Mixed Bag for Indians Softball Team

Oskaloosa freshman Meghan Moorman rounds third base in the second game against Washington on June 6, 2017.

by Wade Steinlage

Some dominating victories countered a pair of tight losses as the Oskaloosa Indian softball team went 6-3 last week.

The Indians (12-5, 3-4 LHC) crushed three opponents on Saturday at the Oskaloosa Classic, defeating West Burlington 6-1, Mount Vernon 14-2 (three innings), and Cardinal 13-0 (three innings).

OHS, which is now ranked #3 in Class 4A, then returned to Little Hawkeye Conference play Monday, falling 2-1 to Newton. On Tuesday and then again Wednesday, the Indians split doubleheaders. First on Tuesday, Oskaloosa lost 4-1 to Washington before responding with a 4-2 victory. On Wednesday, OHS dropped the opener to Norwalk 15-9, but bounced back with a 5-2 win in the nightcap.

Finally, Oskaloosa shut out conference rival Pella 3-0 on Friday.

Oskaloosa 6, West Burlington 1

Playing at its home away from home at the Lacey Complex, the Indians had no trouble putting up runs, including four in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth.

The squad outhit West Burlington 11-4 with Maddie Haines and Devan Welch both coming up with two base knocks apiece. Haines also scored twice, while Chloe Bossard drove in a pair of tallies. All but one of the starters managed a hit in the victory.

Hayle Hacker produced a gem in the pitching circle, striking out three against one walk in six innings of work.

Oskaloosa 14, Mount Vernon 2

Despite its #9 ranking (Class 3A), Mount Vernon did not muster much of a challenge against the Indians. OHS put eight on the board in the first and add another six in the second for the easy mercy-rule win.

Welch, Josie Bunnell, Aubrey Miller (both doubles), and Taylor Wills all posted two hits in the contest; Oskaloosa ended with a 12-4 edge in hits. Bunnell crossed home plate on three occasions, while Haines, Wills, Bossard, and Ashley Kindley all did so twice.

Miller and Ava Vande Wall tallied three RBIs and Bunnell and Haines were good for two apiece.

Alexis Groet came up with a trio of strikeouts versus a pair of base on balls in her three-inning effort.

Oskaloosa 13, Cardinal 0

An eight-run third inning capped another mercy-rule triumph for the maroon and white. Pure domination was had on both sides as the Indians punched out 11 hits, while Groet tossed a no-hitter (3 K, 1 BB).

Triples were on the menu as Kindley had two, while Bunnell and Vande Wall both recorded one as well. Bunnell also had a double and scored three times. Kindley, Vande Wall, and Meghan Moorman matched Bunnell with two hits each. Wills, Vande Wall, and Kindley rounded the pads two times each, and Miller and Kindley both drove in two runs.

Newton 2, Oskaloosa 1

The runs came early for both teams, while missed opportunities kept the Indians from picking up another league win.

Newton scored both of its runs on a two-run home run in the first, while OHS answered with its lone score (Miller) in the second. Unfortunately, could not come up with the equalizer. Vande Wall, who led off the fourth with a single, was thrown out at the plate on a Miller double, and Wills was stranded in scoring position to end the seventh.

Oskaloosa was outhit 7-5 as Groet struck out 13 with two walks. Vande Wall and Miller both produced two hits.

“This was a tough loss,” Head Coach Jay Harms said. “Both teams played well, but unfortunately we just did not get it done at the plate and did not put enough pressure on them with our bats. They got the one big hit and that was the difference in the ball game.”

Washington 4, Oskaloosa 1

The Indians grabbed the early lead with a tally in the second, but Washington went ahead with two in the third and then padded its advantage with two more in the fifth. OHS lost the hitting battle 7-6 with Wills topping her crew with two base knocks (both doubles); five of Oskaloosa’s hits were two-baggers.

Groet had seven strikeouts against one walk. Unfortunately, Oskaloosa’s defense was a bit off, allowing two of Washington’s runs to be unearned.

Oskaloosa 4, Washington 2

The Indians once again scored early, but this time they also did so late to get the win. Washington answered both times that Oskaloosa scored one run, but had no response when OHS put two on the board in the bottom of the sixth.

Oskaloosa claimed the hits battle 7-5 with Vande Wall (both doubles) and Hacker both notching two hits each. Moorman scored twice and Hacker produced two RBIs.

Hacker did not record a strikeout (two walks), but kept the opposing batters off-balanced enough to get the win. Only one of the two runs she permitted were earned.

Norwalk 15, Oskaloosa 9

The marathon contest was a doozy. Norwalk scored seven times in the first, but the Indians actually went on top with their own seven spot in the fourth. Unfortunately, the Warriors scored six of the final seven runs down the stretch to take the opener.

OHS came up short in the hitting category, 17-14, with Vande Wall (two doubles) and Moorman each tallying three hits. Wills and Welch (two doubles) complemented them with two base knocks of their own. Wills and Moorman both scored twice, while Welch drove in three runs. Two RBIs were posted by Vande Wall and Anna Jones.

Oskaloosa 5, Norwalk 2

Groet was needed for one out in the opener and that warmed her up enough for a solid nightcap. The senior struck out three, walked three, and only gave up one earned run.

Oskaloosa scored the game’s first run in the second, but the Warriors captured the edge with two in the top of third. Fortunately, OHS tied it right back up in the bottom half and put the matchup out of reach with three runs in the fifth. Haines came up with the big hit in the fifth with a two-run homer.

Her team edged Norwalk 8-7 in hits and Wills was the biggest piece of the puzzle with two base knocks. Haines and Kaylee Johnson both posted two RBIs apiece.

Oskaloosa 3, Pella 0

The pitchers’ duel went to Groet, who struck out 10 (three walks) and limited the Dutch to only two hits.

Four hits–one each by Bunnell, Wills, Kindley, and Bossard–led the Indians, but none was bigger than Wills’ solo home run. Oskaloosa scored twice in the second and then put an insurance run on the board in the third.

Next Up: Oskaloosa remains in Oskaloosa Monday to host Class 5A #9 Indianola in a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Posted by on Jun 11 2017. Filed under Local News, School Activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed

         

Search Archive

Search by Date
Search by Category
Search with Google
Log in | Copyright by Oskaloosa News