By Roger Thomas

Ottumwa Courier

OTTUMWA – Maddison Oden’s grounder to second allowed pinch runner Emily Hawk to slide in under the catcher’s tag in the bottom of the ninth to give the Centerville softball team a thrilling, extra-inning win over Keokuk in Class 3A regional softball action Monday. The 1-0 victory, played at Huston Field in Ottumwa, allows Centerville (29-10) to move on to the regional final game Wednesday night versus Fort Madison in Fort Madison.

Tatum Starcevich’s single in the third inning was the only Redette hit off Keokuk ace Hannah Washburn and yet Centerville was able to manufacture the win.

“I’m a little surprised because we have been pretty solid hitting the ball,” said Centerville coach Mike Miller. “Washburn was tougher tonight than when we lost to them earlier.”

Keokuk (25-14) had a hit in each of the first three innings off Redette ace Kristen Spurgeon, but Spurgeon was up to the task and registered six strikeouts in the first three frames. She would allow only one hit the rest of the way.

Spurgeon had 12 strikeouts in the game and only had to work out of a sixth-inning jam to dominate the Chiefs. Washburn fanned five Centerville batters and didn¹t allow a walk. The ninth-inning Redette run was unearned. Centerville committed just one error in the contest while Keokuk committed four.

“I usually get quite a few strikeouts, but this is the first time I’ve had to go nine innings,” said Spurgeon. “It really helped me to have our team play so solid behind me.”

Neither team mounted an offensive threat until the sixth. An error and a single by Washburn put two on with one out for Keokuk, but the Redettes finished the inning with a pop to second and a Spurgeon strikeout.

In the bottom of the inning, Tatum Starcevich reached on an error. The next hitter, Spurgeon, lined to left center but Chief left fielder, Chelsea Kies, made a fine running catch to end the threat.

The tight game made its way to the ninth. Spurgeon set the Chiefs down in order in the seventh, eighth, and ninth.

Spurgeon started the decisive bottom of the ninth by reaching on an error. Danyielle Barger reached on a fielder¹s choice as Hawk beat the throw to second. Olivia Starcevich reached on an error to load the bases. Oden grounded to second against a drawn in infield for the winning RBI.

“Spurgeon was dominating all night, and that allowed us to win a game we didn’t hit in. It¹s good to see that we can do that,” said Miller.