Messenger photo by Britt KudlA: Twin Cedars teammates Ali Mockenhaupt and (7) Chloe Durian hug after beating Southeast Warren during the Class 1A championship game on Friday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Whoever was still at home in the town of Bussey on Friday could have heard a pin drop.

Most of the 387 people who live in the rural Iowa community were watching Twin Cedars claim golden glory at Rogers Park.

For the first time in 44 years and only the second in school history, the Sabers were playing at state this week.

It was a Cinderella matchup in the finals, with sixth-seeded Twin Cedars (29-3 overall) facing the fifth-seed Southeast Warren (25-5).

The Sabers put together a huge fourth inning and held on for a 6-3 Class 1A state championship victory.

“This team just came together,” said Twin Cedars Zack Dunkin, who earned career win No. 200. “We have five seniors who have led this team, and everyone brough this title home (collectively).”

Southeast Warren got on the board first in the bottom of the first, and had six of their nine hits off starting pitcher Grace Bailey before reliever Ali Mockenhaupt came in.

Mockenhaupt’s unconventional delivery altered the approach of the Warhawks.

Through the first three-plush innings of Mockenhaupt’s appearance, the Warhawks recorded only two hits, before getting to her for two in the sixth — a triple and a double — and two runs.

Doing what he’s done all season — switching his pitching rotation in and out — head coach Zack Dunkin then went back to Bailey, who sat the Warhawks down in order in the seventh and earned the save.

“We’ve done that all year,” Dunkin said. “With two drop ball pitchers that don’t throw super hard, it’s a good mix to keep the hitters off-balance.

“They know what each other brings and they know what the team needs to get wins.”

Trailing 1-0 in the top half of the third, the Sabers exploded. Jetta Sterner scored on a Brooke Robey ground out, and Grace Bailey’s ringing double plated Rylie Dunkin.

“This means so much to win this,” said Bailey, who was named the 1A all-tournament captain. “This team just understands the game.”

The big blow came on a two-run blast from all-tournament selection Jillian French. French came up big again in the fifth with a two-run double to the wall.

“I’m just really happy for our team,” French said. “It’s very emotional for us.

“We are just a confident group and worked very hard for this. These are celebration tears.”

The Warhawks’ first run came on an Emma King single to plate Ady Mason.

Southeast Warren put a rally together in the bottom half of the sixth, cutting the lead to 6-3. After an out was recorded, out of the nine hole, eighth-grader Lexi Clendenen painted the line in right field for a stand-up triple.

Senior Josie Hartman followed with an RBI double, and the final run for the Warhawks came on a sacrifice fly from junior Kaylee Tigner.

The Saber defense, which stepped up all night, came up big in the seventh inning as right fielder Kenzyn Roberts ranged to the line for an extra effort put-out.

Twin Cedars’ outfield came up with big plays as well, as they recorded eight total outs. Leftfielder Kisha Reed, who hadn’t had a ball hit to her all tournament, caught four fly balls and robbed a home run.

“With two drop ball pitchers, our outfielders don’t get a lot of work, because a lot of the hits are ground balls,” Dunkin said. “Kisha came up with some big plays.”

For Twin Cedars, Bailey, Mockenhaupt and French all had two hits. French drove in four, while Brooke Robey and Bailey added an RBI each.

Clendenen, who was on the all-tournament squad, was a perfect 3-for-3 for Southeast Warren. Breanna Nolte had two hits.

Hartman, Tigner and Emma King drove in runs.

TWIN CEDARS 6, SOUTHEAST WARREN 3

Twin Cedars 004 020 0 — 6 7 3

SE Warren 010 002 0 — 3 9 3

WP–Ali Mockenhaupt (7-0; 4.67 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO); S–Grace Bailey (2, 2.33 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO); LP–Alivia Ruble (19-3; 7 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO).

LOB–Twin Cedars 6, Southeast Warren 9; 2B–TC: Jillian French, Grace Bailey; SEW: Josie Hartman; HR–TC: French; HBP–TC: Kisha Reed; SACF–SEW: Kaylee Tigner; SACB–SEW: Natalie Geisler; SB–TC: Rylie Dunkin.