Raiderettes are State Bound
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Mt. Ayr 4, Earlham 3
Back in 1981 a band by the name of Journey released a little song by the name of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” On a Monday night 39 years later, the lyrics of that song echoed out across a ball field in Earlham as the Mount Ayr Raiderettes looked to defeat the Cardinals for a chance at back-to-back State Tournament appearances. A feat that had not been done before in school history.
Mount Ayr, the visiting team, batted first. No runs. Earlham had their bats at-the-ready as they pushed two runs across. Small ball was the name of the game for Earlham.
Innings two and three saw no runs, but saw the Raiderettes fight their way out of tough situations, including loaded bases with one out that ended in a heads-up play by Maddie Stewart, who caught the liner to second base for the out and the tag at second.
The third inning was the first time the girls had retired Earlham in order.
Mount Ayr scored their first run on a Rachel Sobotka solo home-run.
Earlham was able to answer back on a Mount Ayr error, however, keeping the gap at two runs.
By the top of the seventh, the Raiderette dugout was still loud, matching the Cardinal dugout energy.
Abigail Barnes and Payten Lambert had base hits to sit at first and second, with MaKenna Jones on the bag for Barnes.
Mount Ayr loaded the bases with another single off the bat of Sam Stewart, there were no outs.
Alexa Anderson took the plate after Maddie Stewart was struck out. She hit a blooper in the gap over shortstop to drive in a run, making the contest 3-2 in favor of Earlham.
Halsie Barnes flew out for the second out of the night, bases still loaded.
Rachel Sobotka, came to the plate and had two strikes against her.
A big hit sent the ball deep driving in a run. The Cardinals threw to first attempting out three, but the ball sailed over the first basemans head driving in run two, giving Mount Ayr the lead.
In the commotion, Sobotka ran to second, but was thrown out, with Mount Ayr still holding the lead.
“All year long we’ve had some tough nights but I’ve noticed every night, we would just fight. It would be a battle to beat us,” said coach Bret Ruggles. “I told the girls with six outs left, they are going to have to beat us. In the seventh I told them two locations. To tie it, I thought we needed to get to Alexa, to win it I thought we would have to get to Rachel or Zoey, I didn’t realize they were going to load the bases.”
Three outs stood between them and a State Tournament berth.
“I am very thankful for it (to have the season) because I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said pitcher Addy Reynolds. “It’s a whirlwind of emotions.”
Reynolds has had big shoes to fill this season as last year, Caroline McAlexander helped lead the team to their first State berth in 25 years.
“I knew my team had my back and it’s really reassuring they have my back and they have it covered.” said Reynolds.
The Cardinals grounded out for out one. Their second batter found their way to first, but a fly out and a ground out ended the game and the Raiderettes stormed the field.
A team that was down 3-1 in their final at-bat, never “stopped believing” and found their way to back-to-back State Tournament appearances.
“It feels great, being able to even play,” said senior Sam Stewart. “I knew that if it was going to be my last game I needed to give my best. It feels absolutely amazing to go to State and it feels great to finish my last year at State.”
Another senior on the team has had a little more adjustments to make. Abigail Barnes is the catcher for the Raiderettes. Barnes had a special relationship with McAlexander through her career, but said the transition to Reynolds has been seamless.
“Our team has always been close,” said Barnes. “The only thing different is our pitcher and Addy is great. She replaced Caroline very well. We are just very close.”
“I was just happy to have a season and play softball,” said the Graceland University committ. “It’s just amazing to go back to State. It’s crazy.”
The Raiderettes saw four runs on 11 hits with 10 singles against the Cardinals. One home-run from Sobotka and two RBI helped them seal the deal.
“We are so greatful for the season in general and more grateful to get to go to State once again,” said Sobotka. “I just thought to myself if I see the ball I’m going to hit it hard and I definitely did that.”
In the field, the Raiderettes committed two errors and had 21 putouts on 32 total chances, while Addy Reynolds in the circle, pitched seven innings allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two batters and walking only one.
The Cardinals collected three runs on eight hits, all singles and had three RBI.
Madeline Janssen was in the circle, pitching all seven inning, allowing 11 hits, four runs and striking out eight batters.
In the field, the Cardinals committed one error and had 14 putouts on 22 total chances.
Head coach Bret Ruggles, who was going to resign after the third place finish last year, came back after deciding he wanted to build a dynasty in Mount Ayr. His wife and co-head coach, Brandie, did resign, however. Carley Carrall, a volunteer last year, is now an assistant coach and is joined by Ryan Reynolds.
Brandie, though, is still very much apart of the team.
