By: Dana Becker

Messenger Sports Staff

CEDAR RAPIDS — While the end result was far from the one Bo Tjebben wanted, the Iowa Central head softball coach was still able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After advancing to the championship round of the Region XI-A Tournament here this weekend, the Tritons were unable to finish off Kirkwood.

The 12th-ranked Eagles (41-16 overall) stayed alive on Saturday by first eliminating Ellsworth before forcing a win-or-go-home contest with the Tritons, 8-6. Sunday, top-seed Kirkwood prevailed yet again, besting Iowa Central, 2-0, to advance to the North Plains A District Tournament.

Riley Gilroy allowed just four hits vs. the Eagles in her final game, while Amber McKinney and Myra Megli each had two hits. The Tritons, though, were unable to get anything across against Kara Maiers.

"We just couldn't string anything together," Tjebben said. "We gave it everything we had and never quit fighting until the end. We knew it was going to be difficult to close Kirkwood out on their home field, but our girls we ready for the challenge."

The lone runs of the game came home in the sixth when Sarah Heick delivered a pinch-hit two-RBI shot that scored Peggy Klingler and Sailor Hall. Iowa Central had scored 20 runs in its three previous tournament games.

In the loss on Saturday, Jori Hajek had a home run, driving in three runs on two hits, while Gilroy, McKinney and Sydney Ballard all collected two hits each. Gilroy scored twice and both McKinney and Ballard had an RBI.

This marked the final game for Triton (31-26-1) sophomores McKinney, Gilroy, Harmon, Chloe Mickelson, Taylor Lee, Ballard, Hajek and Megli.

"It was just an incredible group and such a fun group of girls to work with for the past two years," Tjebben said. "Seeing them grow and become the players they are today is what makes coaching so much fun.

"We are really going to miss them, but I feel like they have definitely helped bring the freshmen along and prepare us for the future."