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Waukee rolls into 5A semis

Class 5A top-ranked Waukee served notice to the rest of the field — It’s going to take a lot to beat the Warriors.

The No. 1 ranked team in the state made quick work of Ottumwa in a quarterfinal game Tuesday at Rogers Park, scoring early and often for an 8-0 win over the Bulldogs.

Waukee banged out 11 hits to win for the 14th straight time and run its record to 39-3.

The Warriors, who reached the 5A state title game in their last two trips to state, will meet Johnston in a 5A semifinal tonight at 7 on the Krueger Seeds Field.

Waukee claimed a state title in 2015 and was second in 2017.

“We just wanted to jump on them and be aggressive,” said Waukee coach Carrie Eby, whose team scored five runs in the second inning to break things open early.

“That just takes so much pressure off our pitchers and relaxes our defense and we can get things rolling.”

Waukee prepared itself throughout the regular season with a staunch schedule.

The Warriors own wins over state qualifiers Fort Dodge, Valley, Iowa City High, North Scott, West Liberty (3A) and Dallas Center-Grimes (4A).

“Playing high quality teams has prepared us for this setting,” said Eby. “We’ve kind of stuck to the process. We worry about what we do and don’t worry about who we are playing.”

Senior Molly Jacobson started for the Warriors and got the win after working four innings. She was relieved by Elly Bates, who worked the final three innings.

They allowed just six hits combined.

“I’ve got two really good pitchers,” said Eby. “The plan was to use both of them and get them acclimiated to this atmosphere.”

Waukee and Johnston, who are in different conferences of the CIML, will be meeting for the first time this season.

“Coach will talk to us about Johnston and we’ll be ready,” said Jacobson. “We really just look at each game as we go and then move onto the next one.”

Leadoff hitter Delaney Taylor had two hits and drove in four runs for Waukee. Jalyn Yaukovitz drove in two runs as well. Ariana Rodriguez had two hits and scored two runs.

All nine players had at least one hit for Waukee.

The Warriors added three runs in the bottom of the third for an 8-0 lead.

“We know we can score runs,” said Jacobson. “Having a great defense behind us helps as well.”

Amber Shotts had two of Ottumwa’s six hits. The Bulldogs had some chances, but left seven runners on base.

Ottumwa (33-8) plays Indianola in a consolation game today at 1:30 p.m. on the Veterans Field.

WAUKEE 8, OTTUMWA 0

OTTUMWA 000 000 0 — 0 6 2

WAUKEE 053 000 x — 8 11 0

LOB–Ottumwa 7, Waukee 7; 2B–Ariana Rodriguez, Jalyn Yaukovitz. 3B–Reagan Bartholomew, Delaney Taylor. HBP–Kaylee Bix. SB–Carley Winn, Reagan Bartholomew, Ariana Rodriguez, Delaney Taylor.

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