“It’s everything (to go back to State),” said Ruggles. “Carley and Ryan have done a great job stepping in and controlling (Bret) Ruggles and continuing the family. I am very thankful they wanted me to come back and do the prayers after the game and that’s our thing.”
Coach Carrall has experience at the State level, competing at the tournament with Clarke and winning the championship on a walk-off homer, as well as coaching last year’s Raiderette team.
“A lot of us didn’t think we were going to have a season at all and when we got the go-ahead our goal was to get back to this game (the regional final). So it wasn’t even get back to State,” said Carrall. “During the middle of the season we hit a low point and our region got switched on us.The word we had this past week was grit. We read that quote last night and I 100 percent think we showed that tonight.”
Ryan Reynolds is in his first year as a coach for Mount Ayr and is also the father of pitcher Addy Reynolds.
“She puts a ton of time in and she does the hard stuff and grinds,” said Reynolds on his daughters work ethic. “To get to see them have a season was something pretty special. I am just thankful to be apart of the team.”
Stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 F
MA 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4
EC 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
Hitting
AB H R BI
S.Stewart 3 3 1 0
M.Stewart 4 0 0 0
Anderson 4 1 0 1
H.Barnes 3 0 0 0
Shields 0 0 0 0
R.Sobotka 4 2 1 1
MaKJones 0 0 0 0
Reynolds 3 1 0 0
Larsen 3 2 0 0
ABarnes 3 1 0 0
MaKenna 0 0 1 0
Lambert 3 1 1 0
Henle 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 30 11 4 2
Pitching
IP H ER R K
Reynolds 7 4 1 3 2
TOTALS 7 4 1 3 2
The Road to State
Mt. Ayr 3, NV 1
The Raiderettes began their post-season journey with a win over the Nodaway Valley Wolverines, their second of the season.
The game went three innings without a run before the Wolverines struck first.
The Raiderettes have struggled at-bat in recent games, undercutting the ball to pop-out in their majority of at-bats.
Mount Ayr answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, which would prove the difference.
Pitching for the Raiderettes was Addy Reynolds. She pitched all seven innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out six batters.
At the plate, the Raiderettes saw one hit, recording three runs, one RBI and saw three walks, with three strikeouts.
Alexa Anderson had the Raiderettes lone hit on the night.
Behind Reynolds, the fielders saw 21 putouts on 29 attempts and one error.
The Wolverines pitched Whitney Lamb for four innings. Lamb allowed two runs on no hits and four walks and struck out three batters.
Jorja Holliday came in for two innings, allowing one run on one hit and struck out one batter.
The Wolverine bats recorded one run on three hits, while the fielders saw 18 putouts on 28 chances and saw one error.
Stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 F
NV 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
MA 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3
Hitting
AB H R BI
S.Stewart 2 0 0 0
M.Stewart 3 0 0 0
Anderson 3 1 0 0
Streit 0 0 0 0
H.Barnes 3 0 0 0
R.Sobotka 2 0 0 0
MaKJones 0 0 0 0
Reynolds 1 0 1 0
ABarnes 1 0 0 0
Shields 0 0 1 0
Henle 1 0 1 0
Lambert 2 0 0 1
TOTALS 18 1 3 1
Pitching
IP H ER R K
Reynolds 7 2 0 1 6
TOTALS 7 2 0 1 6
Mt. Ayr 5, WG 1
Woodward-Granger came to Mount Ayr for regional semi-final play.
The Hawks came out with a run to start the game before the Raiderettes threw up two.
The one run to begin the game would be the Hawks only run, while the Raiderettes would score two more in the second and add insurance in the sixth for five runs total.
The Raiderettes straighted their bats out against the Hawks, looking like the team of last year, with nine hits, including three doubles and six singles for five total runs and only two strikeouts on the night.
Sam Stewart led the bats with three hits and two runs in her four appearances.
Alexa Anderson recorded one double off two hits along with one run and three RBI.
The field committed one error and saw 21 putouts on 33 chances.
Addy Reynolds pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, one run and struck out eight batters.
Stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 F
WG 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
MA 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 5
Hitting
AB H R BI
S.Stewart 4 3 2 0
Larsen 1 1 0 1
Henle 3 0 0 0
Anderson 4 2 1 3
H.Barnes 3 1 0 0
R.Sobotka 2 0 0 0
Reynolds 3 1 0 1
ABarnes 3 0 0 0
Lambert 3 1 1 0
M.Stewart 3 0 1 0
MaKJones 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 29 9 5 5
Pitching
IP H ER R K
Reynolds 7 4 1 1 8
TOTALS 7 4 1 1 8
