Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

FORT DODGE – Regina returned to a familiar spot on Wednesday when it reached the state title game for the second consecutive season.

The latest championship game appearance came in relatively stress-free and therefore unusual fashion for the Regals.

Top-ranked Regina avoided a deficit for the first time in its last five state tournament games cruising to a 13-1 five-inning win over fifth-ranked Interstate 35 (26-13) in a Class 2A state semifinal at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

“It was nice to have a game where we could relax and a game where the girls could have a little more fun and not have so much pressure,” Regina coach Angela Kessler said. “The way our girls play here sometimes I wonder if they feel pressure at all but today was fun.”

Defending 2A champion Regina scored four first-inning runs and got four hits from seniors Dani Laughlin and Courtney Kessler while advancing to the state title game for the sixth time in the past nine seasons.

Regina (29-8) will seek to become the first back-to-back champion in Class 2A since BCLUW in 2010 when it faces either second-ranked Van Meter (35-5) or third-ranked Central Springs (26-5) in the title game on Friday at 5 p.m.

The Regals, which have won four titles and reached the state title game four consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018 have never won back-to-back championships.

“That would mean the world to us,” Laughlin said of a second straight title. “The four seniors we really want to go out with a title and we know our team has our back. Even getting to that game for us means the entire world. It would be so insane if we went back-to-back and I really feel like we can do it.”

Senior pitcher Ashley Webb allowed just one run on three hits and struck out seven in a five-inning complete game.

Kessler ended the game via run-rule with a three-run home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth.

“It was so fun, I am really excited to see how this momentum translates over to our championship game,” Courtney Kessler said. “Run ruling a team going into the championship game I think that everyone is on cloud nine and I’m excited to take that into Friday.”

Laughlin and Kessler each went 4-for-4 as Regina hammered 13 hits in its 11^th consecutive postseason win over the past two seasons.

Kessler had a double and a home run among her four hits, scored four times and set a Class 2A state tournament record with six RBI.

Laughlin scored three runs and Gabby Sueppel and Webb each had two hits and drove in two runs.

“We talked a lot after the last game about how their at bats weren’t necessarily the at bats we wanted every at bat,” Angela Kessler said. “This game we decided we were going to have our at bat every at bat and today they came out and they executed.”

The Regals trailed in all three state tournament wins on its way to the fourth title in program history a year ago.

Regina then needed to dig out of 1-0 and 3-2 deficits in a 4-3, eight-inning quarterfinal win over No. 11 Northeast on Tuesday.

There was no drama in Wednesday’s semifinal.

The first seven Regina batters reached base as the Regals sent nine to the plate in a four-run first inning.

Kessler and Webb each had RBI singles in the first and Morgan Gahan drew a bases loaded walk to score a run in the four-run first inning.

“It was everything I could have asked for,” Webb said. “As soon as I saw our bats in the first inning I just knew I had to keep myself composed on the mound and control what I could and it would be good.”

Regina scored in every inning but the third, adding two runs in the second and four in the fourth before Kessler put the game away with her third home run on the season in the fifth.

“I think we are really coming together,” Laughlin said. “I have never seen a better version of our team than in that game.”

Interstate 35                         000  10  –   1    3   3

Regina                                    420  43  –  13  13  0

W – Ashley Webb                              L – Katie Murphy

2B – ICR: Courtney Kessler

HR – ICR: Courtney Kessler

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.