The class 1A #7 Twin Cedars Softball Squad is headed to the State Tournament for the first time since 1978 with a wild 7-6 victory over Sigourney on Monday night. The Sabers could not have written a better opening script as they bolted out of the gates with a five run 1st inning highlighted by two bombs to left field, one by Grace Bailey and the other by Chloe Durian while Rylee Dunkin scored on a Brooke Roby RBI single. The Savages would respond with two runs in the top of the 2nd, then for the next three innings it became a pitcher’s duel as neither team could get anything across. The Sabers got one run back in the 5th as Bailey singled to bring home Dunkin to make it 6-2. The Savages woke up in the top of the 6th with four runs to tie it and it stayed that way until the bottom of the 7th when Ali Mockenhaupt ripped a two out RBI double to left to score Bailey and the celebration ensued. Rylee Dunkin, who has qualified for State Track and Field and Cross Country in her career has been wanting to qualify with a team, finally realized that dream told KNIA/KRLS Sports the 1st inning was a huge key to the Sabers success.

Photo Courtesy: Ryan Northcote

Rylee: “Came into here and we thought we score runs and make them think they’re here to play, and we did an amazing job of getting up on them and got the bats rolling got on top of them early.”

Bailey got the win in the circle pitching three total innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out one. Mockenhaupt pitched four innings of middle relief. Coach Zack Dunkin told KNIA/KRLS Sports, the opening inning for his team would not have gone more perfectly.

Zack: “It’s exactly what we needed to do, I didn’t see us getting 5. I wanted them to get on top early to put some pressure on Goodwin. Grace does Grace things, Rylee does Rylee things, getting her on base is almost a guaranteed run, and Chloe Durian smacking her first career homer in a regional final. You’re right you couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

Bailey went 3/4 with three RBI…Mockenhaupt had just one hit but it was the game winner, and Durian had two RBI. Twin Cedars is now 26-3 on the season and will take on Lisbon in the first round of the class 1A State Tournament in Fort Dodge next Tuesday at 7:30. You can hear that game live on 92.1 KRLS. Also listen for interviews with several of the Twin Cedars players on this week’s Radio Sports Page Wednesday at 6:00 and Thursday at 10:00 on KNIA/KRLS.