Unfortunately for the Bobcats, this trip down memory lane wasn’t on the itinerary.

Pollard was called upon to pitch after MHS junior Avery Mull was struck on the left kneecap by a line drive, forcing the Bobcats’ top pitcher from the circle in the fourth inning of Saturday’s Class 5A Region 6 semifinal at Iowa City High.

The host Little Hawks (32-7), ranked sixth in the state, made it hurt even worse when they finally reached Pollard for five runs in the sixth inning on their way to an 8-0 victory.

Marshalltown (6-30) was playing in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2014, but advancement required more than the Bobcats could offer. MHS managed just one hit against Iowa City High senior hurler Ella Cook, an NCAA Division I recruit who struck out 15 and walked two in her complete-game shutout.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - MHS junior Sophie Younkin rips a single up the middle in the third inning of Saturday’s regional softball game in Iowa City.

Sophie Younkin’s single up the middle in the third inning provided the Bobcats’ best chance at scoring, as the junior shortstop deftly stole second on a changeup and took third on a wild pitch before Cook could strike out the side.

Cook, a University of St. Thomas (Minn.) signee, became the Little Hawks’ single-season record-holder for strikeouts (180) thanks to Saturday’s overpowering performance.

“She pitches well and she keeps that ball pretty flat and low in the zone,” MHS head coach Jim Palmer said. “She did a pretty good job, I was impressed with how she was throwing. We just had to make some better adjustments. I think we were just a little late on our swings.”

Marshalltown was coming off its season-high scoring output in a 10-1 victory over winless Cedar Rapids Washington in Thursday’s opening round of regional play, and the Bobcat bats lagged as a result of facing a slower pitcher their last time out.

And what began as a competitive game broke form when Mull was struck by a comebacker off the bat of Iowa City High’s Georgia Kimm. After Mull managed to walk off the field on her own power, Pollard inherited the bases loaded and escaped the jam to keep it a 3-0 game.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Marshalltown’s offense couldn’t come up with a counterattack against Cook, and the Little Hawks broke open a close game with a big inning.

It spelled the end of the prep careers of Pollard and catcher Emma McWherter, but getting paired up as batterymates one last time was a nice slice of nostalgia for the two of them.

“Seeing Avery go down obviously was heartbreaking because she’s one of my best friends,” said Pollard. “It was just kind of like one last chace to prove yourself when you get put in that kind of situation, so I was just ready to throw to Emma one last time.”

Marshalltown’s six wins matches its peak for the last four seasons, but McWherter said advancing through the first round of regional play in her final campaign made it all worthwhile.

“It means a lot getting to at least make it to the second round our senior year,” she said. “We’ve been trying really hard all five years, and to get to at least get to the second round for the last time is pretty good for us.”

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Being within three runs of a team like Iowa City High was as good a position as the Bobcats could hope to be before Mull’s untimely injury knocked her out of the game. The junior right-hander allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) over 3 2/3 innings, walking three and hitting a batter while striking out two. Pollard was ticketed for five runs (four earned) on three hits, three walks and one hit batsman over 2 1/3 frames. She struck out one.

“I think three runs puts us in a position to keep fighting and competing,” said Palmer. “When a game’s 3-0, anything can happen at any point, so I thought we were in the game and I really still thought we could make a little run towards the end.”

The Bobcats went down in order each of the last four at-bats, however, as Cook retired 14-straight after Younkin’s single one out into the third inning. Cook walked Ava Augustine and McWherter consecutively with two outs in the top of the first, but she wriggled free of the early jam with a strikeout.

Cook also went 2-for-4 at the plate, ripping an RBI single in the top of the first to give the Little Hawks a 2-0 lead. Mull walked the first two batters she faced and both came around to give City High the lead for good.

The Little Hawks advance to host No. 14 Cedar Rapids Prairie (28-13) in Tuesday’s regional finals, while the Bobcats bring back most of their roster from another rough season record-wise.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

“It was important for the seniors,” Palmer said of advancing to the regional semifinals. “We had talked about this early on. It would be special if those two could win a regional game before their career was done and we accomplished that. I wanted so much more for this one as well.

“They’ve meant so much to this program. I’m super-proud of them. They’ve worked so hard over the years and they’ve been great leaders this year. I’m just so proud I was able to coach and be part of their lives for the last five years. I’m going to miss those two more than they can imagine.”

Iowa City High 8, Marshalltown 0

At Iowa City

MHS 000 000 0 — 0 1 4

IC HIGH 200 105 X — 8 6 0

Avery Mull, Kailee Pollard (4) and Emma McWherter; Ella Cook and Carey Koenig. W–Cook. L–Mull. 2B–ICH: Cook. LOB–MHS 3, ICH 7.