​Jul. 14—WINTERSET — Sixth-ranked Winterset advanced to Tuesday’s regional softball final against Grinnell with a 3-0 victory over Creston Saturday night.Eighth-grade pitcher Danica Ferber struck out 13 and walked none while allowing five Panther hits. Ferber is the daughter of Orient-Macksburg graduates Danny and Jessica Ferber.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCatcher Kayla Roberts hit a two-run double in the second inning to put the Huskies in front early. Roberts is the daughter of Dillon and Jessie Roberts, also Orient-Macksburg graduates.Winterset’s “small ball” attack accounted for an insurance run in the sixth inning. Eva Minnich singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. An errant throw on Minnich’s attempt to steal third allowed the Huskies left fielder to score. The Huskies also had five sacrifice bunts in the game.Ferber finished strong, retiring the Panthers on three strikeouts in the seventh inning. The Panthers managed five hits, including two by pitcher Kennedy Strider, but Ferber stayed out of trouble with no walks and no errors by her defense. Creston had five errors.Strider scattered three Winterset hits while finishing with three strikeouts and three walks in one of her most efficient performances of the season against the state-ranked Huskies.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”Would I have loved to not have the errors and maybe it’s a different outcome?” Creston coach Gracie Hagle asked rhetorically. “Of course, but Winterset is a very good team and instead of letting them score a huge number of runs against us, we showed that we are capable. It’s always such a heightened situation for us with Winterset. We made a lot of plays and I’m proud of them.”Avery Staver, Rohwyn Randall and Sidney Staver each had hits for the Panthers besides Strider’s singles in the first and sixth innings. Ferber and the Huskies defense did not allow a Panther baserunner to advance past second base.”She’s a good young pitcher with a good mix of pitches,” Hagle said. “She has a good rise ball. We have some aggressive hitters and it’s hard to lay off when it looks good.”The Huskies (23-13) face Grinnell (22-9) Tuesday for a berth in the Class 4A state tournament. Grinnell defeated Pella Saturday, 6-3.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSeniors farewellShortstop Avery Staver, catcher Sidney Staver and third baseman Jaycee Hanson closed their careers for Creston. Avery Staver, an Iowa Central Community College recruit, was a catalyst at the top of the Panther lineup, finishing with a .427 batting average and a team-high 10 home runs and 50 runs scored. She also stole 22 bases in 23 attempts and drove in 30 runs.Hanson batted .352 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 24 RBIs. Sidney Staver hit .291 with 13 RBIs. The left side of the infield and the catching position will have new players in 2027.”Our seniors are such a big part of our team,” Hagle said. “Their performance and leadership was so valuable.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertise