changeup. She's like I have other pitches but really I've got two pitches.

That's all you need.

And you can if you throw them well and locate them, you can get a lot of outs with two pitches.

As a pitcher, you're going to be most successful when you can master 1 to 2 pitches. Don't try and do too much master 1 or 2 pitches and you will do very, very well in the circle.

Two two. Just misses outside count, runs full. This will be the eighth pitch. Of the at bat for Annie Cassidy here to lead off the second, and we'll see a ninth.

In this Linn-Mar crowd and dugout knows just how important those foul balls are in the grand scheme of things, it's not a strike on the board. It's not an out on the board. It's not a base hit. But any time you can see more pitches out of Schlader hand, it's benefiting you and your teammates.

Schlader gets the strikeout. Cassidy couldn't catch up. Third strikeout for Schlader.

And Schlader just attacking the zone, staying low at the knees. Pitches right through the bat.

Now Emma Barnes the batter. Senior shortstop, first pitch fouled straight back. Barnes we mentioned coming back from injuries. It was 2024 and Emma Barnes got hurt. In the softball season. In a preseason scrimmage, sliding into home coach Maddy Colbert. And she swings through strike two. Said she didn't just break her foot. She shattered her foot. How about this? Three pins, a plate, two surgeries for Emma to come back.

Wow, what a comeback story.

And coach said I'm impressed. Emma came all the way back. And man, after your senior year, you graduate to give your summer up to softball. She says, I love that kid so much.

I'll be standing here in a state championship. Regardless of the outcome in this game, what a comeback in victory story for her.

Good catch up in the stands. Saw some young kids up in the top corner of that as well. I know there's some little softball players. There's some little Wolves made their way to this game. That one is outside. Two balls, two strikes that count. For two and two, the count.

Another one.

Another strikeout and another rise. Ball up.

It's so dominant. Everything about that pitch, the way it can jump so late after the release, you'll see in the replay here, just going right above the hands of Barnes.

Four strikeouts among the first five batters for Sophia Schlader Mallory Palmer first pitch swinging fouls back into the net. There's Palmer hitting close to 350 on the season here in the sixth spot, and that was off the plate one and one. The count.

I like that she got ahead in the count showing what else she has in that arsenal. Keeping it down at the knees on the outside corner.

It's fouled into the net. One ball, two strikes. Now the count as Palmer making some contact here. She was two for four in the quarterfinals. That was the win over seventh seeded Pleasant Valley five one. Here's the one two upstairs to even the count. Two balls. Two strikes here with two outs and the top of the second inning.

And Mallory Palmer a great job there. Laying off of that pitch.

Two two at the knees catches the corner. Five strikeouts through the first six batters, striking out the side. Sophia Schlader Waukee Northwest comes to the plate when we come back. She's rolling right now in the circle. It's the Wolves up when we return.

Celebrate 50 seasons of Market to Market at Iowa PBS in Johnston on Sunday, August 24th. Enjoy a studio open house with refreshments and a restored tractor display starting at 2 p.m. Then join us at three for a live taping of the Mtom podcast featuring your favorite analysts. Stories from the past, and a look at what's ahead. RSVP at Market to Market. Org.

On the next road trip, Iowa, we explore the eastern stretch of Iowa's Lincoln Highway from America's favorite pastime to the great outdoors.

The doubt. It feels so funny.

This historic route features small town charm, natural beauty, and roadside surprises at every turn. Oh well, imagine that. Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. And Saturday at 9 a.m.

Looking for our first hit of the game. As we move to the bottom of the second inning. How about five strikeouts on six batters for Sophia Schlader for Waukee Northwest and first pitch of the game is chopped to third as Meredith Thomas grounds out Annie Cassidy. The third baseman makes a nice play. For out number 1.

Designated player. Number 1.

So far. Koranda is making quick work of these Wolves hitters.

Initially listed as the center fielder, they switched it to the DP. Hitting 347. Here's the oh one. That's a base hit into left field. And that's your first base hit of the game. Leela Appeldorn.

Appeldorn saw the drop ball. Her first pitch. So. Koranda came back low with the second pitch. She was expecting it able to get her bat down to it and drive it out into left field.

So, Hazel Leinen now the batter. Leinen has that ability to put a bunt down. Had a sacrifice bunt, an RBI in the semifinals, an RBI bunt in the quarterfinals. That really an RBI situation here? But she looks at strike one. See if she bunts Appeldorn up to second base.

And Koranda once again trying to get that drop ball call on the outside corner. Does a really nice job with the movement on that pitch so far. Has induced a ton of ground balls by these northwest hitters.

As the one one fouled towards the first base dugout. Koranda registered her 200th strikeout in the quarterfinals of the state tournament of her senior year. Check swing by Leinen fouled away. 12 strikeouts in the quarterfinals. Five strikeouts in the semifinals. Fouls that one away towards the concession stand just off of right field.

I think what's most impressive to me about Koranda is just her ability to use all spots in the zone she's working down, then she's coming up in the zone at the hands. You'll see off speed there, a great pitch off the outside corner, but just the ability to mix it up on these hitters.

Two balls, two strikes. Hazel Leinen holds just enough to keep from getting rung up. Now the two. Two from Koranda below the knees. Count runs full.

Not much at all.

Leinen the batter Koranda delivers up into the net. And the ninth pitch of the at bat. Coming up here for Hazel Leinen.

Regardless of the turnout here, a quality at bat for Leinen. Another foul ball.

We will see pitch number 10. See her smile and kind of resetting. She's taking a lot of swings right now. Fouled off at least five pitches here. Here's the three two again. Change up. It slapped into right center field. Back-to-back base hits here with one out in any. Number 2.

What an at bat by Leinen and Appeldorn had to hold up at first base. She was lucky she was able to make it to second because our second baseman, Michael almost had a phenomenal play on that hit.

Jumped for it, but could not jump high enough. And so, Alaina Schulte.

What can I do for you?

Is the batter and Leinen at first base? Appeldorn the DP. We'll see what we have coming in here. Looks like. Number three Edie Collins coming in to run out at second base for Appeldorn. So, this would be a pinch runner situation with Appeldorn. The DP being used here in the second inning. Out at second.

Still early in the game, but northwest knows just how valuable a single run could be, so they need to get their fastest runners on the bases right now.

Edie Collins scored a run in the semifinals against Ankeny Centennial. That pitch from Koranda up and in and Schulte has a favorable count.

Now running at second base, number three, Edie Collins for the Wolf.

Here's the two zero.

And a good hold there by Schulte.

Now three balls, no strikes. And Koranda asking for a new softball..

Never hurts to change it up.

Home plate umpire Jason Lewis. Managing a lot in this championship game. Do a fantastic job grading the umpires all season long, bringing the best in the state to the state tournament and a four pitch walk drawn by Elena Schulte. And the bases are loaded right now with Wolves.

I think it's really neat how not only do these teams earn their way into a state championship, but these umpires can as well. And so far this week we've seen some really great officiating across all games.

Hey hey.

See it down and go okay, come on.

And coach Carrie Eby.

And I love that message. Be patient at the plate. See it down. Koranda is missing up right now. Make sure you're seeing yourself a strike before you're pulling the trigger.

Shay Davis the junior in the state tournament opener against Dowling, Catholic hit a home run in the third inning. First pitch. Just missing. Davis scored the first run of the game. In there for a strike. Now swinging and strike two and back safely at first is Schulte.

And a nice job here by Koranda to bounce back. She knows her bases are loaded. Nowhere to put Shay Davis she is attacking the zone.

Swung on and missed Koranda with her first strikeout of the game.

That is a huge strikeout. Three straight pitches right to the zone.

Pitcher Sophia Schlader.

You'll see Koranda there painting that outside corner.

So, for Waukee Northwest. Collins at third. Leinen at second. Schulte at first, and now one of the most dangerous hitters in this Wolves lineup. Sophia Schlader at the plate with two outs. This one's fouled away. Nowhere to put Schlader.

Still early in this game, but this is such a huge at bat. Like you said, there is nowhere to put her right now.

Nope nope nope nope nope. Come here. I understand they're not good, but that's what they give me. But you can't. You can't go down to the ground like that. Okay?

Some of the softballs brand new kind of feels like it maybe has a little bit of shine, and they try and work them with their hands or whatever, and for Koranda, she wants it just right for Schlader when she's pitching, she wants that ball to feel just right. Here's the one one.

Unfortunately, as a pitcher, you have to work with what you're dealt and best case scenario is some of these balls get hit into ground balls, get some dirt on them.

Two one. This is fouled up back towards the net and into the net. Two balls. Two strikes on Sophia Schlader with two outs and the bases loaded.

Two across the board.

An RBI double in the semifinals. Grounder first baseman Gander on top of it. The freshman makes the play and Linn-Mar gets out of the jam as Waukee Northwest leaves the bases loaded.. Koranda gets her first strikeout of the game and a huge defensive stop right there for the Lions. And now they get ready to face Waukee Northwest.

And let me remind you here, Sophia Schlader is only a freshman. She pitches with power, the velocity out of her hand, but the spin on that rise ball is almost untouchable.

It looks even more impressive in slow motion. Here's a look at the upcoming high school sports coming up on Iowa PBS Girls State Volleyball early in November, football later in November. We'll also have Boise State wrestling on Saturday the 21st. The finals, girls basketball championships Friday and Saturday in March, and boys basketball championships on Friday the 13th. Mark your calendar for that one. Waukee Northwest the one seed Linn-Mar the two seed. These teams colliding in the state championship game here in 2025. Waukee Northwest CIML conference champs. The Linn-Mar Lions second place in the Mississippi Valley, Mississippi Division to Cedar Rapids Xavier.

For number 3.

Lexus Krug Linn-Mar as his school was runner up in 2006. Their only other previous state title game appearance.

And five of six outs so far have been recorded in the strikeout fashion, and Sophia Schlader. Right now, no signs of slowing down. She is attacking right above these hitters hands.

Lexus Krug, the senior DP, shows bunt, falls back into the net and she'll be out the bunt attempt with two strikes. Is out. Number 1. When you face a pitcher that throws hard, throws a pitch that's just so hard to catch up to sometimes you think you need to do whatever you can to try and make contact and put pressure on the defense.

And I like the idea of the bunt. Maybe just earlier in the count, obviously less than two strikes. You want to get that bunt down, but really anything to make any sort of contact right now is what Linn-Mar needs to be looking at. Doing.

Kaylie Alvey fouls Allen straight back.

Up.

So, no balls, two strikes. Schlader trying to be efficient. Just missing one and two. Her chase pitches don't miss by much. I don't even know if they're chase pitches. I think she's just trying to paint the corners, isn't she?

I mean, until someone proves they can put the ball in play with some power, there's no need for her to be too far off the zone.

There's solid contact. That'll be fair. That's a base hit. And Kaylie Alvey, the senior gets it started for Linn-Mar. First batter to reach base. First hit of the game comes here in the third inning.

Alvey doing exactly what these Linn-Mar hitters need to do. Just throw your hands out at it. See if you can poke it opposite field.

To the plate.

Great effort from Elena Schulte, the second baseman as well. Laying out for that one.

We're gonna.

Go 14.

For the catcher, 14 for the catcher. I'm gonna get the plate really quick.

So, 14 Ainsley Johnson coming in for Alvey. The catcher will be the courtesy runner.

Courtesy runner, number 14 Ainsley Johnson running at first for Alvey.

First pitch to. Karsyn Michael. In for a strike.

And at this point, for Schlader. No need to switch up the game plan after the first hit of the game.

Carson hits close to 350 on the season, but swings through strike two. Schlader just comes right at you with those first two pitches, doesn't she?

She's going to make you beat her. And I mean, that's her philosophy. At some point, these Linn-Mar hitters, if they catch up with that speed, she's providing the power.

Yeah. Rise ball hits a little too high for Sanger and down to second goes Johnson a runner in scoring position. Now for Linn-Mar with one out. Michael at the plate, one ball, two strikes, swings through. Strike three. Another high pitch by Schlader and Michael chases.

In.

How about another rise ball right above the hands?

Top of the order Brynna Gander. Comes up for the second time. Struck out in her first at bat to lead off the game as runner at second base. It's Ainsley Johnson, the courtesy runner is Schlader backs off the plate, grabs the rosin bag. Back to work. We go.

And another zero two count. She wants those first two pitches to every single batter to be right over the plate. And it's working.

Here's the zero two. And reading her lips that time from our location behind home plate, it was up. It was a ball, she said. Good pitch to herself.

I could.

Here's the one. Two. This one's fouled back into the net by Gander. Allen misses up now. Two balls, two strikes. Still not a bad pitch.

No, not at all.

It's a great.

She plays with such a swagger on the mound. The self-talk talking herself up, knowing she's going to come right back.

To two outside, three balls, two strikes.

And what an at-bat here. By Brynna Gander to not chase after those pitches. All these Linn-Mar hitters have seen Schlader now one time through, they know what's coming at them.

Here's the full count. Pitch fouled back will do it again. So, three balls, two strikes. Gander with two outs. Trying to drive one in. Johnson at second. There's a high fly ball as Davis comes in to make the catch. And one runner is stranded by Linn-Mar first hit of the game by Kaylie Alvey and Waukee Northwest. Now they get their bats ready to face the pitching of Emily Koranda, and we look at the Linn-Mar senior in slow motion.

Koranda stays more upright with that pitch. She's able to get the downward spin on the ball. Coach Carrie Eby telling the northwest Wolves, hey, we need to be ready to attack the fastball she throws with so much spin. Try and attack early in the count when she's trying to get it over the zone.

All right, well, don't miss a minute of today's championship action. Catch the live stream on YouTube and Iowa PBS. .org. Tell your friends. Spread the news. We've got a good one here in this Five-a championship game. The one seed versus the two seed Waukee Northwest. And Linn-Mar.

In so far this game is living up to the hype of being a pitcher’s duel. Both Koranda and Schlader in the circle have been lights out.

Aunya Van Zetten will lead things off here in the third inning.

Waukee Northwest right fielder Aunya Van Zetten.

Van Zetten talked about yesterday's semifinal game, where they beat Ankeny Centennial 11 to 3. She said our bats were rolling. We haven't hit that well. All year. She's like, we were just rolling.

It was a fun game to watch and Van Zetten in that game hit a ball that I think went maybe 240ft. It was a shot.

I was hearing it, maybe cleared the ticket booth. It did. Building. Here's the one one.

And Koranda just continuing to mix the pitch sequence. Started this at bat with the rise ball and coming back with a drop ball. Mixing high and low.

Here's a hit up behind second base. Running grab made by Emma Barnes. The senior. Nice play on the move by Barnes to retire Van Zetten.

One.

That brings us to Laurel Richards. Koranda throws one outside. Richards, a senior will attend the University of Iowa. She had an RBI single in the quarterfinal round win against Dowling Catholic. Makes the one down in the dirt two zero.

For so many of these players who are seniors, this is the last softball game they ever play. And I mean, just to think it's the five a state championship. What a way to end your career.

Here's a deep drive. Right center field. Long run. And the catch is made by Reggan Borchers. Oh, what a run for the junior.

That ball looked really, really good off the bat into right center. Just not quite enough to produce the first run of the game.

Maggie Allen now Maggie Allen comes to the plate. The cleanup hitter on this Wolves team grounded right back to Koranda in her last at bat. First pitch fouled into the net. Allen a kid that Coach Eby says just brings the energy every single day. One ball, one strike. The count. Maggie Allen just a sophomore. That shortstop position for the Wolves.

And a nice pitch by Koranda going on that outside corner. Those are the pitches these Wolves hitters need to be looking to attack.

Here's the one. Two. That one just not high enough for Koranda. Great eye by Allen. Two balls, two strikes with two away. Swung on and missed. Strike three. Koranda with the strikeout. Her second of the game, and Linn-Mar sits down two, three and four in the order.

Koranda attacking with the rise. Ball gets Allen to chase.

All right. Well, as you may have heard, Congress recently cut $3.5 million in federal funding to Iowa PBS. This is the largest one time cut in our 55-year history, affecting 18% of our budget. These funds help maintain our statewide network, delivering trusted local programs to every corner of Iowa. Despite the challenge, we're committed to our mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire. Thank you for watching. Thank you for supporting, and thank you for standing up for public television. Please consider a gift to Friends of Iowa PBS today by scanning the QR code, or call the phone number on your screen right now. And we thank you very much. One hit for Linn-Mar, two hits for Waukee Northwest. As Schlader in the circle goes back to work and Schlader, we talk about how the first two pitches they like to. She likes to get them over the plate. Seven of the first. Ten batters and zero two count.

She attacks the zone.

That is the seven out of 11. Announcer. Jinx I will rip that card up. I will throw it away. We might come back to it. Here's the one zero swung on for strike one. Meredith Thomas.

I will say sometimes it is a good thing to mix it up just a little bit. And Schlader is having some equipment issues. I think.

Hayden Koutny the batter and Schlader this happened in the quarterfinal round, something comes loose on that face mask. Head coach Carrie Eby is out to help out. She's Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Hall of Famer was inducted in 2022. The coach remember her in her playing days. You remember Kerri Embree. And now we've got time as. One of the outfielders ran something in.

Ground stake in center field. Not ideal.

Not ideal. They had a tarp over the infield. Fort Dodge got about two inches of rain last night around midnight. Here's the one. One popped straight up. Sanger is trying to find it. Oh she does, and she makes the catch. Pins it between her glove and her chest protector.

And we can confirm we had the best angle in the house on that one. She caught it.

And look at that smile, too. That's what it's all about. Holy smokes.

This goes about a mile high. She has no idea where it's at. And basket catches it.

Emily Koranda base hit into left field down the line. She's headed to second base. Bobbled in left by Thompson. A stand up double for Emily Koranda with one out. The Linn-Mar Lions now trying to take third on the wild throw and Koranda 60ft away from home.

Koranda did exactly what these Linn-Mar hitters need to look to do first pitch swinging right down the line. She knows it's going to be a strike, as we've seen about a 75% chance it's a strike.

And then the throw from Maggie Allen went to third. And it was off the mark and heads up, base running Koranda. Gets to third and so courtesy runner Makinley Sweet, the freshman in to run for Koranda. The pitcher. So, Annie Cassidy comes to the plate, swings through strike one and Annie Cassidy is one of the best hitters on this team. She was three for three in the semifinals, had an RBI double in the quarterfinal rounds, looks at one up, one ball, one strike. Has an opportunity to score the first run of the game right here. One out. Straight back.

That got both of us.

Yeah, we try and pride ourselves amongst all the media members that sit at the table behind home, not to flinch on the foul balls that come back into the net. That one got us.

Both.

Oh man, she's throwing hard. Here's the one two fouled back. Some days I wish I had a helmet on or brought my glove, even though I'm behind a net. There's a little give to this, right. Like it'll come within a couple of feet. 2 or 3ft of us and gets. One over the plate.

Sophia Schlader attacks middle, middle. On that pitch, she was going strike out all the way.

Strike number eight for Sophia Schlader. And Emma Barnes now an opportunity to put the Lions on the board with two outs. Schlader trying to shut it down here. That's fouled away and out of play and bounces back into play off the face of the dugout. A one out double by Emily Koranda.

You have to think Emily Koranda came back into that Linn-Mar dugout and said, hey, we need to attack first pitch. Ever since her at-bat, both of these hitters are coming up swinging right away.

Here's the oh one and one is up. One ball, one strike. Maddy Colbert in year number 2, coaching the Linn-Mar Lions as an assistant at Linn-Mar since 2016 until she became head coach. Played five years at Linn-Mar. Went to state in 2015, then played college ball at Coe. Maddie Ryan, her maiden name, pitcher and hitter right now a third grade teacher, she says to tell Indian Creek Elementary hello from the state tournament. Here's the one two. And coming in to make the play is right fielder Anya Van Zetten, a one out double for Linn-Mar. But the Waukee Northwest Wolves they shut it down. No runs through three and a half innings.

And here's the thing. You're hitting her.

She has this pitcher's duel is exactly what you've asked for.

You've done this entire season. Sit down and go. Let's go.

Come on.

The message from Coach Carrie Eby. There is attack.

All right. She's trying to find a way to crack the code of these pitchers. Maddy Colbert of Linn-Mar is joining us. Coach facing Sophia Schlader. No easy task. What's your approach? What's the message? What do you want to see your kids continue to do?

Well, we are having some great at bats. You know, we're really extending the count. We're seeing the ball well. We're starting to lay off some of those pitchers that are staying up. And luckily we've seen good pitching all year and pitching similar to this. So, we just need to keep making adjustments, keep attacking our pitchers, and good things are going to happen.

And coach Emily Koranda in the circle has done a phenomenal job so far. What's the message to her and what are you seeing out of her?

Yeah, you know, I just tell her to stay the course. She's been in tough games before. She's a great pitcher. She's a great pitcher who knows her stuff. And if she just keeps playing her game, she's going to be tough to beat tonight.

Coach, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck the rest.

Of the way.

Thank you.

Maddy Colbert in year number 2 as head coach she has the Linn-Mar Lions in the five a state championship game here in 2025. As we head to the bottom of the fourth inning, Koranda in the circle ready to face Meredith Thompson. Leela Appeldorn and Hazel Leinen. For Waukee Northwest great off speed pitch to start.

