AGWSR takes Hardin County contest

ACKLEY – Even though Rachel Sicard has started more than her share of games in the circle for AGWSR, she readily admits pitching isn’t her forté.

So, when asked her thoughts of switching off with long-time battery mate Ali Gerbracht, Sicard is okay with that.

Especially when it adds up to a big 7-3 win over Iowa Falls-Alden in this Hardin County bragging rights game.

“Probably, most people know that pitching isn’t my go-to spot that I love to play,” Sicard said. “It’s not my first (choice). But, honestly, I like switching in the middle of the game, I like splitting games with people, it’s less (stress) on your body, less (stress) on your mental mind. I don’t have mental stability in pitching, but overall, it’s been fun, I like it.”

Gerbracht went four innings before the Cadets started hitting the ball hard against her, tying the score at 3-all before she took a throw from Alyssa Hames at center to cut down Elliot Wood, who was trying to leg out a triple.

“Rachel just needs a break once in a while,” AGWSR co-coach Scott O’Brien said. “You know? Ali is fine with it, we’ve used her for other games other times this year. It’s nothing about them, it’s just about Rachel-Ali-Rachel, what our plan was. Tomorrow night (against Grundy Center) we’ll start with Rachel, but don’t be surprised if Ali finishes. We’re going to do what it takes to get seven innings and whoever who gets three or four here, we’ll just see who gets through it.”

Sicard had a rare stolen base against IF-A in which she leapt over shortstop Marlee Lancaster in the third inning. When pitching, Sicard typically has a courtesy runner on the base paths for her.

“I think that is the first time running the bases this year,” Sicard said. “Honestly, I thought the catcher had dropped it and then when I noticed she didn’t, I was like, ‘oh crap!’ So then, I used to do hurdles and I thought, ‘oh, I’ll just hurdle her!’ So, I tried and was like, ‘oh no.’ I kind of toppled over.”

However, Sicard went off the bag and dove back in before the ball could be collected and the tag applied.

“I won’t say what I was thinking (about it),” O’Brien said of the play. “She hustled down there and had the wherewithal to see the ball on the ground and get back to the base. So, good for her.”

Sicard also reached on an error at right field that opened the door for the Cougars to go ahead for good in a three-run fifth inning.

Taylor Sperfslage hit an RBI single after a sacrifice bunt by Josie Winterberg and then a bunt single for Alyssa Hames set up a two-run single to center for Avery Lafrenz.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, I thought we executed on some plays, offensively, especially,” O’Brien said. “Moving runners on ground balls, to drive in base runners. Running the bases aggressively, hitting the ball where it’s pitched. Little things that just add up to runs. I was very pleased with how we executed ourselves.”

The Cougars added an insurance run in the sixth with a lead-off single by Gerbracht, her first of the game.

“Everybody was contributing,” O’Brien said. “If you want to be good in the post-season, you’ve got to be strong up and down the batting order.”

IF-A got a lead-off double in the seventh off Sicard by Wood, but nothing more to end the game.

Sicard is feeling good about getting the ability to play, albeit a shortened season.

“All of the girls have improved tremendously from the beginning of the season since we didn’t get to have spring ball,” Sicard said. “It’s been a very fast month that we’ve gotten to play and I’m really thankful that we’ve gotten to actually stick with it and go last senior season.”

AGWSR 7, IF-A 3

IF-A              000   300   0     -    3     4     3

AGWSR       012   031   x     -    7     6     0

Winning battery– Ali Gerbracht, Rachel Sicard (5) and Taylor Sperfslage, Gerbracht (5). Losing battery – Elise Osman and Elliot Wood. Two or more hits– IF-A (Wood); AGWSR (Sidney Schafer). 2B– IF-A (Wood 2, Eiley Nelson); AGWSR (Josie Winterberg). SAC– AGWSR (Winterberg). SB– IF-A (Makenna Meyer, Hailey Bridgewater, Marlee Lancaster, Nevada Larson); AGWSR (Gerbracht, Sicard, Sperfslage). HBP– IF-A (Rilee McKibben). RBI– IF-A (Nelson 2, Wood); AGWSR (Lafrenz 2, MaKenna Kuper, Sperfslage, Winterberg).