Rother Hits Clutch Home Run to Send Warhawks to State

West Fork softball is heading back to the state tournament for the second season in a row after having never made it in school history before that. The Warhawks moved onto state after defeating the Central Springs Panthers 3-2 in a thrilling extra-inning affair. The game ended in the bottom of the eighth when sophomore first baseman Brooke Rother smashed a game-winning walk-off home run over the left-center field fence. Rother was ecstatic when talking about the clutch home run. 

“I have other girls that can hit on the team but I was like I want it,” Rother said. “I want it for me and want it for the team. So coming into the at bat I knew I had to get a good hit and run hard. I wanted to cry but I didn’t.” 

The game was a back and forth affair as the Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Warhawks tied the game on an RBI double by junior right fielder Brylee Dickman in the bottom of the second inning. The game would stay in a 1-1 tie until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Warhawks took their third lead of the game on an RBI double from senior center fielder JoAnna Wallace. The Panthers would tie the game back up in the top of the sixth inning, before senior pitcher Libby Trewin held down the Panthers in the top of the seventh and eighth innings. Trewin picked up her 21st win of the season, pitching all eight innings and only allowing two runs on five hits while striking out 14 panther batters. Rother’s walk-off blast in the bottom of the seventh inning, won the game for the Warhawks and clinched their spot in the IHSAA 1A state tournament. Head coach of the Warhawks, Sadie Winfrey, discussed how her team was able to keep calm under the pressure of the moment.

“We just remembered one play at a time,” Winfrey said. “Not getting too flustered in the moment and they are very good at getting out of some stressful situations. I am very proud of them for not crumbling in those high pressure situations.” 

The Warhawks won the region eight tournament and now stand with a record of 22-6 and 10-3 in conference. The Warhawks advanced to the state tournament in Fort Dodge, where they will be the fifth overall seed. They will take on the fourth overall seed in the tournament, the Durant Wildcats, in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday, July 22 at 12:45 p.m. If the Warhawks were to win, they would play in the semifinals on Wednesday and the state championship is scheduled for Friday. Coach Winfrey explained how the Warhawks can best compete for the state championship. 

“We just need a little bit of rest and preparation,” she said. “It’s exciting to be there twice, considering we had never been there before last year. So just making the most of it and hoping we can do better than last year.”