Koranda mixing it up right out of the gate.

Here's the zero one up and in one ball, one strike. I want to talk about the pitcher catcher relationship behind the plate. Kaylie Alvey another senior on this Linn-Mar Lions team. Alli. She calls the pitches. Coach says she has an IQ. That's just through the roof. She says all season long she does research on her own. She talks pitch sequencing all the time with Emily, with Coach Colbert and just does a great job working with Emily. This pitcher, catcher relationship is special.

And to me, it sounds like a softball coach behind the plate for the Linn-Mar Lions doing all that research, getting familiar with it. You'll see her there, pumped up for her pitcher after yet another strikeout. A great pitch sequence called for the duo.

Designated Player Appeldorn.

Going rise ball.

Leela Appeldorn is the batter, a one out single in the second inning? Edie Collins came in to run for her, was stranded at third. That second inning was when Waukee Northwest had the bases loaded, but could not come up with any runs.

This game has just lived up to the hype of being a pitcher’s duel. Koranda right now I think is throwing the best we've seen all game. Painting that inside corner once again, and she's ahead in the count one, two.

One ball, two strikes.

One, two chopped foul. First base side. So, another one ball two strike pitch coming to Appeldorn. See what Kaylie Alvey the senior calls up. There's a fly ball. Left field. Palmer in left. Makes the catch and there's two away.

I like that pitch call. Keep it low and outside.

Field by Mallory Palmer.

Gets the job done.

Alvey the senior catcher will attend Iowa State and study architecture. Coming up in the fall. Yeah.

A tough program to get into.

Slap right side to Michael at second. The flip to Gardner at first, A123 inning here in the fourth. Now for the second straight inning, Linn-Mar defense sits down the Wolves in order as we are through four innings. And back out on defense goes Sophia Schlader, who has been fantastic. Eight strikeouts so far and joined now with head coach Carrie Eby coach, let's start with that freshman in the circle, eight strikeouts here through four innings. She looks relaxed. She looks like she's having fun out there.

Yeah absolutely. We have a game plan and she's sticking to it. And she's just slinging it right now.

And coach what are you seeing offensively. What adjustments do you guys need to make to be able to produce that winning run?

Yeah, we're going to have to stay a little bit more patient and kind of attack that first pitch. She's kind of coming down low and out on us. So, we got to sit back and drive through that.

Coach, are you getting enough energy from the little Wolves up in the stands?

Absolutely. We want some more though.

All right. All right. Thanks so much, coach.

Thank you.

Head coach Carrie Eby I was talking with her. The little Wolves the top of your screen right there. Some eight-year-olds that that are here having a great time as coaches. Daughter Faith, an eight-year-old has just been such an inspiration for her. The new arm tattoos for coach. I've had to ask her about him. She's like, it's got Faith's birth flower words. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the journey as she's gone on this faith journey, her dad don a part time pastor, says faith is just a huge motivator. Here's Linn-Mar with a base hit. This is fair by about a foot for Mallory Palmer being told to go to third, she slides in safely.

Yes. Are you okay? Yes.

What? We have time for one.

A little. Can we have time for a second?

And you'll see here attacking first pitch once again. That ball lands on the line in left field in northwest. I really don't think they were expecting her to go to third.

And it got back into that corner. Meredith Thomsen. Had a tough time getting a clean. Clean grab of it.

You don't want that.

Okay, here we go.

Three time called.

You know the call. One.

And what a grab there behind the plate for northwest or Kenley Sanger. She just saved her team a run on that grab.

Palmer at third. Lexus Krug. Here's the one zero. Count. Now one and one.

You'll see Coach Colbert calling it in some signs here. Northwest corners are playing in. Both of these teams looking for any way possible to manufacture a run. As we get late into this game.

You got it.

Here's the two one. Lead off triple by Mallory Palmer. Here's the two. Two upstairs and Schlader got her to chase.

Schlader with the strikeout and Sanger behind the plate, almost with the pickoff at third base.

I got time.

Sift it down to third time. Called here. Kenley Sanger just a sophomore behind the dish. She has caught Schlader for a very long time. Since they were young little girls getting started playing softball. She said, talking to Sophia, the pitcher says Kenley Sanger and Kennedy Jarvis to catch all my off-season stuff, they are the absolute best.

You love that. There it is.

The bunt attempt. The squeeze goes home and now in a pickle is Palmer and Palmer gets tagged out. Back to first safely. Slides Alvey.

I love everything about that play. I love the call by Coach Colbert saying, we're going to go for the squeeze play. We need a manufacture, a run and northwest. Look at Sanger here. Just chase her down. Perfectly executed by both teams.

So, five two on the put out for out number 2. And I believe that was Johnson that went to run again at first base for Alvey the catcher. So, Karsyn Michael looks at a first pitch strike and now two outs and the runner at first. So, for now Waukee Northwest. Avoids disaster. After Mallory Palmer lead off triple and now it's no balls. Two strikes.

You good to.

Michael struck out in her first at bat in the third inning. Schlader with nine strikeouts so far. 15 strikeouts in the quarterfinal round. Game five. In the semifinals. Here's the one. Two. That's strikeout number 30 in the tournament. And number ten here tonight.

Between these two pitchers, that is strikeout over 40 in this tournament. Absolutely insane. And none other than that rise ball right above the hands.

All right. Let's soak up some of this championship game energy here at Harlan. And Hazel Rogers Sports Complex. The fifth inning stretch. This is Tim Fitzpatrick on the mic. Join him if you're at.

Home. A three.

Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. I don't care.

If I ever get back for it's root, root, root for the if they don't win, it's a shame for it's the strikes. You're out at the home ball game.

And a Linn-Mar Lions. A shame for the Waukee Northwest Wolves.

Great job.

Fans are doing great. Keep cheering.

That's how they pump you up at the state softball tournament. As if you need to get pumped up for this one. The Five-a championship. The top two seeds going head-to-head Helena Schulte, the number 8 hitter, leads off this fifth inning, swings at strike one. Handed an updated score that half of our crowd may really enjoy the for a baseball semifinal in Sioux City, Waukee Northwest against Bettendorf. They are tied at one in the fourth inning. A lot happening today for Wolves nation.

That pitch by Koranda, a perfect drop ball.

Zero two slapped up the middle. Schulte gets a glove on it, but it'll be a leadoff base runner for Schulte.

Helena Schulte a really nice job running through on the power slap. And a great effort at second base. Just isn't quite enough. By Michael.

Market has a lead off single for Schulte.

And Shay Davis. The nine hitter. You have to imagine northwest is going to play some small ball of their own.

Oh first pitch catches that outside corner for strike one. Shay Davis oh for three. Yesterday in the semis, but two for three in the quarterfinals. Again hit that home run that started the scoring. Here's a bunt fielded by Richards. The throw to a covering Schulte for out number 1. SAC bunt by Davis moves Schulte. To third or pardon me Gander to Michael covering.

And well executed for the top of the lineup.

Sophia Schlader with a runner in scoring position and one out here in the fifth.

Ball.

Hits that one off the plate. Emily Koranda will try and work through this fifth inning. You know, one interesting note on Koranda, the pitcher we talked about her ACL tear during the 2024 basketball season. Here's a little flair to the shortstop. Barnes and Barnes makes the catch. Secures the out. And diving back is Schulte Aunya Van Zetten. Now the batter Koranda. It was really a turning point for her softball career. Allie. She tore her ACL. She couldn't do a lot of running. She worked on spins as much as she could. She worked her arm, worked on spins, and you can see some of the spin. We're getting a great view of it here behind the plate on much her balls move.

It has paid off. That pitch is a great example right there from the side. It may have just looked like a fastball on the outside corner from behind we could see last second that ball is dropping as it approaches these northwest hitters. And it's every single hitter that pitch. So, for those of you watching at home saying, why aren't these hitters squaring that pitch up? The ball drops out within like five feet of home plate.

Zero two fouled straight back. Schlader reached on an error in the first, grounded out to Gander the first baseman in the second inning. Pops this one back behind the grandstands. Fouls it away. A leadoff single for Elena Schulte. She now stands at second base after the sac bunt from Shay Davis. So, Van Zetten trying to deliver with two outs up the middle. Barnes the scoop. The throw. Did she get her? She did out at first that was a bang bang play and Barnes delivered it just in time.

And Van Zetten making this play close. Hustling it out and just a step. Yes, they got her.

Great call by the umpire crew. Tim Rogers at first. Right on the money.

Let's go. Every pitch.

Battle, every.

Pitch.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's moving the girls state softball tournament to a double elimination format beginning in 2026. The City of Fort Dodge is committed to enhancing Rogers Park to accommodate the changes. Renovations. Over the next five years will include five championship fields and press boxes, additional parking, and various infrastructure changes. Funding will come from the city, Iowa Central Community College and visit Fort Dodge, and that is going to be exciting because now that double elimination kind of is going to give this the feel. You see with the College World Series from the NCAA.

Yeah. And these girls work so hard the entire season. They deserve to have that double elimination tournament in the chance. I mean, in baseball and softball, you never know when a team might have a somewhat down game or whatever it may be, but they're truly going to have to earn that state title.

Through five innings, I have five runners left on base by the Waukee. And for Linn-Mar three. Back in the circle is Sophia Schlader, the freshman. This is the top of the order Gander to lead things off.

Both lineups, now their third time through the order. This just feels like the inning. We're going to see something happen.

The 11I know in Aly Cappaert gets a feeling something big is about to happen. Aly Cappaert played at Iowa State after a fantastic career at Ankeny. This is popped up, fouled away into the stands. We got to get some gloves up into the stands there. Too much duck and cover for my liking. Let's make a catch. Here's the one two. Slapped foul out of play.

And a great at bat by Gander to start things off for Linn-Mar. Just a little bit behind Schlader right now. Going opposite field with all those foul balls.

Here's another one. Two. Another pitch. Gander fouls away. Again, as a batter, you feel like you have a quality at bat going. You're battling, you're battling, but the count still just one ball. Two strikes. Schlader just doesn't give an inch.

No. And she doesn't need to. She throws with so much velocity and spin. She doesn't need to give too much off the plate. She's able to just attack the zone.

One, two. This is slapped. Left side Allen the sophomore shortstop able to make the catch and there's one away. Good at bat by Gander, but Schlader wins the battle.

And off the bat, this looked like it was going to go into no man's land into left field. It just died as it hung over the middle of the infield.

So, Hayden Koutny. Center fielder digs into the batter's box. First pitch swinging. Fouled straight back. Sophia Schlader says we have been fueled all season long by the 2024 state tournament. Schlader was the pitcher as an eighth grader. The Wolves came in and lost to Ankeny in the quarterfinals, and they said this year, once we won Monday, we all just settled in. Here's the one one in there for a strike.

I think it was a shock to everyone last year getting upset in that first round. Those are things you don't forget as a player coming back. You wait an entire year to get back to the state tournament and get your redemption.

Fouled back again by Koutny. Schlader also really praised head coach Carrie Eby said. She's just the best. She's intense and I thrive on intense coaches. It has been.

That's a great prep to get. I mean, I know she's only a freshman, but get her ready for the college environment. She's likely going to play in. There's going to be some intense coaching, intense moments.

Coach Eby played at the University of Saint Thomas, won two Division three national championships. She was an All-American and an academic All-American and Schlader with Punchout number 11.

Coming up, the pitcher Emily.

And you'll see this pitch going right on that outside corner, bringing it in the back door.

Also had some of the Wolves players tell me, Coach Eby is a little bit different this year. Usually very, very serious this year. A little more chill, happy does some dancing won't after this hit as Emily Koranda jumps on that pitch, drives it to left for a double and with two outs, a runner moves into scoring position.

And Koranda once again. First pitch. She's coming up ready to swing, gets her hands above the rise. Ball, drives it out into left field. That ball had the velocity to make it over. Just didn't have the height.

Koranda replaced by Sweet once again, Makinley Sweet the courtesy runner and Annie Cassidy is the batter. Linn-Mar all of a sudden finding themselves an opportunity here with two outs that pitch down in the dirt and Sweet way off the base now hustling back to throw from Sanger not in time. Linn-Mar last three hits all came on the first pitch. One ball, no strikes to count and check. Swing.

Here we.

Did not go. Two balls, no strikes. Cassidy grounds it. Right side. Schulte to make the play over to first pulled the first baseman off the play at the plate. Now in a rundown is Sweet Sweet dives back for third and she's called out, tagged on the back. And that is how the sixth inning will end.

Hey, you guys gotta settle down. You are.

Safe here.

And Linn-Mar head coach Maddy Colbert still talking to the official at third. Is here. Coach Eby giving instruction.

The umpires are going to talk this over.

Coach Colbert asking the runners to stay at the base right now.

I did not.

I did not see the ball. Had a tag. And then after that we had tag happen first. We have. Okay, okay, okay. Got it.

To confirm that the tag was made and applied to end the top of the six, here's the throw.

And Laurel Richards at first base. If she would have just kept her foot on first, all of the rest of it would have been all for naught. But great job by Sanger chasing her down. Back to third. Looks like we have a great angle here. It looks like the tag may have gotten the foot at the last second. There. Regardless, no replay in high school softball, so the call on the field is the call that stands.

For three, two, five. Whether that glove grazed the back or the foot before the base.

Replay.

So, air charged to Schulte the second baseman for the throw on that initial hit, but getting the out. And now Linn-Mar on defense will try and settle down. 345 coming up here for the Wolves in the bottom of the sixth inning. Laurel Richards the first batter to face Emily Koranda.

And the message from Coach Carrie Eby to her team in that moment was, hey, we got to calm down. This is a game of softball. We have to calm down and do what we know how to do.

Telling you when you feel something's about to happen, something always happens. That was something right there.

That was something.

Richards zero for two. For Waukee Northwest three hits. The grounder up the middle. What a snag. By Koranda the flip to Gander and there's one away.

And a nice job by Linn-Mar to take all that craziness and come out calm to the defensive front and get that first out. That's exactly what they needed to do to settle this game down.

Maggie Allen the batter grounded right back to Koranda. First two outs. Emily Koranda will take him herself.

