Split Against Ranked Indianola Highlights Softball’s Week
Aubrey Miller slides into second against Indianola on Monday night.
by Wade Steinlage
The Oskaloosa Indian softball team battled hard against two of the Little Hawkeye’s Conference’s top teams as it continued its season last week.
Oskaloosa (15-7, 6-6 LHC) opened the week Monday with a split against Class 5A #9 Indianola, falling 1-0 and winning 7-2. The Indians then came up short to Class 2A #9 Pella Christian, 6-5, before sweeping Grinnell 9-0 and 3-1 Friday.
Indianola 1, Oskaloosa 0
The doubleheader’s first contest was a great one for purists of the sport as the squads combined for just four hits. Indianola scored the game’s lone run in the first inning and then IHS hurler Sidney Sickels was untouchable. Sickels struck out 13 Oskaloosa batters, while Alexis Groet was also stellar with seven strikeouts.
Aubrey Miller paced the offense with a single and a double.
Oskaloosa 7, Indianola 2
OHS took out its frustrations in the nightcap, outhitting the visitors 10-5. Kaylee Johnson hit a two-run home run in the second, while five more runs were added in the fourth frame. Indianola scored two meaningless runs in the seventh.
Taylor Wills was Oskaloosa’s top threat at the plate with three hits. Josie Bunnell had two hits and matched Johnson with two RBIs.
Despite throwing for the second game in a row, Groet was not slowed, finishing with five strikeouts and three walks.
Pella Christian 6, Oskaloosa 5
The Indians scored first with a first-inning single by Miller that plated Ava Vande Wall. Unfortunately, the Eagles, who now lead the conference standings responded with five runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Bunnell’s sacrifice fly brought in Ashley Kindley in the second and OHS knotted the contest in the sixth when Vande Wall crushed a two-run home run and Miller touched home plate on a passed ball. Pella Christian had the final say, however, with a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.
Vande Wall, who also had a double, ended up with two runs and two RBIs. Miller matched Vande Wall with two hits as PC outhit Oskaloosa 10-7.
Groet recorded a trio of strikeouts against one walk in the losing effort.
Oskaloosa 9, Grinnell 0
The Indians easily took care of business in the opener, scoring in four of the five frames, including four in the fourth.
Meghan Moorman posted three hits and Wills added two more as the victors claimed an 11-3 edge in hits. Vande Wall and Maddie Haines both touched home plate twice, while Kindley and Moorman tallied two RBIs apiece. Miller reached base twice via walks.
Groet kept Grinnell off balance with a dozen strikeouts versus two walks.
Oskaloosa 3, Grinnell 1
Mother Nature was the only thing that could slow down Oskaloosa as the nightcap was called after five frames due to rain. Until that point, the Indians were outhitting the Tigers 9-3, including three base knocks by Miller and two by Johnson. Hayle Hacker muted Grinnell with four strikeouts.
Next Up: Oskaloosa returns home Monday to host Dallas Center-Grimes in a single LHC game at 7:30 p.m.
