The Cardinals looked anything but the team that had fallen to North Nodaway 17-0 in the tournament two weeks before. They had the hot bats in a 9-3 victory over Worth County and a 17-7 victory over Pattonsburg. They were crushed 15-3 by Gallatin in the GRC Crossover, but they had been playing excellent softball lately.
The game shaped up as a pitching duel to start the game; the ground was wet and balls that normally go through for hits were dying on the surface and were easy outs. But there was an inauspicious omen even before the game when third baseman Kristin Herndon was plunked during warmups in the ankle and favored it for a while. Then, rightfielder Alonna Cross narrowly missed a shoestring catch; after she overthrow the cutoff, Rylee Tipton, on first base, took off for second with Emma Tipton on third and made it as Tipton crossed the plate. Then, Jentry Copple spiked shortstop Kandace Damgar in the nose while successfully stealing second, holding up the game in the fourth.
With North Nodaway trailing 1-0 at that point, all hell threatened to break loose in the fourth. Second baseman Shai Dailey ran down Ella Fries’ pop fly for an over the shoulder catch for an out, but then consecutive errors by Damgar loaded up the bases. That led to Emma Tipton’s grand slam to make it 6-0, and it looked like North Nodaway had nothing to live for at that point.
But then Emma Hart walked and Keagan O’Riley doubled down the left field line to bring up Ashley Thompson. She hit it hard her first time up, but out to left fielder Rylee Tipton, but this time, she hit it farther, over the left field fence for a three run shot that cut the North Andrew lead in half at 6-3.
It looked like North Andrew would go quietly in the fifth after Copple struck out and first baseman Ashley Thompson saved pitcher Keagan O’Riley an error when she leaped high to snap her scoop throw that nearly got away to retire Fries. But then Carlie Grace singled to center, Alaina Officer’s pop fly to left dropped for a double, and second baseman Shai Dailey dropped Mercedes Todd’s pop fly that let two runs in to make it 8-3.
It looked like North Nodaway would go quietly in the fifth after Dailey popped out to start the inning. But then Audrey Trimble hit a shot off Makenna Goldizen’s glove at second and was safe on a scratch hit, which opened up the barn door. Makayla Cross singled to left and Emma Hart singled to center and took second on the unsuccessful throw home as Cross took third. Keagan O’Riley singled to left to score Cross and put Hart on third to bring up the tying run in Ashley Thompson. North Andrew walked her intentionally to load the bases, but Kristin Herndon got a productive out, flying out to Rylee Tipton in left to score Hart and move everybody else up. Alonna Cross then hit a screamer off the wall in left to score two, and the game was all tied up at 8-8. Kandace Damgar then singled to left to bring in Cross to make it 9-8.
It all threatened to unravel again in the top of the sixth; with one out, Rylee Tipton singled to right center, Makenna Goldizen singled to center and went to second on an unsuccessful throw to third by Audrey Trimble as Tipton was safe on a close play.
Jentry Copple was up next, and she doubled to left to bring in two runs to make it 10-9 and put North Andrew back in front. She then successfully stole third, but Ella Fries struck out for the second out on the play. Carlie Grace hit a shot that looked like a base hit to keep the lines moving, but shortstop Kandace Damgar made a diving stop to her left, threw it in the dirt, but had Ashley Thompson scoop it out for the third out.
North Nodaway finally went ahead for good when Audrey Trimble singled to right and then Makayla Cross homered to left; it looked like a long fly ball at first, but it kept carrying until it went 250 feet away from home plate. That made it 11-10.
Emily Dew’s pop fly to left field dropped in for a base hit, and there was a heartstopping moment as North Andrew nearly regained the momentum and nearly picked her off first twice. Keagan O’Riley struck out, but Ashley Thompson singled her to third and went to second on the throw. Kristin Herndon then singled them both home to make it 13-10.
The bottom of the order was coming up, and the goal was to keep the game from getting to the top of the order and Rylee Tipton again. Alaina Officer hit a ground ball to Kandace Damgar at short; her throw to Ashley Thompson was wide, but she was able to stretch to get it. Mercedes Todd shot a single off Damgar’s glove, but Emma Tipton grounded to Kristin Herndon, who forced Officer at second. Emalee Pittman popped out to Damgar to end it.
There were seven seniors that were recognized at Tuesday’s game before the start. They were Makayla Cross, Emily Dew, Emma Hart, Kristin Herndon, Keagan O’Riley, Ashley Thompson, and Audrey Trimble. But unless the school board changes its mind, this will be the last-ever softball game played at North Nodaway, unless the Mustangs win districts and get to host a sectional or quarterfinal game.
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