William Penn Ends Season with Pair of Losses at Heart Championship

Cedar Rapids--The Statesmen softball team was unable to produce a Cinderella-esque performance as it closed the 2025 campaign at the Heart Championship Thursday and Friday.

No. 7 seed WPU (29-21) opened the tournament with a 7-0 loss to No. 2 seed Grand View on Thursday, and was then eliminated from competition with a 7-4 defeat by No. 6 seed Mount Mercy on Friday.  It was the program's first trip to the Heart Championship since 2022.

Grand View 7, WPU 0

The bats could never get going against the Vikings (33-13) as WPU was outhit 9-4.

GVU opened the scoring with one run in the second inning, and then blew the game open with four in the fourth.  The Vikings capped it off with two more tallies in the fifth.

The Statesmen, who managed to get just two runners into scoring position, were paced by Rylee Riesberg (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) with two hits.  Laila Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) drew a pair of walks as well.

Mount Mercy 7, WPU 4

The navy and gold finally got on the scoreboard as two individuals crossed home plate in the top of the first frame.  Marin Frazee (So., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tori Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education), while Chelsey Huff (Sr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) drove in Laila Smith on a single.

Unfortunately, the Mustangs, who are hosting the Championship at Busse Field, responded with six unanswered runs.

Still down 6-2, Statesmen attempted to rally late as Peyton Naranjo (So., Ripon, Calif., Biology) doubled in Ella Pierce (Sr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) in the sixth, but MMU got that run right back in the bottom half.

Laila Smith accounted for the final run of the spring as she scored in the top of the seventh, but William Penn could not put a true scare into its foe.

WPU lost the hits battle 12-9 with Laila Pelds (Jr., Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Elementary Education) going 3-for-4.  Pierce and Laila Smith each posted two hits along with one walk apiece.

Overall, the pitching duo of Huff and Madie Anderson (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Elementary Education) tallied 10 combined strikeouts during the two contests.

"It was a great season and I could not be more proud of this team," Head Coach Laura North said.  "We played good softball and had fun, while also creating some of the best and healthiest memories, and that's what it's all about."

"Our seniors leave a big mark on this program," North added.  "We have some big shoes to fill, not just on the field, but in our leadership and culture.  We would have liked to have extended the season longer, but we are proud, regardless.  For the returners, experiencing a postseason is important, but we will have bigger goals next year."