Monday marked the end of the regular season for Holton and Royal Valley and the Jackson County teams did battle on the diamond to wrap up the regular season. Both teams grabbed wins splitting the doubleheader as each team earned a one-run win as Royal Valley won game one 6-5 and Holton took game two 12-11. 

The Panthers pounced early in game one as Maggie Schuetz led the game off with a solo home run giving Royal Valley the initial lead of the contest and that lead grew to 2-0 with another run pushed across in the top of the second. Holton responded in the bottom of the second plating three runs to take the lead with a two RBI double by Addie Degenhardt highlighting the inning. The 3-2 lead didn't last long for Holton as Masey Lafferty blasted a two-out solo home run in the top of the third and tied the game at 3-3. Both teams had limited opportunities the next three innings and the game headed into the seventh tied 3-3. In the top of the seventh a leadoff single by Emily Albright got Royal Valley an early base runner and then a RBI single by Makenzie Odgen two batters later gave the Panthers the lead. Sarah Beam added an RBI single and Lafferty had a RBI double and the Panthers score three to lead 6-3 entering the bottom of the seventh. Holton did not go quietly getting a leadoff single followed by an RBI single by Kinleigh Rhodd to draw within two and then an RBI double by Jewel Lutz made it a one-run contest. The Wildcats had the tying run at third and winning run at second with just one out when Savannah Booth hit a line out to left field and Albright threw to third to pick the runner off to end the game on a double play and give Royal Valley the 6-5 win. 

Lafferty lead the for Royal Valley going 3-4 at the plate with a home run, double and two RBI's while also picking up the win inside the circle, helping Royal Valley win their seventh straight against Holton and tenth straight of the season. Holton in the loss was led by Degenhardt who was 3-4 with two RBI's while Sarah Bond was 2-4 and reached on an error twice while taking a tough loss inside the circle. 

Game two featured more runs but also plenty of miscues from both teams. Holton struck first getting three runs in the bottom of the first on four hits including a double to lead the inning off by Casi Van Ausdall and a two RBI double by Rhodd. The Wildcats doubled their lead in the second scoring three more runs as Bond had a two RBI single in the frame. After two innings it was 6-0 Holton but that changed in the top of the third as Royal Valley batted around and scored seven runs on just two hits partnered up with four Holton errors and two walks with Cassidy Parks notching a two RBI double in the inning. The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the third scoring five runs on three hits and three Royal Valley errors and two walks making it 11-7 after three. Both teams with the big outputs from their opponents made pitching changes in the third inning. The Panthers tied the game up in the fifth by getting a pair of two-run homers from Schuetz and Beam. Tied at 11 Holton regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth getting a two-out RBI single by Booth to score the go ahead run. In the top of the seventh Royal Valley managed a pair of base runners but stranded both and Holton took the 12-11 in for the doubleheader split. 

Van Ausdall led the Holton offense going 3-3 with three runs score, an RBI, walk and double. While, Annalysis Phillips, Lauryn Moore and Booth each had a multi-hit game. Royal Valley in the loss was led by a 2-5 game from Schuetz with a two-run homer, while Albright was 2-4. 

The win for Holton ended Royal Valley's seven game win streak over them. The split overall put Royal Valley at 16-4 on the season and Holton at 15-5. Now both teams turn their attention to Regionals next week as Holton will travel to Hayden for 4A-DII action and Royal Valley will host a 3A Regional.