Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

FORT DODGE – The Regina softball program has done a lot over the past nine seasons.

Since 2015 the Regals have made seven state tournament appearances, reached the Class 2A championship game six times and won three titles.

One thing Regina has not done during a dominant nearly decade-long run, or ever, is win back-to-back state titles.

The Regals will try to change that on Friday.

Top-ranked Regina (29-8) will attempt to become the first repeat champion in 2A since BLCUW in 2010 when it faces second-ranked Van Meter (36-5) in the 2A championships game at 5 p.m. at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

“You always want to leave a program better than you found it,” Regina senior catcher Courtney Kessler said. “Especially as a senior, with this being my last game in a Regina uniform I would love to give everyone at Regina that back-to-back title before I leave and I’d love to take that with me as a go on too.”

Regina is certainly no stranger to the spotlight of the state title game.

Among the premier small school programs in the state over the past decade Regina played for the state title four straight seasons from 2015 to 2018 claiming 2A crowns in 2015 and 2017.

Regina won the fourth title in program history, all since 2011, last season with a 6-4 win over Wilton in the championship game.

“I’ve always thought about what the coaches before me were doing because they did stuff right,” Regina coach Angela Kessler said. “They did amazing things before I got here. Regina softball has had that reputation for a long time as coach (Jon) Prottsman led this program phenomenally before I got here.”

Regina will attempt to add to its title count on Friday with its first set of back-to-back titles.

The Regals have been the favorites to repeat in 2A since the season opener.

Regina was number one in the preseason rankings and entered the state tournament top-ranked and the top seed.

The Regals reached the title game with a 4-3 quarterfinal win over Northeast and a 13-1 victory of fifth-ranked Interstate 35 in the 2A semifinals.

A win in the title game would give Regina its first 30-win season since 2017 and seven consecutive state tournament wins dating back to a 2021 consolation win.

“That would mean the world to us,” Regina senior center fielder Dani 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.”

To earn a second consecutive title Regina will need to get past Van Meter for a second year in a row.

Regina rallied for a 6-5 win over Van Meter in its state opener a year ago.

Van Meter defeated Missouri Valley 7-1 in the quarterfinals and held on for a 10-9 win over third-ranked Central Springs in the semifinals on Thursday.

A win on Friday will add to an already impressive legacy for Regina.

“There is a great legacy at Regina and if you play here or coach here you can see it,” Angela Kessler said. “It’s a legacy that I have a very, very tiny part in but I think that helps give these girls a lot of pride to play for this team. Playing for a team that has that pride is huge.”

No 1. Regina (29-8) vs. No. 2 Van Meter (36-5)

When: Friday, 5 p.m.

Where: Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge

Top players: Regina – Dani Laughlin, Sr., .620 BA, 48 Runs, 19 RBI; Courtney Kessler, Sr., .557 BA, 17 2B, 3 HR, 59 RBI. Van Meter – Maddie Waldorf, Jr., .500 BA, 7 HR, 64 RBI; Macy Blomgren, Sr., .461 BA, 10 HR, 47 RBI.

About the Bulldogs: Van Meter enters the state title game red-hot riding a 14-game winning streak after a 10-9 semifinal win over third-ranked Central Springs.

The Bulldogs are seeking the second state title in program history and first since downing Regina 3-0 in the 2016 title game.

Van Meter has scored 16 runs in its two state tournament wins and has been among the best offensive teams in 2A all season averaging 8.9 runs per game.

Four Bulldogs are hitting over. 430 on the season led by junior Maddie Waldorf who is hitting .546 with seven home runs and leads 2A with 64 RBI.

Senior Macy Blomgren is the Van Meter career home run leader with 33 and is batting .461 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI this season.

Blomgren and Waldorf have combined to go 7-of-11 with seven RBI in two games at the state tournament.

About the Regals: Regina has continued its state tournament magic this season pushing its winning streak at Rogers Sports Complex to six with wins over Northeast and Interstate 35.

After needing a run in the eighth inning to upend No. 11 Northeast 4-3 in the quarterfinals the Regals rolled to a 13-1 five-inning victory over fifth-ranked Interstate 35 in the semifinals.

Just as it has all season Regina has relied on a balanced lineup to produce behind the pitching of senior standout left-hander Ashley Webb.

Webb is 18-6 on the season with a 1.49 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 178 in 131 2/3 innings.

Dani Laughlin leads Regina with a .620 batting average and has scored 48 runs while senior catcher Courtney Kessler is hitting .574 with three home runs and a team-high 59 RBI.

Kessler is 6-for-7 in two state tournament games with two doubles a home run and seven RBI and Laughlin is 5-of-7 with a triple and two RBI.

What to watch: This is number one versus number two title game matchup that most wanted and many have expected for much of the season.

On paper there isn’t much that separates these two powerful programs.

Each team has excellent pitchers and explosive offenses and have demonstrated the intangibles it takes to win at the state tournament.

Regina had come from behind to win four consecutive games at state before its 13-1 semifinal win over Interstate 35.

Van Meter trailed early in each of its two victories at state this season before getting rolling.

Regina trailed 4-0 after two innings in its quarterfinal contest with Van Meter last season before rallying for a 6-5 win.

While no lead will be safe on Friday the team that strikes first could have a big advantage in a game where both pitchers are capable of settling in and being dominant.

Watch for a pair of teams that put up big offensive numbers to play for a single run early in a game where momentum will be key.

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