What was supposed to be two games in the Don Bosco Tournament for the Cougars on Saturday turned into just a single showing, an early-afternoon game against 3A No. 3 Waterloo Columbus.

For the first few innings it was a tight contest between the 1A and 3A powerhouses, but in the fifth inning the Sailors pulled ahead with two runs to make it a 3-1 game, then in the sixth Columbus got loose for seven runs to put the game away and win, 10-1.

AGWSR co-head coach Scott O’Brien said the girls had opportunities to send runs home early, but they just weren’t able to capitalize on those chances and a good pitching performance by sophomore Rachel Sicard.

“I just felt bad we couldn’t break the ice for the first three innings,” O’Brien said. “We left the bases loaded for three-straight innings, we had people on base and moved them but we just couldn’t finish. That was too bad because Rachel was throwing the ball really well those early innings.”

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON - AGWSR shortstop MaKenna Kuper reaches out to attempt to catch a fly ball in the early stages of the Cougars' loss to Waterloo Columbus on Saturday in the Don Bosco Tournament.

Sicard allowed just two hits and a run through the first four innings, but in the fifth and sixth she gave up a combined nine hits and nine runs. O’Brien said that had more to do with her being used to throwing JV games this season and not in near-100 degree weather.

“She was starting to get outside her normal range and comfort zone, plus with the heat it is a little different story trying to throw five, six, seven innings when you are used to throwing three or four in a little less grueling circumstances and less grueling competition,” O’Brien said.

Ali Gerbracht, who played in right field rather than her usual spot behind the plate, brought in the first and only run of the game for AGWSR with an RBI groundout in the fourth that scored MaKenna Kuper, who led off the inning with a triple.

Playing catcher for Sicard was freshman Taylor Sperflage, who O’Brien said they wanted to get some experience if her talents were ever required behind the plate.

“Taylor has been a catcher over the years, but with Ali there we wanted to move her to a different position to take advantage of her athleticism and her skills,” O’Brien said. “She would probably be our No. 2 catcher if we absolutely needed somebody back there. It was good to give her a little more work to keep her sharp.”

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

Kuper had a double and a triple in the loss, as well as a run scored, and Gerbracht went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sicard also reached base twice, once off a walk and once off a single.

As a whole it was a relaxed game for the Cougars (23-7) because they know they’ve already accomplished what they set out to do in the regular season. O’Brien said it’s hard to believe how far the team has come in just one season, especially given where they were to begin the year.

“After graduating five outstanding seniors who all started, that was a lot of holes to fill. We knew that coming in but I think the girls have responded really well and have done a good job,” he said. “We knew with [pitcher Taryan Barrick] we could be in the conference race mix, but still to win the conference with so much good, quality talent, you have to be happy with that.”

Now AGWSR has a couple days to continue to relax and rest up before starting the 1A Region 2 playoffs on Tuesday. The Cougars will face off with the winner of the first-round matchup between Riceville and West Hancock, and in their region stands No. 7 Mason City Newman and No. 11 Fort Dodge St. Edmond, but O’Brien said their fate and a possible berth in the state tournament still rests squarely in their hands.

“We have to play our game, if we do what we know we are capable of we certainly like our chances,” O’Brien said. “Still it’s probably the toughest region in 1A, the only region that has three ranked teams, so they didn’t lay down an easy path for us. We are going to have to earn it, but if we do what we are capable of we certainly should have an excellent chance to get ourselves where we want to go.”

T-R PHOTO BY THORN COMPTON

At Gilbertville

Waterloo Columbus 8, AGWSR 1, 6 innings

AGWSR 000 100 — 1 8 1

WC 001 027 — 10 11 0

Rachel Sicard and Taylor Sperflage; Kayla Sproul and Sydney Schultz. WP–Sproul. LP–Sicard (1-2). 2B–AGWSR: MaKenna Kuper; WC: Schultz 2, Jalila Hart. 3B–AGWSR: Kuper; WC: Hart. LOB–AGWSR 10, WC 5.