Oskaloosa Softball Claims Three Road Wins
Oskaloosa blanked Pella 4-0 this past week. Maddie Haines is seen here smashing the ball to get on base. (photo by Wendy Van Roekel)
by Wade Steinlage
The Oskaloosa Indians softball team had a rough start to the week, but bounced back with three wins away from its new home.
OHS (12-2, 4-1 LHC), which is now #6 in Class 4A, opened the week with a 9-3 loss to #13 Newton Monday. The Indians then swept Washington in Tuesday’s non-conference doubleheader, winning 3-2 and 11-8. The week concluded with a 4-0 win over Pella Friday.
Newton 9, OHS 3
The Cardinals led 4-0 after four frames of action, but Josie Bunnell cut the lead in half with a two-run home run. Unfortunately, Newton responded in the top of the sixth with five runs to take the win. OHS was doubled up in hits 14-7.
Bunnell, who also cleared the fence with a solo shot in the seventh, was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Maddie Haines was 2-for-3 as well.
Faith DeRonde, who took the loss, permitted just one run through 2 2/3 innings, while striking out two and walking three. Hayle Hacker ran into the brunt of the trouble, giving up the remainder of the runs, but she did manage three strikeouts against three walks.
OHS 3, Washington 2
The Indians scored one run each in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, and it was enough to hold off the Demons as they plated both of their runs in the sixth. OHS, which was outhit 9-7, survived quite a scare in the final half inning as Washington loaded the bases with just one out, but Oskaloosa turned a game-ending double play to take the opener.
Bunnell and Ashley Kindley were both 2-for-3. Anna Jones also drove in two runs, while Kaylee Johnson scored twice. Hacker struck out two and walked three in a complete-game effort.
OHS 11, Washington 8
The Indians again came up short in the hits column 11-9 and trailed 6-0 entering the third inning, but paced by Bunnell’s third homer in three games, the visitors rallied to complete the sweep.
Oskaloosa scored four in the sixth to go ahead 8-7, but Washington tied it in the bottom half, only to see OHS pull ahead for good with three more in the seventh.
Kindley and Jones both produced two hits, while Bunnell, Taylor Wills, and Johnson all ended up with two RBIs. Meghan Moorman walked twice and rounded the pads twice in the win.
Abby Braundmeier struggled in a starting role, but DeRonde was excellent in 5 1/3 innings of relief. She limited the Demons to just two runs on four hits, while striking out two and walking three.
OHS 4, Pella 0
Hacker nearly single-handedly took down the Dutch as she tossed a complete-game shutout AND hit a three-run home run in the third frame. She also doubled in the fourth and Bunnell drove in pinchrunner Lauren Coon with another double to plate the final run.
Hacker finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while limiting Pella to four hits in the pitching circle. She posted one strikeout and four walks in the victory. Oskaloosa finished with six hits.
