Twin Cedars' Zack Dunkin named All-Iowa softball coach of the year
Zack Dunkin will never forget the look on Kisha Reed's face at the end of the Class 1A state softball championship game.
Reed had just made the final out for Twin Cedars in a 6-3 victory over Southeast Warren to give the Sabers their first championship in their first appearance at state since 1978.
"Kisha had just caught the ball in right field and she had a giant smile on her face," Dunkin said. "I kind of get choked up thinking about it."
That historic championship run earned Dunkin the Des Moines Register's All-Iowa softball coach of the year honors for the 2022 season.
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After losing in the regional finals twice in the last five years Twin Cedars finally pushed through this season, winning a 7-6 thriller over Sigourney to end its long state tournament drought. The Sabers defeated Lisbon and Martensdale St. Marys before taking down Southeast Warren for the title.
"It was a great run," Dunkin said. "It was one I thought the girls had in them and it was fun for me to watch."
Dunkin led Twin Cedars to a 29-3 record this season. Led by Dunkin's coaching and five invaluable seniors, the Sabers had one goal in mind at the start of the season, and they were determined to make it happen.
"There was a lot of pressure," Dunkin said. "But once we achieved that goal of making state we said, 'We're here, let's just go out and win the whole thing.'"
Dunkin puts a huge emphasis on playing as a team and that was evident at the state tournament.
Starting pitcher Grace Bailey, the eventual 1A all-tournament team captain, was the star. But in the title game she had to be taken out for a long stretch after the Sabers fell behind early.
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Senior Ali Mockenhaupt did a great job in relief to help Twin Cedars take the lead and Bailey came back in during the seventh inning to seal the deal.
Sophomore Gillian French homered and drove in four runs during the championship game. In the semifinal win over MSM, Mockenhaupt and French each drove in three runs and Brooke Robey scored three times.
Everyone did their part to make the championship a reality.
"I was watching them play when they were 10 and they played together then," Dunkin said. "We had five seniors who stuck it out all the way through and together with our juniors we had great leadership."
Dunkin also credited the players' parents for providing tremendous support. With the community fully behind them, the Sabers made history and became a source of inspiration for all the other small schools in the state.
"It showed we can compete and other Bluegrass Conference schools you can do it," Dunkin said. "I got so many messages from the communities around us after we won."
The championship victory was the 200th for Dunkin at Twin Cedars. The team capped it off last when they were honored r during the Capitani Classic at the Knoxville Raceway.
"They brought us out in Victory Lane for recognition in front of the crowd," Dunkin said. "We were wearing our pink championship shirts. It was really cool."
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Twin Cedars' Zack Dunkin is the All-Iowa softball coach of the year
