2A Regional Softball: Jones, AHSTW hold off Mo. Valley 3-2, setting up semifinal at No. 4 West Monona

 AVOCA (July 10) -- AHSTW pitcher Kailey Jones retired the side in order five times in seven innings and leadoff batter Katie Anzalone scored two runs Wednesday night to lead the Lady Vikes past Missouri Valley 3-2 in a Class 2A regional softball quarterfinal in Avoca.
 AHSTW had beaten Mo. Valley twice in the regular season but the Lady Reds had yet to face Jones, who pitched no-hit ball for five and two-thirds innings before Ashlyn Cook’s bunt single sparked a two-run rally in the top of the sixth. Jones (5-6) regrouped to retire the last four batters on ground balls, completing a three-hitter with just one walk and two strikeouts.
 The Lady Vikes (12-10) advanced to face fourth-ranked West Monona (29-5) in a Region 3 semifinal Friday in Onawa.
 “(Jones) can really put the ball wherever she wants it and she’s got a variety of pitches,” said first-year AHSTW head coach G.G. Harris, noting that Jones’ first-pitch strike efficiency is close to 65 percent on the season as she’s issued just four walks in 73 innings.
 AHSTW managed just four hits off Mo. Valley pitcher Ashlyn Cook (7-8), but led nearly wire-to-wire.
 Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Anzalone raced all the way to third on a wild throw to first by Cook and came home two batters later on Paige Osweiler’s roller back to the circle despite Cook first looking her back.
 Natalie Hagadon led off the third with a walk but was forced out at second on Anzalone’s bunt. Anzalone promptly stole second and scored on an Ally Meyers’ single to right. Hagadon started another rally in the fifth with a double into the left field corner. Anzalone bunted her to third and a Meyers ground ball brought her home to make it 3-0.
 Baylee Meyers added a double for AHSTW and Sydney Zimmerman singled.

Class 2A, Region 3 Softball Tourney
First Round Scores: Monday, July 8
IKM-Manning 12, Tri-Center 2 (5)    Logan-Magnolia 9, Clarinda 2
Quarterfinal Scores: Wednesday, July 10
#4 West Monona 10, IKM-M 0 (5)    #9 Mount Ayr 4, Logan-Magnolia 0
AHSTW 3, Missouri Valley 2        Underwood 9, Sidney 0
Semifinal Pairings: Friday, July 12
AHSTW (12-10) at #4 West Monona (29-5), 7:00 p.m.
Underwood (16-10) at #9 Mount Ayr (23-2), 7:00 p.m.
Regional Final: Monday, July 15 (Site TBD), 7:00 p.m.