“Honest Amber’ lifts Alburnett

July 15--CEDAR RAPIDS -- Amber Porter was tremendous. And honest.

On her penchant for forcing fly balls:

"Some was the high curveball. Some was the riseball. But I'm not going to lie, some were just missed spots that they popped up."

On her home run:

"I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed. It felt right. But I honestly think my eyes were closed."

Porter tossed a seven-hit shutout and poked an insurance-run homer as 15th-ranked Alburnett blanked No. 14 North Cedar, 2-0,in a Class 2A softball regional final Monday night at Larry Niemeyer Field.

One strike away last year before getting their hearts broken by Jesup in the regional final, the Pirates (26-12) got that elusive 21st out this time.

The reward is a trip to the state tournament next week at the <location>Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge. Alburnett will face No. 5 Eddyville EBF (24-5) at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"This feels so awesome," said shortstop Taylor Huber, who drove in the Pirates' first run with a third-inning single. "We were so close last year and we wanted it so bad."

North Cedar closed at 20-13. The Knights had their seven hits, but couldn't bunch them together against Porter (14-7). They didn't advance a runner past ssecond base.

"I have a great defense behind me, and I knew they had my back," Porter said.

The state berth is Alburnett's ninth, its first since 2008.

"This felt like old-fashioned softball," Alburnett Coach Kevin Johnson said. "The pitcher throws a goose egg and hits a homer."

Even if she didn't see it.

Madeline Avery hit a one-out double -- about a foot from the top of the left-field fence -- in the bottom of the third, then scored on Huber's single to left.

It stayed 1-0 until Porter stroked a fifth-inning liner about 3 feet over the fence in left, her first homer of the season. Then, it was a matter of counting down outs, and, ultimately, celebrating.

Alison Malaby and Olivia Brown had two hits apiece for North Cedar.

ALBURNETT 2, NORTH CEDAR 0 (Class 2A Regional Final)

North Cedar 000 000 0 -- 0 7 0

Alburnett 001 010 x -- 2 5 0

Olivia Baxa and Meranda Thimmes. Amber Porter and Maddie Volesky. W -- Porter (14-7). L -- Baxa (19-7). HR -- Porter (1).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; [email protected]

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