Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

FORT DODGE – One big inning turned into a second consecutive state title for Regina.

Top-ranked Regina exploded for six runs in the third inning and captured its second straight state title with a 6-2 win over second-ranked Van Meter in the Class 2A state title game on Friday at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

“It feels amazing,” Regina senior center fielder Dani Laughlin said. “It’s an unreal feeling. It feels like we were just doing this last year and we are here doing it again. It’s so exciting.”

Regina (30-8) sent 11 batters to the plate and had seven hits in the pivotal six-run third inning that erased an early 1-0 deficit.

Senior 2A all-tournament team captain Ashley Webb took care of the rest striking out six in a complete game six-hitter as Regina became the first back-to-back 2A champion since BCLUW in 2010.

“It’s a dream,” Webb said. “Every since I was a little girl I’ve wanted to be in this spot so it’s amazing to be able to do this.”

The title completed an impressive season for Regina which opened the season atop the Class 2A rankings after downing Wilton in the 2A title game last season.

Regina outscored three state tournament opponents 23-6 this week while winning the fifth title in program history and the first back-to-back crowns.

“Every team out there wants to beat you when you are number one but we kept pushing and when we got here this week we kept calm,” Regina junior shortstop Gabby Sueppel said. “Tonight we played our game.”

The first three batters of the game reached base for Van Meter (36-6) as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead.

Regina quickly erased that lead in the third.

Leadoff hitter Avery Kies started the Regina rally with a one-out double and Laughlin reached on a ground ball back to pitcher Macy Blomgren.

Laughlin then took off for second, getting caught in a run down long enough for Kies to score from third to tie the game.

That was the spark Regina needed.

“I thought that was huge because they probably weren’t expecting it,” Laughlin said. “I think it frazzled them when we got the run and I was safe at second, it was really a momentum changer.”

Kessler gave Regina the lead with an RBI single to left.

That was just the start for Regina.

“We really jumped on it, hits are contagious and when the energy is flowing we go,” Courtney Kessler said. “It was amazing to see that much production in one inning.”

Kennedy Connor, Morgan Gahan, Jillian Panther and Alli Clark had consecutive two-out RBI singles to give Regina a 6-1 lead it would never give up.

“We talked a lot about starting to have our at bats,” Regina coach Angela Kessler said. “That first time through the lineup we definitely did not have any patience we just didn’t want to get a hit. We talked about our plan in the box and execution of that plan and after we talked about that everyone kind of relaxed and did it and that was fun to watch.”

Webb took care of the rest while improving to 19-6 on the season.

She allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking four but didn’t allow a run over the final three innings.

Webb allowed just one hit after an RBI single by Halle Karaidos in the fourth inning.

Panther had two hits for Regina as eight different Regals had a hit in the championship game.

Five different Regals had an RBI and fiver different players scored a run.

Laughin, Sueppel and Kessler joined Webb on the Class 2A all-tournament team.

“This goes to the hard work, it’s so hard in this day and age to teach kids that hard work pays off sometimes,” Kessler said. “This is an absolute tribute to all the hard work they put in to this and that’s fun for me to watch.”

Van Meter                            100  100  0  –  2  6  1

Regina                                    006  000  x  –  6  9  3

W – Ashley Webb                              L – Macy Blomgren

2B – ICR: Gabby Sueppel, Avery Kies, Jillian Panther. VM: Beth Button

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