Timely hitting allows Chiefs to advance (Daily Gate City)

10 Jul 2017 by Zach C Summers

Jul 7, 2017

The Keokuk Chiefs used timely hitting to advance to the Class 4A Region 6 semifinals.

Keokuk scored five runs on two-out hits in defeating Fort Madison 7-2 in the softball regional Thursday at Joyce Park.

Keokuk, 22-17, plays Fairfield at 7 p.m. Saturday in Fairfield, 31-7. The Trojans, ranked third in 4A, had an opening round bye.

Fort Madison ends the season 10-27.

Keokuk, the visiting team on the scoreboard, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Michaela Davis walked and stole second. Makenzie Pezley was hit by a pitch and the runners advanced to third and second on a wild pitch. Jaelyn Wood blooped a single to left to score Davis. Jakala Hall grounded out, but the runners advanced to third and second, and Abby Arrowood drove in the second run with a fielder’s choice.

The Chiefs increased the lead to 3-0 in the third. Wood reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Aryn Kindig.

Keokuk added a run in the fourth inning. Shelby Haage walked with two outs and scored on a triple by Davis.

Fort Madison got the run back in the bottom of the fourth.

Lexi Schmidt singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sadie Smithburg walked with two outs, and Jada Lamm doubled to left field to score courtesy runner Teryn Parsons. Daylan Wondra, another courtesy runner, was stopped at third, but the inning ended when Vanessa Golowach flew out to Hall in left field.

The Bloodhounds pulled to within 4-2 in the fifth. Chayse Lowney was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Olivia Williams drove in Lowney with a double. Schmidt followed with a walk, but Kamryn Bailey flew out to Arrowood in right to end the threat.

Keokuk scored two insurance runs in the sixth. Haylee Broadwell was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She took second on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Davis with two outs. Davis stole second and scored on a single by Pezley.

The Chiefs finished the scoring in the seventh. Hall walked. Pinch runner Brooke O’Shea took second on a wild pitch and third on a ground out. She scored on a two-out single by Broadwell.

Davis was 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs batted in to lead Keokuk. Wood went 2 for 4 with a run batted in. Kindig was 1 for 2 with a run batted in. Pezley and Broadwell each were 1 for 3 with a run batted in. Hall went 1 for 3 with a double, and Arrowood drove in a run.

Pezley pitched a complete game for the win. She allowed two earned runs on four hits. Pezley walked two and struck out five to improve to 11-6 on the season.

Schmidt was 2 for 2 with a walk for Fort Madison, while Williams and Lamb each went 1 for 3 with a double and a run batted in.

Schmidt took the loss, allowing seven earned run on eight hits. She walked four, hit three and struck out three.

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