Warriors hold off Bison

Rockford advances to second round game today

By John Burbridge

Sports@charlescitypress.com

ROCKFORD — You heard this query before.

If a ball is ruled fair when hitting the foul pole, shouldn’t it be called the “fair” pole?

When North Iowa’s Rachel Schutter battered Rockford starter Marissa Norby’s offering off the steel mesh extending from the top of the left-field “fair” pole, it was good for three runs which suddenly gave the Bison a 4-3 lead in the top of the third in the opening round of the Class 1A Region 2 softball tournament on Monday.

But the Warriors responded with three runs in their half of the frame, and managed to hold off and contain several Bison threats the rest of the way while advancing to the second round with a 6-5 victory.

Skylar Schmitt’s RBI double tied the game in the third inning. Rockford took the lead for good when Kylie Volbrecht’s hot liner that was too much for North Iowa third baseman to handle scored Schmitt.

With the wind blowing out and getting stronger as the game progress, just about anyone who put the ball in the air was a home run threat.

After giving up back-to-back singles to Tayler Hinders and Jenna Govern to start the sixth inning, Norby and company soon found themselves in a bases loaded jam with just one out.

But Norby was able to get Rachel Hassebroeck — who already had two hits in the game — to pop out before striking out Jessica Govern to end the inning with no damage.

In the seventh, North Iowa starting pitcher Cassidy Sach had an RBI double to draw the Bison within one. But she was left stranded as Norby got the next two batters out.

Rockford (16-10) will host Colo-Nesco at 5:30 p.m. today.

ROCKFORD 6, NORTH IOWA 5
Scoring By Innings

NI 013 00 1 — 5 8 6

RF 033 000 X — 6 4 2

WP — Marissa Norby (RF) 7 IN, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 8 SO.

LP — Cassidy Sach (NI) 6 IN, 4 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO).