Lo-Ma advances to State Semifinals
By Matt Gengler, Sports Editor
sports@missourivalleytimes.com
Once they started playing their brand of softball, Coach Jamie Evans knew their team could compete. It was a rocky start, but in their first state appearance since 2022, the Logan-Magnolia Panthers picked up two wins and advanced to the Class 2A State Semifinals.
“All in all, it was a great week,” stated Class 2A Southwest Iowa Distict Coach of the Year, Jamie Evans. “Once we shook off the nerves in the first game, we battled like we knew we could. We slowly started to build some confidence, and that’s huge, especially with a young team.”
After a first round loss to Wapsie Valley, the Panthers bounce back to score back-to-back state tournament wins over Durant (6-4) and Ridge View (8-4) to earn them a spot in the Class 2A State Semifinals.
“It just took us a while to settle in,” Evans stated. “We liked our draw (opposite side of top seed), and once we started to clean up our game and make plays defensively, I knew our hitting would come around, as we’ve been hitting better the second half of the season.”
The Panthers ran into Wapsie Valley again (Class 2A State Runner-Up), but finished the season in the Class 2A State Semifinals. This was the Panthers seventh appearance at the Iowa High School State Softball Championships, and their second appearance in the State Semifinals.
The Panthers senior trio of Abyagail Guritz, Campbell Chase, and Maci Bertelsen picked up their 100th career victory in their final week as a Panther. Chase, a Buena Vista recruit, recorded her 500th career strikeout.
“Besides being goofy, you can’t say enough about this group,” stated Evans. “They led by example, kept bus trips and the dugout lively, and we just never wanted to see it end. They left us in a great spot. This experience laid the foundation, and will be looked upon how we look to build championship programs. I couldn’t have asked for a better group, they will be missed.”
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2026 State Softball Championships, Fort Dodge
July 20 – 24, Rogers Sports Complex
GAME 1 / 1ST Round – July 20
Logan-Magnolia 2 Wapsie Valley 7
Panthers Hitting: Gracyn Stone 1-4; Maria Kiger 3-4, RS; Maci Bertelsen 2-3, RS, 2b; Abyagail Guritz 1-3, 2b.
Panthers Pitching: Campbell Chase 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Lo-Ma Record: 20-9
GAME 2 / Consolation, 1st Round – July 21
Logan-Magnolia 6 Durant 4
Panthers Hitting: Gracyn Stone 2-3, Rs, 2b; Maria Kiger 1-3, RS; Maci Bertelsen 2-4, Rs, RBI; Abyagail Guritz 1-4, 2 RS, 2b; Ella Hack 2-3, RS, 4 RBIs, HR.
Panthers Pitching: Campbell Chase 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.
Lo-Ma Record: 21-9
GAME 3 / Consolation, 2nd Round – July 22
Logan-Magnolia 8 Ridge View 4
Panthers Hitting: Gracyn Stone 2-3, RS, 3 RBIs, 2b, HR; Maria Kiger 1-4, RS; Campbell Chase 2-4; Maci Bertelsen 1-4, RS, RBI; Whitney Hawkins 2-4, RS, 2 RBIs; Abyagail Guritz 1-4, RS; Ella Hack RBI; Ruby Offenbacker 1-3, RS, Kennedy Evans 1-3, RBI; Emery Miller 2 RS.
Panthers Pitching: Campbell Chase 7 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Lo-Ma Record: 22-9
GAME 4 / State Semifinals – July 22
Logan-Magnolia 1 Wapsie Valley 5
Panthers Hitting: Gracyn Stone 1-2; Maria Kiger 1-2; Maci Bertelsen 1-3; Whitney Hawkins RS.
Panthers Pitching: Campbell Chase 6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Lo-Ma Record: 22-10