And over again, two.

Koranda just putting on a show right now. Defensively getting the wheat ground ball back to herself to make the play.

She will continue her college softball career at Missouri State. Found a place that felt like home and comfortable. We love hearing that from a player heading on to continue to play, Meredith Thomsen Thompson, the batter. She is zero for two. Trying to provide a two out spark for the Waukee Northwest fans. And A11 count. Coach Eby was talking to me about Meredith, Thompson said. She is always calm, poised and an offense. She's always attacking.

A big swing there by Thompson on the rise. Ball by Koranda.

Pretty good so far.

So.

So, one ball, two strikes with two away here in the sixth. It's fouled away. Koranda back from.

The.

ACL tear over a year and a half ago. Just returned to the softball diamonds in January of 2025. Gets her fourth strike of the game. And it's three up three down in the bottom of the sixth as we head to the seventh. This is the Five-a Championship game on Iowa PBS.

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Barnes for Linn-Mar.

Well, our championship experience has turned into the seventh inning as we continue to look for our first run of the game. Emma Barnes will lead things off. The senior shortstop. Swings of the first two no strikes.

In Schlader way out ahead of it. Back-to-back rise balls. She knows she has Barnes chasing.

Zero two fouled away. Barnes will attend the University of Northern Iowa this year as a student. Back from her foot injury right before the 2024 softball season turned into three pins, a plate and two surgeries on her foot.

I just can't get over that comeback story. Yeah, I mean, to go through all of that and to say, yeah, I want to keep playing softball. I want to finish out my senior season and to make it here to a state championship. That shows some guts.

Coach Colbert really said she put in some extra reps this season to get ready, get healthy. She's a loud competitor, great complement defensively to Koranda. Lions pitcher has that calm demeanor. Strikeout for Schlader. One away.

Barnes goes down on strikes. Round number 1.

And once again, Schlader just attacks the zone. She's ahead in the count. She makes him pay.

Strikeout number 12 for Sophia Schlader. We haven't even talked about Sophia Schlatter's. Most shared strikeout of the summer as this one is fouled straight back. She was invited to a celebrity softball game at Principal Park. And who would they have? Sophia Schlader go pitch to? None other than Cooper Dejean. Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion. And what did she do? Well, she struck him out. He was not prepared for the rise ball. Let's leave it at that.

Watching this right now, I think I'd have the same result if I went up and tried to.

Hit. Asked Coach Eby about. I said to the team, get to go. She's like, we didn't get to go. When Sophia first got the call, didn't quite know what it was, but she got more details, went to it, went there, had a blast with it and Linn-Mar now with a base runner as the throw from Allen a little low Richards could not pick it. And how about Mallory Palmer a triple in her last at bat? This will be an error here, but Palmer.

And a great play up the middle by Allen. First baseman in that situation. It's a tough play, but you'd really like to see her get that scoop for the second out.

And it will go E3. In the books, as Lexus Krug, the DP takes a hack at the first pitch, will attend Iowa State going to study marketing and ag business. A double major. There's a pop up on the bunt attempt. Richards fields it now. The ball is away from the first baseman.

Runner goes.

To first.

No, the ball was dead. That was an out.

And calling everybody safe. Waukee Northwest needs to get the ball to the circle, and they can. Argue with the umpires. Once the play is over.

So, the runner at first. So, Lexus Krug is out. She cannot run into the fielder who's catching the ball. So, she is out.

And here we'll listen in.

I I'll talk, I'll talk. I didn't see the back part of it. Okay. We got time.

There was contact. Yes.

Okay. I've got a catch. I've got. When she turned, that's when the ball came out. I have a tag up at first base. She goes to second base. Do any of you have interference on the runner that caused the ball to come out?

What I would say here, I'm going to. I'm going to go with this. I'd like to play develop out. I saw the girl kind of step into the into the fielder. And that's what made the ball go out. Okay.

So, what are we going to do here?

I think we got a call a runner interference there. Because if she's not, she knocked the ball out of the out of her glove.

So, we're going to go retired runner interference.

Yes.

So, we got to call the runner on second out. Yes. You have.

What?

So, we're going retired runner interference because she swerved in to cause interference. Yes. And she swerved in after the catch. And that means we have two outs and we're done.

Yes.

The runner on second is out because of retired runner. The runner closest to home. It's going to be out.

Yes, yes.

Okay, okay. Correct. Okay, okay. We got out here.

You.

Okay.

This is what I'm being told. So, I don't have.

Sorry.

Go ahead. We're good. We got the ball.

Was caught.

Okay.

The runner going to first swerved. Out and caused the interference. But that makes the ball go. That runs into the first baseman, made the ball go away. And that's what was able to make that interference. To be able to make a play on the second runner, going to second base. So that makes it retired runner interference. So that would be the runner batter, runner closest home would be out.

She was already out.

Yes. That's why that's why the other runner is out okay. And she's out then that's retired runners interference because she swerved after the catch. You. No, no, just let me go. Let me go. So? So, she swerved into her after the catch. And that's what caused the ball to go away.

But she's still in the baseline. She's allowed to have the baseline.

No, no, she's not, she's not, she's she she's not, she's not allowed. She has to.

But she has to run through the base.

She has to not make contact. She has to go out of the way to the fielder. No she doesn't. The fielder has the right of way. She has to swerve around the field. The fielder has the right of way. No matter where we're at. Yep, yep. That's what we're going to go with. Coach.

Coach Colbert not happy but Alli the right call.

Yeah I mean so the bunt is popped up. Laurel Richards catches the ball. And then on the transition the runner runs into her throwing hand which made it runner interference. So that is why the runner going from first to second is called out as well.

And that is how the top of the seventh inning comes to a close for Linn-Mar offensive opportunity. And now Waukee Northwest will come to the plate six seven, eight. All coming up here in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Five-a title is on the line. They'll debate it up in the stands, debated on car rides home, debating it at home as well. Leela Appeldorn will be our batter at Emily Koranda gets in to try and continue her fantastic performance against this Wolves lineup. Three hits for Waukee Northwest. And one Linn-Mar air and the Linn-Mar dugout trying to pump up the Lions crowd. Use it as some fuel here. Moving forward.

We said this was going to be a pitcher’s duel and it has been exactly that. Now the question remains will this game end in regulation?

Waukee Northwest will try and put a run in here in the seventh Appeldorn the batter first pitch swinging is fouled straight back. Leela Appeldorn a lead off. Excuse me, a one out single back in the second inning. She is one for two. That was the inning. The Wolves left the bases loaded and Koranda pumps in strike two, catching the corner.

Up!

No. Two swung on a miss. Strike three. Strikeout number 5 for Koranda.

And I think Koranda just has fuel to her fire right now. She is throwing with the most movement we've seen this entire game. You'll see that drop ball just falls right out from underneath Appeldorn bat.

Hazel Leinen fouls the first pitch back as Koranda works the outside part of the plate.

Both Leinen and Schulte on deck have two of northwest three hits tonight.

And Appeldorn, who just struck out, had the third grounder back to Koranda. The throw to Gander and there's two away.

Thank you.

