KEOSAUQUA The road to Fort Dodge is officially underway.

In an instant, however, it came to an end this season for the young Cardinal softball squad.

The first round of Class 2A, Region 6 tournament playin Keosaqua on Monday night pitted two rivals and Southeast Iowa Superconferenceteams. Van Buren downed Cardinal 14-8 and will move on tonight to take on ninth-ranked Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremontin Eddyville.

Cardinal's team is made up of one senior, one sophomore, and everybody else is a freshman or eighth-grader. The young Comets, who have struggled this summer, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Maddy Cloke led off with a single, one of her two hits in the game, and later scored on a Warrior error. Lydia Moses, who reached on an error, also scored on the play.

"We've been able to do that some this summer," said Cardinal coach Sabrina Morrison. The two-time state championship player for the Comets wrapped up her first season as the head coach of the program.

Van Buren took the lead in the top of the second with a two-out rally that produced three runs. Hannah Hudson doubled, Grace Thomas beat out an infield hit, and Kortney Banks singled to drive in both runners. The third run scored on a Comet error.

The Warriors went up 7-2 after a four run fourth. They used five hits and a Comet error to score the runs. Hudson golfed a low pitch for her second double. One inning later, she flied out at the fence in center field.

"It's not hard to stay ready to hit in the dugout. Our coaches make sure we are mentally in the game," said Hudson. "I thought that last ball was going to get out."

Thomas' second hit drove in a run but the big hit was a two RBI double by Annalysa Noll. A hit from Hannah Heiserman drove in the final run.

The Comets, who have had trouble with big innings, gave up seven runs to the Warriorrs in the top of the sixth. Van Buren only needed three hits as the Comets contributed five errors, causing all seven runs to be unearned.

"Our defense has been better than that for most of the summer," said Morrison.

Thomas led off the Warrior sixth by drawing a walk. She would score all the way from second on a Comet error in the infield.

Thomas, who also made all the plays in center field, talked about her game.

"My speed plays a big role for my offense and defense," Thomas said. "I take the extra base whenever I can."

Sabrina Sayre singled for Van Buren and then the Warrior bench got involved. Pinch hitters, Darby Booth and Taylor Thornsberry each singled. Booths was good for an RBI.

After the Comets got the Warrior 11-hitter parade to the plate stopped, they came to bat in the bottom of the sixth down 14-2 and facing a shortened end to the game.

Cardinal did not go quietly. the first three hitters all reached base (a walk and two hits). Alexia McClure doubled in a run and Alexandra Herrera drove in two runs.

The game continued to the seventh and after Comet relief pitcher Megan Fitzsimmons blanked Van Buren in the seventh, the Comets headed to their last at bat down 14-5.

Again Cardinal cut into the Warrior lead. They used three hits and three Van Buren errors to score three times.

"We've been streaky on offense and defense some this summer," said Warrior coach Randy Smith. "We hit the ball okay tonight (12 hits) but we had way too many errors (six)."

Cloke's second hit, a double led off the Comet seventh. Two hitters later, Rachel Lewman singled in a run. Two Warrior errors after a single by Kassidy Verrips plated the seventh run and a ground out scored the third and final run in the 14-8 Warrior win.

"We made some OKcontact tonight but didn't hit enough balls solid," said Morrison.

Each coach and their team will have different roads ahead.

Morrison and the 2-26 Comets will be looking toward next summer.

"We will undoubtedly be better because of the experience for our young players," said Morrison. "Our pitching staff got stronger this season and will contribute to improve.

The Warriors (9-16) have a shorter road. Tonight they take on a highly ranked EBF team in Eddyville looking for a huge upset that would secure a berth in the Class 2A regional semifinal round.

"All the pressure is on them," said Smith. "We will need to be almost flawless and hang in there early."

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Warriors down Comets in regional softball opener - Ottumwacourier