—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort dodge graduate (2008) Courtney (Vaughn) darrow gives instructions to the Newell-Fonda softball team. After five seasons as an assistant coach, she is in her first season as head coach.

Golden Bears headed to state for first time

ACKLEY — The Bishop Garrigan softball team is headed for the state tournament.

The ninth-ranked Golden Bears plated a run in the first inning here Monday night, and it held up, as they bested No. 6 AGWSR, 1-0, in a Class 1A regional final.

Bishop Garrigan (29-6 overall) will be making its first-ever appearance at the state tournament next week in Fort Dodge at Rogers Park.

In the regional semifinals, the Cougars knocked off St. Edmond, 2-1, scoring a run in the seventh. AGWSR and all-state pitcher Taryan Barrick were the state runners-up a year ago.

The Golden Bears have won six in a row and eight of their last nine.

It’s been a banner season so far for the school, as the girls golf team captured a state title in the spring.

Up first for Bishop Garrigan at state will be Clarksville (31-1) next Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Algona pulls second upset on road

SPIRIT LAKE — Nothing was going to stop the Algona softball team from punching their ticket to the Class 3A state tournament.

After stunning third-ranked Humboldt last week, the Bulldogs topped Spirit Lake here Monday night, 8-3, waiting out a rain delay to earn their spot to Rogers Park in Fort Dodge next week.

Algona and Spirit Lake were tied 1-all after three before the Bulldogs (17-10 overall) answered with two runs in the fifth. The game was delayed for a brief time with Algona leading 3-1.

In the fifth, after waiting out the storm, the Bulldogs came alive with six runs to go up, 7-1.

Algona will take on defending state champion Davenport Assumption (38-2) next Monday night in the first round at 7 p.m.

Mustangs rally past Ridge View

NEWELL — The fourth-ranked Newell-Fonda softball team rallied for a 6-4 victory in a Class 1A regional final here Monday over Ridge View.

The Mustangs (37-5 overall) will carry a 18-game win streak with them to Fort Dodge and Rogers Park next week for the start of the state tournament. Their last loss came back on June 15 to defending 5A state champion Pleasant Valley, 6-1.

Newell-Fonda qualified for state last year, falling to eventual 1A champion Collins-Maxwell in the opening round, 5-0. They bounced back to finish with a victory, topping Martensdale-St. Mary’s, 14-10.

Down 4-2 in the sixth, the Mustangs plated four runs and Ella Larsen shut the door in the seventh. Larsen struck out three and was also 2-for-4 with a steal.

Olivia Larsen had two triples, two runs and drove in three, with Emma Stewart also recording two hits.

Newell-Fonda will face Lynnville-Sully (26-8) in the first round next Monday at 11:30 a.m.

Jags come up short vs. No. 7 Treynor

TREYNOR — The Southeast Valley softball team had their postseason run halted here Monday night, falling to seventh-ranked Treynor, 5-3, in a Class 3A regional final.

The Jaguars had posted wins over Carroll and Carroll Kuemper to reach the final game, finishing the season 23-15 overall.

Treynor, which returns to Fort Dodge and Rogers Park next week for the first time since 2013, jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to runs in the first and third. Southeast Valley, though, rallied to tie it in the fifth with a pair of runs before Treynor answered with three in the bottom of the inning.

Southeast Valley loses seniors Shelby Cummins, Morgan Castenson, Kasey Lundberg, Mady Jaeschke and Cassidy Lambert from the team. Castenson drove in a run with a double in the sixth, plating Kenzie Crampton.

Chloe Hicks had a two-run double in the fourth, plating Cassi Berglund and Cummins.

Raiders fall to No. 8 Central Springs

MANLY — The dream run for East Sac County came to an end here Monday night.

Eighth-ranked Central Springs posted a 6-0 victory over the Raiders in a Class 2A regional final.

East Sac County kept it close early, as both teams were scoreless through three.

The Panthers, though, hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to go up 3-0, adding another run in the fifth and another in the sixth on a third homer.

The Raiders had won three in a row in the postseason to reach the final, finishing the season 13-18. They lose just two seniors — Jacie Teague and Kara Wilkins — from the roster.

Central Springs returns to state for the fifth consecutive season. They topped Logan-Magnolia in the first round last year before falling to eventual state champion Louisa-Muscatine in the semifinals, 2-1.

The Panthers face Alta/Aurelia next Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the quarters.