NM Girls Roll Past Hillcrest
KALONA – North Mahaska left no doubt who the better team was Friday in its regular season finale. The Warhawks traveled to Kalona to face Hillcrest Academy and used n 11-run fourth inning to score a 20-6 victory.
North Mahaska opened the game with four runs and added five more in the second for a 9-5 lead. The host Ravens scored twice in the first and second innings before the Warhawks put the game away.
North Mahaska (10-12) jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Regan Grewe tripled, scoring two runs, Kayla Readshaw singled, scoring one run, and an error scored another run. The Warhawks scored five runs on two hits in the top of the second inning. Madeline Doonan singled, scoring two runs, Grewe grounded out, scoring a run, Readshaw drew a walk, scoring one run, and an error scored one run.
In the fourth inning, Kaylia Shipman walked and stole second. She did not record a hit but stole six bases on the night. An error on a pop fly allowed Shipman to score and Readshaw reached after being hit by a pitch.
Walks, hits, errors and stolen bases set the stage for Lydia Howell to hit a long homerun to bring in the final two runs. Howell, Grewe and Doonan each recorded three RBIs.
Leading 20-4, Grewe came in to pitch in relief of Jocelyn Pinkerton. She walked Morgan Nafziger and Malia Yoder reached on an error. Nazfziger scored on a Claire Withrow single. With two outs, Kylee Statler singled to score the final Raven run.
Pinkerton opened the game going three innings. She allowed six hits and four runs, walking three.
Yoder threw from the circle for Hillcrest Academy. She gave up eight hits and 20 runs, seven earned, over four innings She struck out four and walked seven.
Addison Falb hit a single with two RBI. Olivia Ridgeway and Readshaw each singled with an RBI.
Shipman, Doonan, and Readshaw each stole multiple bases for North Mahaska. The Warhawks stole 14 bases in the game.
Nafziger and Withrow each collected two hits for Hillcrest. Nafziger, Statler, Delaney Shaw, and Withrow each drove in one run for Hillcrest Academy.
North Mahaska will open Class 1A tournament play Monday night at home when they host Lynnville-Sully. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
