Area 2A teams set to get postseason started
By CRAIG MURPHY and TROY HYDE NDN Sports Writers
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| Ali Sanchez has been strong for Colfax-Mingo this year, both in the field at shortstop and at the plate. Sanchez and the Tigerhawks host Collins-Maxwell-Baxter Thursday night in first-round playoff action. Craig Murphy/Daily News file photo |
By the end of Thursday night, it’s guaranteed at least one local 2A softball team’s season will be done.
Collins-Maxwell-Baxter travels to Colfax to take on Colfax-Mingo in a first-round playoff game that kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday.
In order for PCM to avoid being the second 2A team to lose that evening, the Mustangs will have to avenge a loss to Iowa Valley.
The game is a rematch of a regional semifinal game Iowa Valley won last July. Iowa Valley won that game 2-1 as the PCM bats never got going.
Iowa Valley at PCM, 7 p.m. Thursday in Monroe
When these two teams met last year, Iowa Valley was seeking revenge for a playoff basketball loss.
This time, it’s the Class 2A No. 10 Mustangs (27-6) looking for revenge. And should PCM take down Iowa Valley Thursday, the road doesn’t get much easier.
Perennial powerhouse North Polk — the team that prevented a state trip for PCM two years ago — is in Region 4 this year, while the local 2A schools are all in the Region 6 bracket.
But a win Thursday would most likely set up a PCM date with No. 6 Pleasantville on Saturday evening — in Pleasantville.
“With teams ahead like Pleasantville, it doesn’t get any easier,” said PCM coach Cathy Hayden. “But we’re taking it one game at a time. Then we can talk about Saturday.”
PCM had a first-round bye last year, then dispatched C-M in the second round to set up the game with Iowa Valley.
The Mustangs struggled all night against the Tigers, recording just four hits on the night while giving up four walks and two runs in the first two innings.
Hayden said there were lessons learned from last year’s playoffs.
“We had Iowa Valley right after we beat Colfax-Mingo,” Hayden said. “We don’t want to be on a high, then drop to less than average like we did. One thing I like this year is that we have consistency at the plate.”
Hayden noted her team is certainly aware they are playing Iowa Valley again this year.
“The girls keep talking about it,” the coach said.
PCM has been strong despite playing most of the year without star catcher Emily Gilbert, who has been battling a wrist injury.
Gilbert, the recently graduated senior who will be playing softball at Iowa State, has been playing in a limited capacity the last couple of weeks, with Bri Zerley serving as the catcher.
“I’m still only allowed to play, at most, half a game,” Gilbert said following PCM’s 8-0 home win over Grandview Park Baptist Monday. “It’s not fun. I want to be there for the team.”
Hayden would love to have Gilbert play the full game, but understands the limitations.
“I’d love to have Emily back 100 percent,” Hayden said. “But what we’ve accomplished this year is with the team we have right now. We have the potential to do well. It is right there in front of us.”
CMB at Colfax-Mingo,
7 p.m. Thursday in Colfax
These two schools are only a few miles apart, yet they haven’t played each other yet this season. The Raiders and Tigerhawks were supposed to play last Thursday, but Mother Nature forced a cancellation.
“It is kind of unusual,” C-M coach Bryan Poulter said. “I wish we would have had a chance to play them. They are an aggressive team. They’ll put the ball in play and force you to make the outs and the plays. Our defense has to be ready at all times for any possibility. Our defense has to be very focused.”
CMB coach Troy Houge doesn’t quite know what not playing this game means to either team.
“Not playing the regular season could go either way,” Houge said. “It could be good that they haven’t seen us so they don’t know exactly what we like to do, which also could be said for them so I don’t know if it is good or bad.”
Defense, as well as pitching, has been solid of late for C-M (21-15).
“Early in the season we waffled back and forth between problems in one of the areas but since then, we have settled down in those areas,” Poulter said. “We’re getting consistency in the lineup and more consistency in the pitching staff.”
At the start of the season, the Tigerhawks struggled at the plate.
“I thought when the season started we would have a strong hitting team coming back,” Poulter said. “We started off slow in that area, and I’m not sure why. As of late, the girls have proven they can hit the ball well. The last couple of weeks they’ve been showing signs of hitting and executing well.
“If you split the season in half, in the second half hitting has been a strength,” Poulter added. “That’s what you hope for, that it’s coming together at this time and you’re starting to play your best ball. The three elements are all coming together.”
Poulter noted the focus in Colfax is squarely on CMB.
“We definitely are taking a one-game-at-a-time approach,” he said. “You don’t look ahead to the second game, because there might not be one.”
If the Tigerhawks do advance Thursday, there are three more games to win before making the state tournament.
“You’re going to have to play well, and you’re going to have to put the elements together to get out of the bracket,” Poulter said. “Every game you’ll have a tough opponent. Every game is one more that can get you to state. With the path we have, anything can happen. I think we can play with anybody out there.”
CMB started out slow in conference play this year but has been much better of late and even knocked off No. 10 PCM in Baxter last week. The confidence in the Raiders in growing by the game, and Houge expects that to continue as the playoffs begin.
“We have to stay confident in our abilities to stay successful,” Houge said. “We have played well recently, and that’s good to see heading into regionals. If the girls continue to believe in themselves, they have a chance to do well.”
While teams in the postseason have won games on the road before, Houge knows traveling to Colfax for the game is not an ideal situation for his Raiders.
“I think it can definitely be an advantage playing at home,” Houge said. “I know we didn’t lose very many games at home. Being able to make adjustments on the fly will determine if it is a big advantage for them or not.”
The Raiders are led at the plate by several different hitters. Jackie Coughenour and Abby Maher have been rock solid at the top of the order all season, while Jordan Maher, Zeah Peterson and Chelsi Birchmier provide a punch in the heart of the order. Hannah Paul and Jen Coughenour also have come on strong of late.
Houge is unsure who will pitch against the Tigerhawks. It will most likely either be Jessica Robinett or Ashley Jones.
“I know Colfax will be a tough opponent,” Houge said. “They hit the ball really well and put pressure on you when they are on base. Bottom line is this could be a very good game if both teams are ready to play.”
The Raiders enter the postseason with a 16-12 record following a 3-0 win over South Hamilton on Monday. The team started out conference play with a 1-4 record but went 10-2 in its final 12 games.
