State championship chase ends for Newell-Fonda

Mustangs beat No. 3 Lisbon in consolation round, 7-1

Anna Bellcock collected three hits and drove in four runs in her final game, Kierra Jungers pitched a complete game, and Newell-Fonda used a fast start to beat Lisbon 7-1 in a Class 1A state consolation game on Wednesday at Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.

With the win, the Mustangs officially tied for fifth place in the Class 1A state tournament.

In a rematch of last year’s state championship game, Newell-Fonda scored three runs in the first inning and were never threatened after that as Jungers shut out the Lions in the final six innings.

After Lisbon plated a run in the top of the first inning, Bellcock delivered a two-out two-run single to put the Mustangs ahead for good at 2-1.

Bellcock would later deliver a two-run single to highlight a three-run sixth inning that made it 7-1.

Bellcock had three singles to lead the Mustangs. Mia Walker added two singles and Jungers had a single.

Bellcock had four RBI while Walker and McKenna Sievers each drove in a run. Walker and Macy Sievers scored two runs apiece.

Jungers pitched all seven innings and picked up her 27th of the season. She gave up an unearned run on four hits while striking out 12 and walking one.

After committing four errors in their 7-2 state quarterfinal loss to Martensdale-St. Marys on Tuesday, the Mustangs committed just one error against Lisbon.

“The girls responded with high energy and positive attitudes after a setback,” Newell-Fonda coach Courtney Darrow said. “That shows a lot of character and grit from these girls to come back the next day and get a ‘W’. To have only two girls from last year’s state championship team stay in their fielding spots and be able to come back down to state says a lot about their work ethic and unselfishness to be willing to change to give our team the best chance at winning. Our two seniors, Anna and Macy, have had an excellent softball career playing at state five years in a row. They are handing off a program to the next generation in better hands than when they came into it. They continued the Newell-Fonda legacy and these younger girls are even hungrier to get back here and continue it.”

Newell-Fonda concludes the season with a record of 36-5.