Indian Softball Closes Week on Seven-Game Winning Streak
by Wade Steinlage
The Oskaloosa Indians softball team was knocked around early on this week, but then took out its frustration on the rest of its competition.
OHS (19-4, 9-3 LHC), which remains #6 in Class 4A, started the week by being shutout twice by Indianola Monday, falling 10-0 (5 innings) and 3-0.
The crew bounced back Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Pella Christian to start their current winning streak. It continued Thursday with a doubleheader sweep over Norwalk, 9-3 and 6-1. Friday’s double dip versus Grinnell was much of the same with wins by the scores of 7-0 and 9-1. The Indians put a nice bow on the week on Saturday by dominating Sigourney 12-2 (6 innings) and Keokuk 10-0 (5 innings).
Indianola 10, OHS 0
Indianola, which was at the time ranked #6 in Class 5A (now #4), rolled over Oskaloosa in the opener with a 13-1 edge in hits.
IHS led just 1-0 after two frames, but pulled away with a six-run third inning. Josie Bunnell had her team’s only base knock.
Indianola 3, OHS 0
The story did not change for the nightcap with Oskaloosa being outhit 9-2. Unfortunately, down only 1-0 entering the sixth, OHS gave up two more in the bottom half of the inning and IHS claimed the sweep.
Meghan Moorman and Sophia Dykstra recorded OHS’ only hits, while Hayle Hacker struck out one and walked three in a complete-game effort.
OHS 4, Pella Christian 1
The Indians, who are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, scored a run in the first inning and then doubled the margin in the third. Two more insurance runs were plated in the fourth, while the Eagles finally broke through with one in the seventh.
Hacker’s three strikeouts were countered by one walk in six frames of work.
OHS managed an 11-6 advantage in hits with Maddie Haines finishing 3-for-3; she also stole a pair of bases. Ava Vande Wall tallied two hits, including a solo home run, and scored two runs, while Ashley Kindley also recorded two base knocks.
OHS 9, Norwalk 3
Oskaloosa dominated a twinbill that featured two ranked teams from Class 4A (Norwalk is #11), including the first contest with a 9-6 mark in hits.
The programs exchanged two runs each apiece in the first frame, and the Warriors actually took the lead at 3-2 after two innings.
Fortunately, Hacker (3 K, 0 BB) settled in and the offense came alive with a two-spot in the third, four more in the fourth, and one last run in the seventh. Haines again paced the batters with a 3-for-3 showing (one home run, two doubles) that also featured three RBIs and three runs scored. Vande Wall and Anna Jones were both 2-for-4 and both scored twice. Vande Wall also drove in two tallies, as did Moorman.
OHS 6, Norwalk 1
An 11-4 margin in hits did not pay off until the latter innings of the nightcap as the contest was scoreless through four. OHS eventually broke through in the fifth with three runs, then scored once more in the sixth, before capping the event with two more runs in the seventh.
Hacker stayed in the pitching circle and tossed another gem, this time striking out three against two walks. Vande Wall (two doubles) and Taylor Wills were both 3-for-4, whereas Bunnell and Moorman were good for two hits each. Vande Wall drove in three in the victory, and Bunnell crossed home plate twice.
OHS 7, Grinnell 0
A five-run first inning set the tone for the doubleheader as outhit the Tigers 12-2. Haines and Wills both went 3-for-3, while Dykstra ended up with a pair of hits. Haines also scored twice and drove in two tallies.
Faith DeRonde had a strong complete-game outing, striking out three and walking three.
OHS 9, Grinnell 1
The sweep of Grinnell was completed as the Indians recorded three runs in the first, third, and sixth innings.
OHS had five players with two hits as it more than doubled up its foe in his (13-6 was the final tally). Haines guided the two-hit quintet with two doubles and three runs scored. Jones (two runs, two steals), Vande Wall (two runs, two RBIs), Wills (two RBIs), and Chloe Bossard also were members of the two hit club. Bunnell drew two walks, stole a base, and scored one time as well.
Hacker did not need the run support as she cruised with five strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game showing.
OHS 12, Sigourney 2
Despite being a matchup of two ranked schools (Sigourney is #7 in Class 1A), Oskaloosa had no problem in its first game of the day. The Indians put three on the board in the first and then replicated that three more times in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.
An 11-3 edge in hits was secured by the victors with nine different players reaching on a base knock. Bunnell and Haines both went 2-for-4 at the dish. Bunnell hit a home run, drove in three, and walked two times, while Haines rounded the pads twice.
Wills posted two RBIs, as did Kiarra Bjornson with a two-run pinch-hit double. Lauren Coon came home twice in pinch-running opportunities. Hacker stymied Sigourney with nine strikeouts and only two walks.
OHS 10, Keokuk 0
Oskaloosa wrapped up a busy week with another triumph, scoring multiple runs in three separate frames. Once again nine Indians produced a hit, headlined by Haines and Moorman with two apiece. One of Haines’ base knocks was a home run as she finished with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Dykstra also scored on two occasions.
Abby Braundmeier had a two-run single off the bench, and DeRonde had four strikeouts and three walks in a two-hit shutout.
