Wolves avenge Panthers, now one win from state

Clutch hitting, timely defensive plays push second-ranked IKM-Manning softball team past Panorama 8-1

 IRWIN (July 6) -- Same round, same town, same teams.
 And just like two years ago, Panorama came to play for Friday night’s Class 2A regional semifinal at 2nd-ranked IKM-Manning.
 This time the Wolves were ready too, producing big two-out runs in the early innings, making timely defensive plays behind senior pitcher Peyton Gross and pulling away late to beat the upset-minded Panthers 8-1 at the Irwin softball diamond.
 Panorama, which finished 11-12 overall, made at least six above-average defensive plays and put together several long at-bats against Gross - one lasting 12 pitches - but couldn’t duplicate the firepower of its come-from-behind 8-4 regional win at IKM-M in 2016.
 Gross and Payton Sporrer both drove in three runs and Gross fired a three-hitter with four walks and nine strikeouts as the 24-2 Wolves advanced to their first regional final in three years - when they last went to state.
 IKM-Manning hosted No. 15 Earlham (26-11) in Monday’s Region 3 final.
 “We wanted ‘em bad,” said IKM-M shortstop Paige Gaskill, who turned in two late-game web gems Friday and hit an RBI double in the sixth. Gaskill is one of six Wolves’ seniors who played in the previous regional loss to Panorama.
 “We were talking about it before the game how two years ago they beat us and we wanted revenge this year for sure,” she said.

 
 

 

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