Nigey, Knights start postseason in perfect fashion | High School Softball – QCVarsity.com

Bella Nigey had a memorable Wednesday.

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She signed a nationwide letter of intent to proceed her softball profession at DePaul College this fall. She reached base all thrice and drove in two runs for Assumption Excessive College in its Class 3A regional opener in opposition to Anamosa.

And oh, yeah, she pitched an ideal sport.

Nigey retired all 15 batters she confronted as Class 3A second-ranked Assumption cruised previous Anamosa 10-0 in 5 innings in its postseason opener on the St. Vincent Athletic Advanced.

“Last year being my first year playing a lot of varsity, it was super new to me and I had a super strong offense that kept me going,” Nigey stated. “This year with the girls we have left, it is really important to stay really focused, not take any pitches off or have any letdowns.”

Assumption (32-8) scored 4 runs within the first inning, together with a run-scoring single from Sydney Roe and a two-run hit by Nigey. It added two extra runs within the third, one within the fourth and ended the sport with a three-run fifth.

The Knights, in search of a fifth state championship in six seasons, play host to Independence (12-24) in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“We were ready,” stated junior Helen Sons, who had two hits for the Knights. “The postseason is the most fun part of the season. I liked how disciplined we were at the start.”

About the one detrimental for the Knights was senior shortstop Maddie Loken leaving the sport. Loken was hit by a pitch within the arm within the opening inning, stayed within the sport for 2 extra innings after which departed.

Assumption coach Ron Ferrill didn’t know the severity of it, however stated it was swollen and Loken was having ache up and down her arm.

“That would be pretty devastating to the team because she’s a huge factor for us,” Ferrill stated. “It could have just hit the nerve or it could have chipped something. We won’t know until (Thursday).”

The Knights had nothing to fret about with Nigey within the circle.

The appropriate-hander struck out eight and had just one ball depart the infield. She by no means went to a three-ball depend on any Anamosa batter within the sport.

“Keeping the batters off balance and up in the zone was big,” she stated. “We came in knowing that we could get some girls chasing, so we worked hard up in the zone.”

Nigey initially signed a letter of intent to proceed her softball profession at Toledo, however modifications within the teaching workers this offseason resulted in her asking for a launch from her scholarship.

At a commencement social gathering with former Assumption standout Anna Wohlers, who simply concluded her freshman season at DePaul, Wohlers talked about the opportunity of the Blue Demons having a gap or two on their pitching workers.

Wohlers put in a phrase with the DePaul coaches. After taking a tour on the DePaul campus with Wohlers, Nigey dedicated late final month after which signed a letter of intent Wednesday.

“Anna is by far one of my favorite catchers to play with,” Nigey stated. “We’re a really good duo and work well together. I’m excited to play at the next level with her.”

First, Nigey needs one other run at a state championship. For that to occur, it begins together with her within the circle as she’s 20-3 and has an ERA beneath 1 this season.

“She’s grown the most in the last two weeks,” Ferrill stated. “At times, she over-challenges in situations. When she’s throwing her best stuff and she’s making people chase and making people think, she’s really hard to beat.

“A lot of times when she gets ahead in the count, she’ll over-attack the zone and that’s when she gets hurt the most on 0-2 or 1-2 counts. She’s done much better in the last couple of weeks.”

That, coupled with Assumption’s success on the plate — seven hits, 4 walks, two hit by pitches and capitalizing on three errors — made for a really brief postgame speak from Ferrill.

“We’re playing very well right now,” he stated. “There have been times this year we’ve played really well and then we have letdowns. The fact we’re in the postseason I hope eliminates that.

“If we have the general approach and energy like we did today on offense and defense, we’re going to be very tough to beat. If we don’t, we’re going to beat ourselves.”