Lady Spartans settle for second

FT. DODGE– Ballard had seven hits, but three of them were doozies.
The Ballard Bombers earned their name in the Class 3A title game Friday, nailing three home runs, one of them a three-run shot to retake the lead, to defeat Solon’s Lady Spartans 5-4 Friday in Ft. Dodge.
The three-run homer came in the bottom of the sixth inning after Solon had rallied to take the lead with some clutch two-out hitting by Arran Weeces and Rylee Smith.
The Lady Spartans had trailed most of the championship game to No. 5 Ballard, but tied the game 2-2 in the sixth and took the lead with two more runs delivered by Weeces and Smith.
The 4-2 lead disappeared in the bottom of the inning when Ballard pitcher Kenzie Ihle nailed a Weeces pitch to deep center with two aboard for a 5-4 Bombers lead.
It was the third home run of the game for Ballard.
Solon had a chance in the top of the seventh inning after Alyssa Rickels singled and Mel Breza walked. With two outs, Casey Musgrave hit an infield grounder which was bobbled, but a throw to the plate caught Rickels attempting to score.