Defending State Champs Roll to 5-0 Opening Week
Oskaloosa Indians
by Wade Steinlage
The Oskaloosa Indian softball team is out to prove last year was only the beginning, coming out of the 2017 gate on a tear by winning in its five games.
The defending state champion and top-ranked team in Class 4A was on the road all week, but easily went 5-0 and outscored opponents 47-4.
The week began with a 3-0 win over Albia Monday. The Indians then defeated Knoxville 10-2 Tuesday before dropping Class 2A #1 Collins-Maxwell-Baxter 12-2 Thursday. On Saturday, Oskaloosa competed in the Williamsburg Tournament and dominated English Valleys 12-0 (3 innings) and Bondurant-Farrar 10-0 (5 innings).
Oskaloosa 3, Albia 0
The season opener was a pitchers’ duel with Alexis Groet bettering Jena Lawrence.
OHS broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fifth. The squad then added two more insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Aubrey Miller. The Indians outhit the Blue Demons 3-2 with Miller, Ava Vande Wall, and Devan Welch all managing one single apiece.
Groet started where she finished last year, posting a dominating two-hit shutout. The senior, who was a First-Team All-State hurler last summer, struck out 13 batters and walked one.
Oskaloosa 10, Knoxville 2
The Indians began Tuesday’s matchup with three runs in the first, then added two more in the second and another in the third for a quick 6-0 advantage.
The Panthers finally snapped Groet’s scoreless inning streak with a pair of tallies in the fourth, but OHS put the contest on ice with one more in the sixth frame and three more in the seventh.
Oskaloosa recorded a 10-4 edge in hits with Vande Wall hitting for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run). The freshman, who was 4-for-5, finished with four runs and three RBIs.
Ashley Kindley also had a multi-hit showing, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Taylor Wills had a double and two RBIs.
Groet once again was spectacular with 13 strikeouts and two base on balls.
Oskaloosa 12, Collins-Maxwell-Baxter 2
Tuesday’s win over Knoxville seemed to open the offensive floodgates for the Indians as a battle of #1 teams went from a potential instant classic to a blowout.
OHS outhit CMB 17-5 with six players tallying at least two hits. The Indians led just 4-2 after four frames, but exploded for a six-run sixth inning to cruise to victory.
For the second game in a row, Vande Wall had four hits (one double) with two RBIs and two runs scored. Wills, Kindley, Maddie Haines, Anna Jones, and Alexis Westercamp all produced a pair of base knocks each, while Westercamp, Bunnell, and Meghan Moorman all drove in two scores apiece.
Chloe Bossard took advantage of CMB’s fielding struggles (four total errors) to score a team-best four runs. Kindley and Haines also rounded the pads twice.
Groet had nine strikeouts against one walk in the win.
Oskaloosa 12, English Valleys 0
Groet earned a much-needed game off, giving the ball to eighth-grader Hayle Hacker who showed the future is bright in the Indian pitching circle as she tossed a perfect game. Hacker struck out four hitters in her high school debut.
OHS put two on the board in the opening frame and then took over with 10 more in the third. The Indians actually only produced seven hits, but also made their foes pay for fielding miscues as five of Oskaloosa’s runs were unearned.
Wills finished the win 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs, while Bunell was 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Westercamp added a two-run single as well.
The Indians were aggressive on the basepaths with nine stolen bases, including two each by Bunnell, Wills, and Westercamp.
Oskaloosa 10, Bondurant-Farrar 0
A three-run first inning was followed by a seven-run fourth as Oskaloosa capped its outstanding first week of play.
Westercamp led the offense by going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Wills (two runs) and Haines were both 2-for-3. Moorman drove in two scores and Bunnell also touched home plate twice.
Groet was untouchable, recording her first no-hitter of the year with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Next Up: Oskaloosa finally comes home Wednesday, hosting Grinnell in Little Hawkeye Conference action at 7:30 p.m.
