-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jessie Clemons of Pleasant Valley makes a play at short stop against Urbandale during 5A semi-finals on Wednesday in Fort Dodge at Rogers Park

The Pleasant Valley softball team gets another shot at claiming the Class 5A state championship Thursday evening.

After knocking off Urbandale here Wednesday at Rogers Park, 4-2, the Spartans find themselves matched up with top-ranked West Des Moines Valley for the title. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Channel Seeds Field.

Last summer, Pleasant Valley (39-3 overall) came up short vs. Ankeny Centennial in the finals. They have qualified for state five consecutive years and are looking for their second championship, having also won it all in 2017.

“These girls have been looking forward to getting back to this point since last year,” PV head coach Amanda Ray said. “They have been working towards this and it means a lot to them and to me.”

Ray is in her first season after replacing Jose Lara.

Mary Paige Withers and Sarah Rigdon each drove in two runs as Kaitlyn Merkel spun a three-hitter, striking out two. Both runs scored against Merkel were unearned.

The Spartans got on the board with a run in the first before adding three more in the third to take control of the contest.

“It was great to get that first run,” Ray said. “And it was even better to score early and take some of the pressure off.”

Urbandale (23-19) will face Ankeny for third place Thursday at 3:30 p.m. on Iowa Central Field. The two split their regular season doubleheader with one another.

Tatum Johnson had two hits for the J-Hawks.

PLEASANT VALLEY 4,

URBANDALE 2

Urbandale 000 000 2 — 2 3 1

Pleasant Valley 103 000 x — 4 7 1

WP–Kaitlyn Merkel (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB). LP–Aubrey Schuman (2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 K, 1 BB).

2B–U: Tatum Johnson; PV: Jessie Clemons, Ava Crowley, Kasey Kane. RBI–U: Bri Tigges, Kyra Kain; PV: Mary Paige Withers (2), Sarah Rigdon (2). SB–PV: Mary Paige Withers.