Indians Roll Grinnell, Drop First Games of Year at DC-G
Alexis Westercamp in action against Grinnell.
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa, Iowa – It had been almost 11 months since the last time the Oskaloosa Indian softball team had tasted defeat, but it finally happened last week as it continued its season against a pair of league foes.
Last Wednesday, Oskaloosa (6-2, 1-2 LHC) defeated Grinnell 10-0 in five innings. The Indians then ran into a determined Dallas Center-Grimes program, falling 17-7 (6 innings) and 12-5. The losses are the first since July 5 of last year (8-5 to Knoxville).
Oskaloosa 10, Grinnell 0
Alexis Groet dominated in the circle and Devan Welch homered as OHS had no issues with the Tigers in their home and conference opener.
The hosts scored five times in the first, four more times in the second, and capped the win with Welch’s solo shot in the fifth. Groet posted nine strikeouts without a walk in a one-hit shutout.
Oskaloosa notched 12 base knocks with Maddie Haines (triple), Aubrey Miller (double), Ava Vande Wall, and Alexis Westercamp all managing two hits each. Miller, Haines, Vande Wall, and Wills all drove in a pair of runs, while Josie Bunnell scored a game-high two runs in the victory.
“We hit the ball really well early, finding some holes,” Head Coach Jay Harms said. “We made some adjustments and hit the ball harder at the end of the game, which was really good to see.”
“Bear (Alexis Groet) hit her spots better tonight than what she did last Saturday, which was nice to see,” Harms added. “It was nice to get home after five games on the road and get the first conference win.”
“We have caught a bit of the injury bug, but a lot of people have stepped up,” Harms said. “It is a nice situation to have where you have some extra players who can play throughout the season. Fortunately, our injuries have not hurt us so far.”
Dallas Center-Grimes 17, Oskaloosa 7
The Indians had been the ones to dish out the punishment this year, but the tables were turned on them against the Fillies.
OHS pulled out to a 3-0 lead after an inning and a half, but DC-G narrowed the deficit to one in the bottom of the second. That opened the floodgates as the home team Fillies scored in the next four frames as well, highlighted by six tallies in the sixth to close out the mercy-run win.
The visitors, who recorded only four hits, were actually tied at 7-7 entering the bottom of the fifth, but DC-G, which first got to Groet, then beat up relief pitcher Abby Braundmeier as well. Groet allowed just two hits in three innings, but the Fillies were patient at the plate and drew 10 walks (four strikeouts for Groet). In her high school debut, Braundmeier produced one strikeout in 3 2/3 frames.
The Indians, led by two runs from Bunnell, were also selective hitters with 13 walks. Miller had the biggest hit with a double.
“With winning the state title last year, we know teams are gunning for us,” Harms had said after the Grinnell win.
Dallas Center-Grimes 12, Oskaloosa 5
It unfortunately did not get any better for Oskaloosa in the nightcap as three multi-run frames sank the Indians.
OHS scored the initial run with one in the first, but Dallas Center-Grimes answered with four in the second and one more in the third and never relinquished the advantage. Oskaloosa was able to knot the contest at 5-5 entering the bottom of the fourth, but the home squad scored the final seven runs.
Bunnell was 2-for-4, while Haines had a hit and walked three times. Oskaloosa was outhit 10-7 as Hayle Hacker walked four and struck out a pair in the loss. Four of the runs she permitted were unearned.
Next Up: Oskaloosa has a busy week coming up, beginning with a single Little Hawkeye Conference game Monday at Newton at 7:30 p.m.
