E-B-F One Win From State

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Rocket softball team is on the doorstep and just needs one big win to accomplish its goal of a state tournament berth. (photo by Denis Currier)

by Wade Steinlage

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Rocket softball team is on the doorstep and just needs one big win to accomplish its goal of a state tournament berth.

E-B-F, ranked #9 in Class 2A, rolled over its first two postseason opponents in Region 6. The Rockets defeated Van Buren 5-1 in Wednesday’s opening round before shutting out Highland 10-0 (six innings) in Friday’s semifinal.

The wins set up a top-10 showdown with #4 Pella Christian in Monday’s regional final. Despite being the top seed in the region, E-B-F will have to travel to Pella for the game which begins at 7 p.m.

E-B-F 5, Van Buren 1

Van Buren put the Rockets on their heels with one run in the first inning, but E-B-F answered right back with two runs in the bottom half. The Rockets managed just five hits, while Van Buren had four. They were efficient, though, scoring once more in the fourth and adding two more insurance runs in the fifth.

Haegen Boyer topped the offense with a strong stat line of one hit, two walks, two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBIs.

Reina Taylor did the rest, striking out three without a walk in a complete game. The only run she allowed was unearned.

E-B-F 10, Highland 0

E-B-F did all of its damage in the middle innings, scoring three runs in the third and sixth frames and two more in the fourth and fifth. Unfortunately, full individual statistics were not available at print time.