While the top half of the bracket in the Class 5A state softball tournament has gone according to form this week, the bottom half has produced some unexpected results. Sixth-ranked Pleasant Valley and No. 7 Muscatine both pulled off upsets in the quarterfinals on Monday, then the Spartans avenged last year’s quarterfinal loss to Muscatine in the semifinals on Wednesday to advance to Thursday’s championship game against No. 1 Ankeny Centennial.
So what will happen later today at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge? Here is Ankeny Fanatic’s prediction for the title game:
No. 1 Ankeny Centennial (35-5) vs. No. 6 Pleasant Valley (32-9): The Jaguars have been dominant in their first two games at state, routing Bettendorf and Southeast Polk by a combined margin of 18-2. Mady Ott went a combined 3-for-4 in the two wins, scored four runs and drove in four more–highlighted by a three-run homer on Wednesday. Mackenzie James went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in both games, while Addi Starr also has four hits in the tournament. Lauren Gustofson has continued to shine in the pitcher’s circle, allowing just one earned run and racking up 12 strikeouts across 10 innings. Gustofson will face a Pleasant Valley lineup that is led by Iowa State recruit Jessie Clemons. Clemons went 3-for-4 and hit her 13th home run of the season in the Spartans’ 7-1 win over Muscatine. Mary Paige Withers also homered and knocked in four runs. Kaitlyn Merkel and Grace George shared the pitching duties this season for Pleasant Valley, but Merkel has gone the distance in both games at the tournament. She tossed a five-hitter in a 5-4 win over defending champion Waukee Northwest on Monday, then threw a four-hitter against Muscatine. The Spartans are seeking their third title since 2017, while Centennial is looking to capture its first crown after placing third in 2020 and second in 2021. Two years ago, the Jaguars advanced to the championship game before dropping a 2-0 decision to Fort Dodge. Payton Drefke, Gustofson, James, Sydney Morris and Starr were all starters on that team, and they haven’t forgotten the disappointment of falling one win shy of their ultimate goal. I don’t think history will repeat itself. Prediction: Ankeny Centennial 5, Pleasant Valley 2.