#8 Eagles Are Back-To-Back ICCAC Champs
Mason City/Estherville, IA- The #8 Kirkwood Eagles only had four games left in the regular season. They would be traveling to Mason City to take on the #19 NIACC Trojans and then heading to Estherville to finish up with the Iowa Lakes Lakers. It was simple, they controlled their destiny; win and they would become the back-to-back ICCAC Champions.
Their first series began with the 19th-ranked Trojans. NIACC would get on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the 1st, however, Kirkwood would take the lead in the the top of the 2nd after Delia Schwartz and Kiya Johnson homered to left field, each scoring one run. After another run in the bottom of the 2nd for the Trojans, the game was knotted up at 2 a piece. The tie was broken up by a Sailor Hall home run in the top of the 3rd that scored both Peyton Johnson and Brenna Ross. A Lexi Hines single in the top of the 4th inning would give Kirkwood its 6th run of the day and that's where they would finish, winning the game 6-3.
The next game would be a low-scoring defensive battle between both teams, with the game not being decided until the 7th inning. Peyton Paulsen started in the circle for the Eagles. The starting pitcher allowed only 2 hits and 0 runs over 6 innings, striking out a staggering 9 batters. Sydney Roe would prove to be the hero for the Eagles in the top of the 7th inning. She would hit a two-run bomb to right field scoring two runs and giving the win to Kirkwood, 2-0.
After their weekend trip to Mason City, Kirkwood would head to Estherville to try and put a 2-0 finish and an ICCAC Championship on their resume to end the regular season. Kirkwood's potent offense and solid pitching would once again prove to be the difference makers. Peyton Driscoll started pitching for the Eagles and she would strike out 10 batters, giving up 0 hits and 0 runs over 5 innings. Kirkwood would put up 16 hits in the game. Kirkwood would jump out to the lead off a Delia Schwartz single in the top of the second. They would then add to that lead in the top of the 3rd with 5 more runs off of 3 hits. It continued into the 4th with home runs by Peyton Johnson and Sailor Hall. They put the exclamation point on the game in the 5th inning when they scored 6 runs on 7 hits. Sailor Hall, Grace Zaugg, and Delia Schwartz each collected multiple hits for Kirkwood. The final score was 18-0 in favor of the Eagles.
In their last game, Kirkwood jumped out the quick lead again in the top of the 1st after Sailor Hall singled, scoring one run, and Sydney Roe homered to right field, scoring two runs. Sailor Hall provided a spark for Kirkwood in the middle of the lineup, leading Kirkwood with 4 runs batted in. Peyton Paulsen pitched 4 innings in relief for Kirkwood, only giving up 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 8 batters. Kirkwood would take this one 11-3.
With these wins, Kirkwood would become the back-to-back ICCAC champions. The champs have amassed a 45-11 record this year with an impressive 26-2 ICCAC record. Next up for Kirkwood will be the Region 11-A Tournament that begins this Friday at home at 2 PM when the Eagles take on Northeast.
