You could cut the tension with a knife at the Decorah High School softball on Tuesday night. The Decorah Vikings (16-7, 13-4 NEIC) hosted the Crestwood Cadets (17-6, 10-4 NEIC) in what ended up being an edge-of-your-seat pair of games that were almost too close to call.
In the first contest, both teams refused to budge. Crestwood got one run in off a double in the first, but after that both teams confined each other to three up, three down when it came to at-bats.
That changed in the fourth, when Ellie Luzum rounded the bases with some missed Crestwood throws and a hit from Ella Kittelson. After Luzum stomped over home plate to tie, the teams were right back to a flurry of fly balls and strike outs, leading the game into an eighth inning.
The energy hit its peak leading into the extra inning, the crowd and dugouts exploding in applause for every little advantage their team gained. Crestwood got close to a lead in the top of the eighth, but Decorah catcher Kittelson was able to tag out Crestwood runner Britain Ferrie on her way to home for the third out, giving Decorah their much-needed turn at the plate.
Emma Johnson was first up to bat in the bottom of the eighth, and she ended up being the key to a Viking win. Making it to second off her hit due to a Crestwood error in the outfield, she set herself up to be hit home by Luzum and Fiona Buresh and win the tense game for Decorah, 2-1.
The nightcap started off just as close, with Decorah and Crestwood staying within one run of each other up until the fourth inning. With the 3-2 score in Crestwood’s favor going into the fifth, the Vikings decided to pull out all the stops.
Avery Shelton set up the Viking victory by hitting a double, followed by Buresh making it to second off a walk and a stolen base. With Shelton on third and Buresh on second, Lydia Ihde whacked a home run that plated three runs, propelling the Vikes into the lead. Cora Syverson was next up to bat, and she decided to hit a home run of her own, just for good measure.
Decorah held strong after that, letting only one hit come from Crestwood after the back-to-back homers. The game ended at the top of the seventh with Decorah taking the win, 6-3.
Regional next week
Decorah has one regular season game remaining at Oelwein tonight (Thursday, July 1) at 6:30 p.m. Class 4A Region 7 action will begin at home for the Vikings versus Dubuque Wahlert Thursday, July 8, at 7 p.m.
R H E
Crest 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 1
Decorah 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 7 1
Avery Shelton (WP) – 8IP, 1R, 1ER, 7H, 1BB, 3K
1B – Fiona Buresh 2; Emma Johnson 1; Ellie Luzum 1; Shelton 1; Ella Kittelson 1; Kallie Mincks 1; RBI – Buresh 1; SB – Buresh 1
R H E
Crest 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 6 3
Decorah 1 0 0 1 4 0 x 6 7 3
Johnson (WP) – 7IP, 3R, 2ER, 6H, 1K
HR – Lydia Ihde 1; Cora Syverson 1; Luzum 1; 2B – Shelton 1; Buresh 1; 1B – L. Ihde 1; Mya Numedahl 1; RBI – L. Ihde 3; Luzum 1; Syverson 1; SB – Buresh 1
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