Indians Bounce Back Over The Rockets
A friendly dance-off broke out between the Rockets and the Indians as they waited for the all-clear to play ball. (photo by Jamie Brockman)
by Jamie Brockman
It was an interesting night in Eddyville Tuesday night as the Oskaloosa softball team traveled to face the Rockets.
The varsity game was moved up to 6 pm due to threats of rain; however lightning in the area forced numerous delays before things ever got started.
The heavy rain stayed clear of Eddyville, so during the long lightning delay, both teams passed the time with a friendly dance-off keeping themselves and fans entertained. Finally, around 7:30 pm, we were given the all clear, and the game was allowed to start.
Osky started strong scoring five runs on five hits and an E-B-F error in the top of the first inning. Meghan Moorman led off with a base hit, her courtesy runner Macie Krier was sacrificed to second on a bunt from the school’s all-time sacrifice leader Ashley Kindley. The next six Osky batters reached base. Ava Vandewall singled, Abby Braundmeier reached on an error, Maddie Haines ripped a 2 RBI double, followed by a 2 RBI single from Faith Deronde. However, Deronde was thrown out at second, trying for an extra base. Taylor Wills then walked, and Kaylee Johnson hit an RBI single to put Osky ahead 5-0.
The Rockets were retired in order in the bottom of the inning. Osky stayed hot in the second inning adding two more runs on a walk to Moorman, Vanndewall singled, Braundmeier grounded out but scored Krier, again running for Moorman, and Haines singled home Vandewall putting Osky up 7-0.
E-B-F got two hits, both singles, in the bottom of the second from Faith Roberts and Dariann Johnson, but couldn’t score.
From that point, Oskaloosa was held hitless the rest of the way, and only managed one base runner when Kaylee Johnson drew a walk in the third inning.
The Rockets were also held to just one base runner until the bottom of the seventh when they scored their lone run on a bases-loaded walk but ended the game with bases loaded and Oskaloosa winning 7-1.
Hayle Hacker got the win for the Indians pitching seven innings, allowing one run on three hits. She struck out seven, walked three, all in the seventh inning and hit one batter.
Reina Taylor took the loss for the Rockets pitching seven innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, striking out one and walking four.
Oskaloosa Coach Jay Harms said, “It was great to see the kids bounce back so well after last night’s losses to Newton and beat a really fine E-B-F team. It would’ve been nice to shut them out, but we’ll take a 7-1 win” He continued, “Man we really came dialed in the first two innings. Seven runs in the first two innings. Hack, (Hayle Hacker) I thought really had good velocity tonight, her ball was really poppin the mit..” When asked what he thought was the difference between the first two innings and the last five where E-B-F shut down Osky he said, “We just seemed to be really tuned in from the get-go and got some really timely hits. Maddie Haines what a shot she hit”, referring to a deep fly ball she hit to the center field fence for a double to score two runs in the first inning. “That really got us going and we had some great at-bats the first two innings which were really key.” As for the rest of the game, Harms said, “Wow, the plays we saw on both sides by the third basemen, Ashley Kindley for us and Faith Roberts for them, those girls made some fantastic plays.” Finally, we asked Harms with the ups and down the team has seen this season, how would he describe this team at this point of the season. “Jekyll and Hyde. That’s how it’s been all season, we think we have things figured out and things go great, then all the sudden things don’t go well at all, but then we bounce back like tonight. Now we gotta go to Norwalk tomorrow night, and they’re a tough ball club, so hopefully, we’ll come ready to play tomorrow like we did tonight and give Norwalk all they can handle”.
Oskaloosa improved to 16-11 while E-B-F fell to 19-9. Osky travels to Norwalk Wednesday night.
