The distance between Twin Cedars High School and Southeast Warren High School is a mere 34.7 miles according to Google Maps. However those two schools, fan bases, and softball squads will be a little more than two hours north and west in Fort Dodge at the same field as the Sabers and Warhawks will battle on Kruger Field at the Harlan Rogers Sports Complex to decide the class 1A State Championship tonight. Both teams had to pull off upsets this week at the State Tournament. Twin Cedars pulled off the surprise over 3rd seeded Lisbon in the first round as Grace Bailey smashed a home run in the 8th inning to give the Sabers the win, and Southeast Warren had to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the week shocking top seeded and defending class 1A Champion North Linn. Twin Cedars senior and starting first baseman Ali Mockenhaupt tells KNIA/KRLS Sports it is a night to leave everything they have on the field.
Mockenhaupt: “This is the biggest game we’ve ever played, easily. I know we’re going to leave it all out there and everyone too. We’re seniors and we’re going to leave it out there and I know the younger girls will too, because we all want this really bad.”
For Coach Zack Dunkin there will be no fiery speeches or change to pregame routine or even a change in game plan. He tells KNIA/KRLS Sports his team’s consistency and the same way he coaches will continue with a state title on the line.
Dunkin: “My message to them hasn’t changed all year. I think the consistency of the message hasn’t changed. When we play our game and execute our game plan we’re a darn good team and if someone beats us and we play our best and don’t have any regrets then hats off to them, but we’ll play our game like we always have.”
The two teams have played this season with Southeast Warren winning back on June 27th 4-3. While the Sabers will likely send Grace Bailey to the circle tonight, who has been outstanding offensively and defensively, the Warhawks will counter with Alivia Ruble, who has 137 strikeouts and possesses a 1.31 ERA. Now the two teams will battle it out as the six seed Sabers and the four seed Warhawks look for a state title. Listen to the call on 92.1 KRLS starting with the pregame at 7:30.