Balance, Team Chemistry lead Lo-Ma to Fort Dodge
By Matt Gengler, Sports Editor
sports@missourivalleytimes.com
Timely hitting, gritty defense and stifling pitching are the ingredients for a successful softball season, and Logan-Magnolia’s softball team mixed all three together for their 20th win of the season in the Class 2A Regional Final on July 13 in Oakland.
The #11-rated Panthers knocked off #1 Riverside, 3-2, in the Class 2A Regional Finals, as the Panthers hoisted their first state softball banner since 2022.
GAME WINNER
Logan-Magnolia took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Kennedy Evans delivered a one-out single, and advance to second base on a wild pitch. Gracyn Stone blasted a line drive RBI double to the center field fence, allowing Evans to score the Panthers first and only lead of the night.
PANTHER TRAIL EARLY
Riverside struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Lo-Ma was not shaken. In the top of the third inning, Stone singled, and Maria Kiger reached on an error. After a sacrifice bunt moving the runners up one base, Maci Bertelsen ripped a hard-shot to third base, but Lo-Ma’s Stone slid under the tag to cut the lead to 2-1.
Abby Guritz delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the score us, as Kiger scored the Panthers second run.
LO-MA’S CHASE SOLID IN CIRCLE
Riverside put runners on base in every inning, but Campbell Chase didn’t get rattled. She scattered six hits, allowed two walks and two earned runs, finishing with eight strikeouts on the evening.
Class 2A Regionals – Finals
SB: 7-13-2026 @ Oakland
Logan-Magnolia (20-8) 002 001 0 3 8 1
Riverside (25-6) 200 000 0 2 6 1
Lo-Ma Hitting: Gracyn Stone 2-3, RS, 2b, RBI; Maria Kiger 2-3, RS; Maci Bertelsen 2-4, 2b, RBI; Abby Guritz 2-4, RBI; Kennedy Evans 1-2, RS.
Lo-Ma Pitching: Campbell Chase 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K.
