Des Moines East will have a chance to repeat as state champions after edging Pleasant Valley by a 6-5 count in a Class 5A semifinal Thursday evening at Rogers Park.
Courtney Custard and April Brown each went 2-for-3 offensively for the sixth-ranked Scarlets (33-5 overall). Custard, a first baseman and No. 9 hitter, also scored twice for East, which rallied back from a 5-0 deficit.
Riley Fisher, an Iowa State recruit, improved to 15-2 in the circle with the complete game win. Fisher scattered 10 hits and three earned runs, while walking four - three of her free passes issued were intentional - and fanning eight.
East will now meet No. 1 Ankeny (38-6) in a rematch of last year's title contest at 7 p.m. on Diamond 1.
Sydney Dwyer, Haley Duwa, Tristen Zaruba and Katie Meyer all collected a pair of hits for the No. 5 Spartans (33-7), who face Iowa City West (37-7) in a third-place game at 5:30 p.m. on Diamond 2.
Fact Box
DES MOINES EAST 6,
PLEASANT VALLEY 5
Pleasant Valley 041 000 0-5 10 3
DM East 004 200 0-6 6 3
Lexi Spelhaug (L, 15-5; 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB 1 K), Ashley Yattoni (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K), Holly Hoelting (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) and Haley Smith; Riley Fisher (W, 15-2; 7 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 K) and Meredith Henriksen. 2B-PV: Sydney Dwyer, Haley Duwa. MH-PV: Dwyer (2), Duwa (2), Tristen Zaruba (2) Katie Meyer (2); DME: April Brown (2), Courtney Custard (2). LOB-PV 10; DME: 5.