Alayna Schulte now the batter. She has reached both times. She walked back in the second inning and had a hit in the fifth. A leadoff single. She was stranded at second. Hard hit ball up the middle in her last at bat. Karsyn Michael, the second baseman, dove for it, scooped it, but could not make the throw. Schulte was a courtesy runners, an eighth grader on the 2022 state title team. Now as a junior trying to win another.

Schulte showing. Slap here. Just trying to find a way on base. Kerschke Shay Davis, who had the home run in the quarterfinal matchup.

And looks at strike two. Coach Eby trying to motion. Just calm down. Stay within yourself.

Ball down.

Good take by Schulte this Waukee Northwest team their motto all year long get it done. It's been a young team with great senior leaders. Have been on a mission since last year's state tournament quarterfinal loss. Fair ball. Cassidy fields. But you're not going to get the speedy Schulte. She was at the state track meet and the sprinters showing her speed here at the state softball tournament.

In Linn-Mar. Just lucky there to keep that ball in the infield. Easily could have turned into a double for Schulte. Lay it out on the line and clearly safe.

Shay Davis comes to the plate, two away. Schulte at first. Big swing by Davis.

Big swing just a little behind.

Zero for one tonight with that sac bunt. Had a home run in the quarterfinal round game. Stealing second and getting in safely is Schultz. And now with the stolen base, the game winning run could come across with a base hit.

And northwest has nothing to lose there on the steal, you have to get a runner into scoring position in this situation and Schulte blazing fast. So now I mean with the runner at second. If Shay Davis gets one into the outfield, you have to imagine Coach Eby is sending that runner around third.

So, no balls, two strikes. And Shay Davis the batter. Two outs here in the bottom of the seventh.

Thank you.

Koranda delivers. Strike three. We're going extra innings.

Megan.

No runs in one and one.

And coach Maddy Colbert. Keeping her team fired up. And now the dugout pumping up the crowd. Six strikeouts by Emily Koranda.

One base at a time. Let's go.

We move to the eighth inning before we do want to let you know that rising from the ashes for a second consecutive season, it's college wrestling. The heart of the mat beats in the great state of Iowa. You can catch the grit, the glory, and the champions of tomorrow. It'll feature the Hawkeye Women's cyclone men, Naia Division two and three, as well as some doubleheaders. Join us as college wrestling coverage returns again this December on Iowa PBS. This is the seventh state title game all time to go to extra innings scoreless. Last time was 2012, A1A game between Martensdale Saint Mary's and Earlham. So here we go. 891 coming to the plate for Linn-Mar. I believe when we started this whole broadcast, you said this would be a pitcher’s duel.

Sometimes I'm right.

Runs would be at a premium base. Runners would be at a premium. I don't know if you have a crystal ball or with these two pitchers. If everyone expected this, but it is as expected. Fantastic. Kaylie Alvey fouling the first pitch straight back into the net.

You just look at the statistics for both of these pitchers throughout the season, and this game has lived up to every bit of the hype in the circle.

This is popped up, will find the seats and no balls. Two strikes as Sophia Schlader, the freshman pitcher. With 12 strikeouts through seven innings. Gets ahead in the count. No balls, two strikes. Once again. And fouled straight back. Just catching a piece is Alvey. This Linn-Mar team their goal at the start of the year was to make it to state. They said once we made it to state our new goal, the ship they want to win the championship.

I still think it's crazy. This Linn-Mar team started the season unranked. Yeah, I mean, granted you had the injuries in there. Not a lot of people knew what this team was capable of coming into the season, but they turned a lot of heads very fast. They were in that top ten within the first week.

This is fouled straight back and out of play and they were open about it, coach said. We were unranked. We were shocked and we used that as motivation. And if you look at their scores of their first games of the season, four shutouts to start. And they won eight games to start the season. The second poll, by the way, did have them as high as fifth. So, they not only jumped into the top 15, they jumped into the top five. Alvey down on strikes.

And Sophia Schlader is still locked in pitchers now in inning eight and showing no sign of stopping.

Michael.

First pitch strike Sophia Schlader was talking about her parents and she said they've been so supportive. She said, my mom always reminds me, be intentional. Compete every pitch.

I love.

It.

I love it when you're hearing that from your coaches and your parents. It's I mean, it's so important for parents to keep the messaging positive to these athletes.

Here's the oh two three pitch strikeout Karsyn Michael goes down and there's two away. 14 strikeouts now for Schlader. Top of the order coming to the plate. Brynna Gander zero for three. First pitch strike!

Schlader is locked in right now. Everything she's doing is attacking the zone.

This is slapped over the shortstop's head. Maggie Allen cannot find it. Davis on the shift. Got there very quickly, but Gander a two out single into left center.

Really nice job. By Gander poking that ball out into center. And this is a huge out for Sophia Schlader. When you look at who's on deck. For Linn-Mar right now, they need to find any way to get on base. Emily Koranda standing on deck looking for her third hit of the game.

Hayden Koutny the Lions center fielder, two strikeouts and had that pop up that Sanger the catcher caught right in front of us. Here's a look at the dugout cam of the Linn-Mar Lions.

Okay, here we go. This is.

The one seed Waukee Northwest and the two seed Linn-Mar in extra innings. Top of the eighth base runner on with two outs. First pitch strike to Koutny.

You got it.

Time called. Ball switch here.

The air is getting very humid. I don't know if you've noticed that over the last couple innings. I really feel like the air has gotten stagnant. The breeze is completely gone.

There's the zero one upstairs, one ball, one strike.

C Hayden Koutny here gets on base. How do you approach Emily Koranda on deck? You know the northwest dugouts already. Thinking about that. If she comes up with two runners on, what do you do?

She smacked a double in her last at bat into left field in the sixth inning. Will she come to the plate? Here's the two one. This is grounded. Foul by Koutny. And there's two strikes.

On.

Sophia Schlader. Gave up three runs on four hits. Five strikeouts. Walk two in the semifinals and the quarterfinals of five. A tournament record 15 strikeouts. Gave up no runs on four hits, walked four batters.

Two two.

And a great grab by Sanger behind the plate.

That's right.

The payoff pitch right here.

So, three balls, two strikes.

Three balls, two strikes.

Ball.

That is ball four. And that is the first walk of the game issued by Sophia Schlader.

And I think northwest needs to have a conversation here about how you approach this at bat. And you'll see there they decided to put her on first base.

Koranda draws the intentional walk.

That's the right decision.

And so instead of giving Koranda an opportunity to put a run in for Linn-Mar, Annie Cassidy comes to the plate.

This game is going to end on a big hit. It has to. It's the eighth inning. This game is going to end on the big hit. Northwest just didn't want it to be right there. All the respect in the world to Emily Koranda in what she's done in the circle and at the plate today.

Sweet will come in to run for Koranda courtesy runner for the third time tonight for the pitcher. And Cassidy, the batter. First pitch swung on and missed.

And coach Colbert's telling Cassidy here. Hey, let's take a deep breath. You got this.

And looks at strike two. Cassidy was hoping that was up. Instead, she's behind in the count. How about Schlader continuing to attack the.

Zone is so composed right now. Her composure is elite.

And strike three to end the inning. Still scoreless. And the freshman's fired.

Up.

