Trending
For the second consecutive day, top-ranked and No. 1 seed Waukee Northwest started fast.
The Wolves plated four runs in the first inning on their way to a 4-1 victory over Dallas Center-Grimes in the Class 5A state softball tournament.
Sophia Schlader struck out 12, Alayna Schulte had two hits and both Maya Twigg and Meredith Thomsen each drove in a run for Waukee Northwest (38-4 overall), who won the 5A title last summer.
"(Dallas Center-Grimes) has some good hitters, so I was just trusting my stuff and my catcher, Kenley (Sanger)," Schlader said. "I know that the team has my back. I just love this team and I love playing with them."
Waukee Northwest has reached the elite eight field five straight seasons, winning it all in 2025 and 2022. They have won nine of 10 overall, with the lone loss coming to fellow 5A state qualifier Southeast Polk.
The Mustangs were able to get a run off Schlader in the fourth, as Tessa Jones plated Addie Abens. Five different players had a hit, with Jones recording a double.
WAUKEE NORTHWEST 4, DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES 1
DC-G 000 100 0 -- 1 5 1
WN 400 000 x -- 4 6 1
WP--Sophia Schlader (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 2 BB). LP--Kale Montag (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 0 BB).
2B--DCG: Tessa Jones; WN: Hazel Leinen. RBI--DCG: Tessa Jones; WN: Maya Twigg, Meredith Thomsen. SB--WN: Alayna Schulte.