Your Prep Sports

FORT DODGE – Regina was six outs away from the state championship game twice on Wednesday.

Both times Grand View Christian used big sixth innings to stop the Regals from advancing.

Grand View Christian (31-4) used a pair of late rallies to down Regina twice on Wednesday at the Class 2A state tournament at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

The Thunder scored five runs in the sixth inning on its way to an 11-8 game on Wednesday afternoon to force a winner-take-all second game.

Grand View Christian scored four runs in the sixth inning of the rematch in a 4-2 win that completed a four-game run through the backside of the bracket for the Thunder.

Second-ranked Grand View Christian will face eighth-ranked Wapsie Valley (21-7) in the 2A state title game on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Wapsie Valley advanced to the championship with a 5-1 win over No. 11 Logan-Magnolia on Wednesday.

Regina finished the season 23-12.

In the first meeting with Grand View Christian on Wednesday Regina scored a run in each of the first four innings to build a 4-1 lead.

Grand View Christian rallied to take a 6-4 lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth but the Regals responded.

Regina took an 8-6 lead with a four-run sixth inning that featured a two-run double by Keegan Kleppe and an RBI double by senior Harper Erwin.

The Thunder answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning all coming with two outs.

Sophie Bird gave Grand View Christian a 9-8 lead with a three-run home run and Harper Rosado added a two-run home to push the lead to 11-8.

It was a similar blueprint for the Thunder in the rematch.

Regina took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning.

Maggie White singled with one out and scored on a Lily Nibaur double to break a scoreless tie.

Lexi Gaffey doubled to right field with two outs to plate Nibaur and give the Regals a 2-0 lead.

Grand View Christian did all its damage in the sixth.

Jada Rogers and Livy VanDerSluis singled to start the inning and scored on a two-run single up the middle by senior Maiah Murphy.

A double by Rosado gave the Thunder a 3-2 lead and Grace Kruse added an RBI triple that pushed the lead to 4-2.

Nibaur had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run for Regina while Gaffey was 3-for-3 with an RBI.

White had a hit and scored a run for Regina.

Nibaur took the loss allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two in six innings.

Chloe Cox earned the win for Grand View Christian allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one and walking one.

Game 1

Regina                                   111  104  0  –   8   14  3

Grand View Christian          100  145  x  –  11  12  2

W – Eperlie Weitzel                           L – Lily Nibaur

2B – ICR: Harper Erwin, Keegan Kleppe (2). GVC: Livy VanDerSluis, Harper Rosado

HR – GVC: Harper Rosado, Chloe Cox, Sophie Bird

Game 2

Regina                                   002  000  0  –  2  5  0

Grand View Christian          000  004  x  –  4  5  0

W – Chloe Cox                       L – Lily Nibaur

2B – ICR: Lexi Gaffey, Lily Nibaur. GVC: Harper Rosado

3B – GVC: Grace Kruse

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