Hollywood script writers couldn’t have penned a better finish to the first Class 2A semifinal at the state softball tournament than what transpired on the Iowa Central Field on Wednesday.

Top-ranked Van Meter, winner of 37 games in a row, found itself in a dog-fight with No. 4 seed East Marshall, but the Bulldogs rallied from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to force extra innings.

Enter eighth-grader Mady Schnell, who has yet to take a high school class but will already be part of Van Meter lore after she belted a one-out home run over the center field fence for a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Van Meter, now 42-1, scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game, which eventually went to extras. And the Bulldogs had to pull starter pitcher Maddie Waldorf, who came in with a 26-1 record.

But junior Bianca Prickett steadied the ship, throwing two-plus innings of scoreless relief before Schnell sent the Bulldogs to the title game for the second year in a row.

“I just had so much confidence in our group to come back and get this done,” said Van Meter head coach James Flaws, the son of legendary Carlisle head coach and fellow state finalist (4A) Jim Flaws. “She stepped up huge for an 8th grader. They usually don’t know much difference, so for her to be in that moment, she was just trying to hit the ball and not thinking about a home run.

“They really believed. Our dugout didn’t stop believing.”

Adding to the drama was the fact it was the first home run of Schnell’s young career. And she’s the No. 9 hitter in Van Meter’s lineup, but she collected two of Van Meter’s seven hits.

“It was something crazy right there,” said Schnell. “I knew I needed to get on base. That was my goal and I ended up hitting a home run. I’m so excited (for Friday).”

Van Meter, which dropped the state title game last year 6-2 to Iowa City Regina, plated two runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-all.

Finley Netten roped a double to score Schnell, and after a sacrifice bunt from Lauren Wallace, the Bulldogs tied in on a sacrifice fly from Cali Richards.

The fact that Van Meter was still in striking distance was a testament to Prickett, who came in with the bases loaded in the sixth and promptly got a groundout to end the inning. She allowed just one runner in her two-plus innings of work.

“Our starter had good stuff, but not her best stuff,” said Flaws. “Our dugout didn’t stop believing in either kid. They believed in our starter and the girl we brought in.”

Prickett said she was more than ready to take the circle when Waldorf was pulled after walking in a run.

“Maddie has been doing great this season. I kind of have to keep calm and play my part and step up when I have to. I’ve been able to keep calm and not get over stressed in those situations,” said Prickett. “To go and show what Van Meter softball can really do (Friday) is just great.”

East Marshall, now 33-5, took a 1-0 lead in the third when Peyton Grabenbauer scored all the way from second on a wild pitch. The Mustangs made it 2-0 in the fourth on an RBI double from pitcher Morgan Neuroth, scoring Ashtyn Wheater.

Van Meter, which went down in order the first time through its lineup, finally broke through in the fourth. Wallace singled, stole second and then scored on an RBI single from Richards.

East Marshall pushed it to 3-1 in the sixth, scoring when Rayne McIlrath drew a base-loaded walk to force home Makayla Kerber.

Van Meter pulled Waldorf after that, but Prickett ended the frame on a ground ball to third. She allowed just a walk to Libby Atcher the rest of the way.

“This group has been pretty hungry since last year. The next game is the game we’ve been trying to get to all year. The chance to go play that game again is pretty exciting for this group,” said Flaws, now in his 11th season at Van Meter. “It was just an unbelievable feeling. Never felt better as far as an ending to a softball game.”

Van Meter will meet Audubon — also a walk-off winner in the semifinals — in Friday night’s 2A championship game on Channel Seeds Field.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

East Marshall faces Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the third-place game at 3:30 p.m. Friday on the Iowa Central Field.

VAN METER 4,

EAST MARSHALL 3

East Marshall 001 101 00 — 3 5 0

Van Meter 000 102 01 — 4 7 0

WP–Bianca Prickett (2.33 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO); LP–Morgan Neuroth (7.33 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO); LOB–East Marshall 11, Van Meter 1; 2B–EM: Neuroth; VM: Finley Netten; HR–VM: Mady Schnell; SB: VM: Lauren Wallace, Kennedy Wiedman.