Wow. This is her game to win right here. Sophia Schlader. The biggest strikeout of her high school career comes with a rise ball above the hands.

15 strikeouts issued her first walks of the game, but left three of them stranded here in the eighth inning. And so that is seven now left on base. Well, there's nothing like ballpark food. How about we bring the Iowa State Fair into the bullpen? It's a whole new game. Paul Yeager was able to preview some of the new foods coming to the fair this year. And vote on his favorites. Catch his insights and just a cornucopia of other video stories during coverage of the Iowa State Fair. 9 p.m. Nightly August 11th through the 16th. Only on statewide Iowa PBS. I guarantee you, he will say something hilarious. It might be like dad joke. You won't laugh, but it might be hilarious when he's describing the fair food.

I'll laugh.

Yeah, let's be real.

I'll laugh. Okay, let's get serious again. We're going to the bottom of the eighth inning here. A scoreless game, trying to crown the class five, a state champion. And Waukee Northwest top of the order comes to the plate. Sophia Schlader 15 strikeouts from the circle. Steps into the batter's box to lead off the eighth inning.

And that was the pitch. That was the pitch that Schlader wants back. And Koranda knows. She let that one hang a little too high over the plate. Koranda has been so good this entire game. A very, very rare mistake.

Schlader being told to step into the box. I think she's having a hard time gripping the bat. Here's the one one you mentioned that humidity and now strike two.

I mean, I'm announcing the game and my palms are sweating here behind home plate, just with the humidity in the air.

You just get stickier and stickier on some days here at the state softball tournament, reaching for that one, Koranda picks it up, makes the throw over to first, and there's one away.

Nice. Take a look.

Schlader is doing it from the circle defensively. Good hitter hasn't come through yet for the Wolves, but passes the baton to Anya Van Zetten. Also zero for three. Emily Koranda really only four hits allowed to this very dangerous Wolves offensive lineup. Here's a base hit into right center for Van Zetten. She can fly and the ball squirts away in the outfield. Van Zetten headed towards third. He's going to get the red light and be held up. Aunya Van Zetten the senior delivers.

And Linn-Mar lucky Van Zetten started celebrating as I think with her speed, she might have had a chance to come around and score on that hit. We talk about the moisture in the air and in the outfield. The grass is starting to get wet.

It'll go down as a hit and an error. A single and an error as Koutny and Borchers couldn't find it. Let's listen.

In.

Over. There's nothing.

I mean.

Yes, you need to play baseline. You're going for in the air. Okay, let's do this thing. We've done it before. Let's do it. We can.

Do it. One, two, three.

Let's go. You got it.

Been all positive from Coach Colbert I love it, she says we've done this before. Let's do it again.

We gotta go.

You'll see this hit by Van Zetten. She's coming around third. She gets to third. She's celebrating. Coach Gibbs watching that ball. She knows the play is not over.

Okay.

Here we go.

Good reminder to always stay locked in. And now, Laurel Richards the batter 73 degrees. How about this? 90% relative humidity. Right now.

You can feel it.

At 105.

Right there. Come on.

Little contact could score. Van Zetten. Only one out here for the Waukee Northwest Wolves in the eighth inning. Here's the oh one down low one and one. The count.

And Koranda knows this is a huge out. To be honest, I'm kind of surprised. Linn-Mar defense. The outfield is playing as deep as they are.

Here's the one one. This is fouled out of play and the count will go. One ball, two strikes.

So even if they make a catch in the outfield, they have to be able to make the throw on the tag.

And Van Zetten has a lot of speed right there at third base.

One ball, two strikes.

At the state track and field meet, here is the one two pitch Koranda to Richards base hit into right center field. It's down. Waukee Northwest is going.

To win the Five-a title in 2025.

What a game. We knew it was going to come down to a big hit and at the end it was the Waukee Northwest Wolves the hit by Laurel Richards into right center.

Field. And that's the game, ladies.

Waukee Northwest

first year of the new high school. In their fourth straight state tournament appearance, they are champs once again. First walk off in A5A game since 2016. Johnston and Pleasant Valley. First ever one zero title game in five A.

You'll see this hit Van Zetten at third base. She is tagging all the way. She knows she has to make it home safely. When the ball drops. Coach Carrie Eby jumping knowing that they have just done it.

That's some of that celebration and dancing. The players were telling us Coach Eby has been doing this year for Linn-Mar to the Lions man, I tell you what, you tip your cap because this that pitcher's duel that you expected. You got it. This delivered as a championship game.

This is one of the best high school state championship games I have seen in a very long time, especially in the circle. Hats off to Emily Koranda and Sophia Schlader for the performance. They both just put on.

Well, you can relive the championship excitement, share these moments with your family, friends and neighbors. Visit Iowa PBS for archives of championship games. Anytime. Pink T-shirts are handed. Out and the Wolves are celebrating a Five-a title.

Attention to the award ceremony presenting the class AA all-tournament team medals is Executive Director Aaron Gerwig.

And softball administrator Jason Esslinger. Here's your 2025 Five-a all-tournament team from Waukee Northwest Aunya Van Zetten.

From Linn-Mar.

Emma Barnes. From Waukee Northwest Meredith Thompson.

From Linn-Mar.

Annie Cassidy. From Ankeny. Centennial. Jordyn Kennedy. From Cedar Falls, Sydnee Runyon. From Ankeny. Centennial.

Maddie Ott.

From Linn-Mar. Karsyn Michael. From Waukee Northwest. Elena. Schulte. From Linn-Mar. Emily Koranda. And your 2025 five an all-tournament team captain. From Waukee Northwest Sophia Schlader.

Valley Sophia Schlader certainly proved that she is a phenomenal talent. This freshman captain of the All-Tournament team. 15 strikeouts in the championship game.

She came out today and proved she's the best and she is dominant in the circle. I don't think she quite had the tournament she wanted at the plate, but it was so overshadowed by what she did in the circle. Her ability to move the ball, her velocity on the pitch, absolutely incredible.

It went extra innings, but she matched that quarterfinal total with 15 KS, had three strikeouts in the eighth inning, none bigger than when Linn-Mar had the bases loaded.

A hesitation.

In addition to receiving medallions, every participating player will receive a commemorative softball provided by Iowa Farm Bureau, title sponsor of the Girls Athletic Union, presenting the awards are members of the IGHSAU Board of Directors. Congratulations to the runners up in class five, a head coach, Maddy Colbert and the Linn-Mar. Five softball season. And your 2025 class five A state softball champions. Head coach Carrie Eby and the Wolves of Waukee Northwest.

And now at this time.

Laurel Richards complete your bracket. Waukee Northwest Sanger. Welcome to continue in the Winner's circle located on the baseball.

Diamond behind.

Us.

The senior applies the sticker Laurel Richards for Waukee Northwest finishes the bracket as top seeded Waukee Northwest holds on to defeat the second seeded Linn-Mar Lions 1 to 0 in eight innings. Both pitchers, a phenomenal performance that run, by the way, unearned in the books because of the error on the hit by Van Zetten. But how about that to start your championship performances here in Fort Dodge? Our Five-a title is crowned three championship games, all coming up tomorrow starting at 230. Williamsburg in Dubuque, Wahlert will battle for three a thanks for joining us.

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