Crusaders ousted in gut-wrenching regional semis

ALBIA – Holy Trinity’s Emily Ross is the only senior leaving the Lady Crusaders softball team this year. But that made Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Seymour in the Class 1A Region 1 semifinals very tough on Head Coach Loren Menke,
The coach who brought the HTC softball team out of the ashes in 2019 after a six-year hiatus, was in tears following the gut-wrenching loss Saturday. The game was played in Albia due to Friday’s thunderstorms putting a pinch on quality fields, as well as the number of umpires available with almost all five classes playing games that day.
“I feel terrible for Emily Ross. I just wanted to…she’s worked so hard,”  Menke said after the loss.
“I really wanted this for her.  She’s been a great leader and great team player and I just wanted this so bad for her.”
The actual move to Albia could have had an impact on the game.
In the top of the fourth inning tied at 1 with one out, sophomore Kenna Gittings belted a deep shot down the right field line that hit the fence at the bottom, a fence that was 210 feet at the foul pole. Most Iowa girls softball fences are 190 minimum down the lines per regulations.
Gittings ended up at third and then would get picked off after a run down to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, McKayla Simpson belted a shot to right center that Seymour’s Brynn Merritt bobbled and caught running back at the fence.
“We have two home runs today if not for a 210-foot field, and that’s very frustrating,” Menke said.
Seymour got on the board first in the bottom of the first when eighth-grader Kallie Peck drove an RBI single to center scoring Leah Rinchiuso who singled to open the frame for the Warriorettes.
HTC would tie things up in the top of the second. Gittings reached on a bunt single and would swipe second and get to third on an errant throw. Caydn Holmes would then hit a grounder to third and would reach with Seymour holding Gittings at third. But the Crusader would score on the next at bat when Morgan Krogmeier hit into a fielder’s choice to Peck in the circle to tie things at one. It would be the Crusaders only run of the game.
Starting pitcher Sydney Jarvis dialed it in from that point putting the Warriorettes down in order in the second. With one out in the top of the third, HTC’s Alivia Holmes singled to left field and slid into second when the throw got past the second baseman.

Simpson then hit a shallow fly to left field that was mishandled and Holmes was gunned down at third trying to advance on the play, leaving Simpson at second. A ground out would end the threat.
“I got a little too aggressive. I was focused on the left fielder more than I was on Alivia and I guess I got too aggressive there,” Menke said.
Jarvis struck out two of her 11 on the day in the bottom of the third and a fly out set Seymour down in order again. However, the Warriorettes would get what would amount to the winning run in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Robertson would rip the first pitch down the right field line. Peck would then hit into a fielder’s choice and would reach as Krogmeier held Robertson at third. Robertson would score on a ball that just got under the glove of catcher Ellie Hellman and took a slow roll to the backstop.
HTC had one more chance in the top of the seventh. Ross popped out to short and the Gittings would reach on a dropped third strike. She ran into the girl at first base standing on the bag, but wasn't given an extra base for interference despite the ball going into the right field. She would swipe second, her second stolen base of the game, and then took third four pitches later with two outs. But Peck would get a strikeout to end the game stranding Gittings at third.
Gittings, who transferred to HTC to play softball under Menke this year said her first year with the Crusaders was amazing.
“This was my first year with them. I think we did amazing. I got to get closer to all the girls and make new friends. We were pretty good as a team,” she said.
She said she tried to make some things happen in the fourth and again in the seventh standing at third.
“We were trying to get something going there, but it just didn’t work out.” Gittings said.
“What she did there - that was something with her speed that she can do to try and create a look. And it was something we've talked about with her. But it was something she decided to do, and unfortunately it didn't work out. If it does work out she's a hero,” Menke said.
“I’m super proud of these girls. They’ve put in so much time and so much hard work, but we’ve got a great foundation.
Ross finished the year hitting .293 with 15 RBI and eight doubles. Jarvis was the top hitter and pitcher for the Crusaders in just her sophomore year. She had 15 doubles, four home runs and drove in 49 runs at a .593 clip. She was also 16-5 on the year with 2.41 ERA in the circle.
The 20 wins Menke’s team compiled this year (20-8) is the best mark in school history.