Local Sports

Jun 25, 2017

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE BCLUW second baseman Samantha Ubben, left, readies her throw to first base for the double play after recording the force-out of Marshalltowns Erica Johnson (1) during the fourth inning of Saturdays game in the Bobcat Softball Classic.

As Emily Hass crossed home plate as the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Marshalltown head softball coach Jim Palmer kept waving as McKenna Major rounded third base inconsequentially.

Majors run would not have counted, but the Bobcats head coach is trying to use every chance he has to translate game situations into opportunities to improve.

Marshalltown made the most out of its last chance against Marion, upending the Indians 10-9, but couldnt gain an edge against Class 2A No. 13 BCLUW as the Comets captured an 8-1 victory Saturday over the hosts of the annual Bobcat Softball Classic.

MHS (8-21) finished the weekend 2-2 with splits on both days of the event, highlighted by the walk-off win against Marion. The Indians (9-21) scored twice in the top of the sixth inning and got another run in the seventh to overtake the Bobcats, 9-8, but Marshalltown got off to a fast start in its last chance.

Bridget Carroll came through with a leadoff single through the left side, and Emily Hass followed in kind. Marshalltown eighth-grader Kyra Feldman dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, and McKenna Majors grounder to the left side allowed Carroll to slide home safely ahead of a close play at the plate.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltowns Regan Mazour, left, slides safely across home plate as BCLUW catcher Kate Goecke looks across the infield during the sixth inning of Saturdays game at the Bobcat Softball Classic. The Class 2A No. 13 Comets beat the Bobcats 8-1.

With two runners still in scoring position, Bobcat leadoff batter Regan Mazour slapped a grounder to the left side, and Marions shortstop threw wild to first base instead of attempting to prevent Hass from scoring the game-winning run.

As the throw skipped away across the diamond, Palmer implored Major to keep digging for home plate as if the season was on the line. It wasnt, but it will be one day down the line.

We wanted that game, that was one we knew we could get if we played well, said Palmer of the Marion matchup. I like those kinds of games for us. We need one with that pressure so we know we can play in close games and play from behind.

Marshalltown amassed 11 hits against Marion hurler Megan Kessens, who allowed six earned runs on one walk, one hit batsman while striking out seven. The Bobcats needed all the offense to keep pace with Marion slugger Sydney Nielsen, who hit a two-run home run in the top of the first and a solo shot in the seventh that put the Indians in front late, 9-8.

MHs doubled up on Nielsens first blast, scoring four times in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Madi Finch singled, Erica Johnson doubled, Ciara Feldman walked and Finch scored on a passed ball. McKaylee Dawsons bunt single drove in Johnson, and Bridget Carrolls bunt scored another. The Bobcats made it 4-2 when Dawson scored on a throw down to second base intended to stop Carroll from stealing.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltowns Bridget Carroll runs toward first base as her run-scoring sacrifice bunt is fielded by Marion pitcher Megan Kessens during the first inning of Saturdays game. Carroll reached safely on a throwing error that allowed another Bobcat to score in their eventual 10-9 victory.

But for every Marshalltown hit or run, Marion matched it. The Indians scored one in the second, as did the Bobcats, and then tallied three runs in the third. Marshalltown regained an 8-6 lead with three runs in the fourth, sparked by singles from Major and Mazour. Finchs sacrifice bunt was misplayed, allowing Major to score, and Mazour crossed home on Johnsons sacrifice fly. An errant throw by Marions outfield found the dugout, allowing Finch to score and made it a three-run game, 8-6.

The Indians scrambled up two runs in the sixth to tie, 8-all, before Nielsen gave her team a 9-8 lead with her sixth home run of the season. MHS sophomore pitcher Abby Brennecke surrendered back-to-back hits to follow, but the Bobcat defense got out of the jam with no further damage done before rallying for the win in the bottom of the seventh.

Brennecke finished with four strikeouts and two hit batsmen in the win, allowing 11 hits and seven earned runs. Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a run and an RBI, while Finch was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Dawson added two singles.

The Bobcats turned around to take on Class 2A No. 13 BCLUW in a rematch of their meeting during the Black Dirt Days tournament two weeks ago in Conrad, but the Comets separated themselves in convincing fashion. After edging the Bobcats 4-3 in their first showdown, the Comets pounced on early scoring chances and cruised to victory.

BCLUW junior pitcher Lauren Anderson allowed one hit over five innings for the win on her 17th birthday and the Comets made no errors behind her in an 8-1 win.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Anderson did not allow a hit until Johnsons leadoff single in the fourth, but that Bobcat baserunner was erased moments later on a slick 6-4-3 double play. She ended with five strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter, and Samantha Ubben surrendered Marshalltowns only run before nailing down the Comets third win of the weened.

BCLUW reached Dawson and eighth-grader Kailee Pollard for a total of 14 hits and eight earned runs. Marshalltown also made no errors, unless you count pitching to Jordyn Beeghly. The Comets senior first baseman finished 3-for-4 at the plate with RBI singles in each of her first three plate-appearances.

BCLUW set the table for Beeghly with its trademark small-ball style of play, utilizing bunts and aggressive baserunning to driving opposing defenses to the limit. Marshalltown stood its own, but the Comets simply performed when the moments arrived.

I thought for our entire game we were sharp at everything we did, said Comet head coach David Lee. We played well in the Lisbon game [on Friday] and today we executed everything we needed to. It makes things a lot easier when you put the ball in play.

BCLUW, which bested Bondurant-Farrar 8-0 in Saturdays opening round, led 7-0 before Johnson broke up Andersons no-hitter with a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE

Johnson finished with two of Marshalltowns three hits, including an RBI single against Ubben that plated the Bobcats lone run. Mazour welcomed Ubben into the circle with a single up the middle and Finch was hit by a pitch before Johnson came through with her second hit of the game.

Ubben settled down to strike out five of the next seven batters she faced to seal the Comets victory.

That first game [against Marion] we battled hard and we expended some energy, said Palmer, who was missing starting senior third baseman Aspen Chadderdon from his lineup on Satuday. So then we ran into coach Lee and we had some players out of position, and when that happens youre going to run into trouble. But were still a work in progress and we know that.

BCLUW acknowleges the work ahead of it, too, but it looked like a well-oiled machine most of the time on Saturday.

We were a little more fine-tuned today with the stuff we do offensively and defensively, said Lee. Today we didnt give anybody anything. We played pretty well.

Beeghly and Jenna Willett had three hits apiece, with Willett scoring twice, while Leah Yantis had a pair of RBI singles. Olivia Hughes had two infield hits while Swanson, Anderson doubled, and Sharp and Kate Goecke each had a single.

Dawson was tagged for seven earned runs on 10 hits over four innings, walking two while striking out one. Pollard allowed one run on four hits and a walk in two innings of relief pitching for the Bobcats, who play their final eight regular-season games against ranked 5A teams starting with a road trip to No. 6 Urbandale on Monday.

To me, that kind of competition helps us get better for regionals, said Palmer.

BCLUWs bid for the NICL West Division title comes down to two games this week. The Comets go to Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Monday before squaring off with 3A No. 9 West Marshall on Wednesday night in State Center in a game that will likely decide the conference championship.

Trojans roll to 2-0

West Marshall, like BCLUW, took a pair of wins away from Saturdays stay at the Bobcat Softball Classic. The Trojans (25-3) slipped past Des Moines Roosevelt, 3-1, before beating Bondurant-Farrar, 9-1.

The Trojans tallied single runs in the first, third and fifth innings to take down Roosevelt in Saturdays second round of games. Kallie Malloy twirled a three-hitter from the circle, striking out five and walking none, and the Roughriders lone run was unearned to the senior pitcher.

Renae Schaper went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI to lead West Marshall offensively. Brooke Snider singled and scored a run, and Kayla Cripps was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Emma Meyer and Malloy both chipped in with singles, and Georgia Porter walked twice and scored a run. Schapers pinch-runner Catherine Sjoblom scored once as well.

Malloy again tossed a three-hitter, this time over 5 2/3 innings, as the Trojans finished off Bondurant-Farrar in six frames, 9-1. Payton Halverson pitched for the final out.

Karisa Blocker and Snider both went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored for West Marshall. Katie Price was 1-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored, while Grace Porter was 1-for-1, walked twice and scored once. Pinch-runner Grace deNeui scored once in Porters place as well.

Malloy and Cripps also contributed singles for the Trojans, who host East Marshall on Monday night before playing a non-conference game Tuesday at South Hamilton. West Marshall entertains BCLUW on Wednesday in an NICL West Division clash of the conferences current co-leaders.

Marshalltown Bobcat Softball Classic

At Marshalltown Community College

Fridays Games

Marshalltown 6, Des Moines Roosevelt 3

BCLUW 3, Lisbon 2, 8 innings

Colfax-Mingo 11, Bondurant-Farrar 7

Lisbon 6, Marion 3

Des Moines Roosevelt 11, BCLUW 1

Colfax-Mingo 6, Marshalltown 0

Marion 4, Bondurant-Farrar 3

Saturdays Games

Lynnville-Sully 9, Roosevelt 7

Colfax-Mingo 14, Marion 5

BCLUW 8, Bondurant-Farrar 0

Marshalltown 10, Marion 9

Lisbon 2, Lynnville-Sully 0

West Marshall 3, Roosevelt 1

BCLUW 8, Marshalltown 1

Colfax-Mingo 13, Lisbon 12, 10 innings

West Marshall 9, Bondurant-Farrar 1

Marshalltown 10, Marion 9

Marion 213 002 1 9 11 6

MHS 410 300 2 10 11 3

Megan Kessens and Sydney Nielsen; Abby Brennecke and Erica Johnson. WBrennecke. LKessens. 2BMAR: Maddie Knapp, Maddie Steffen; MHS: Johnson. HRMAR: Nielsen 2. LOBMAR 5, MHS 8.

BCLUW 8, Marshalltown 1

BCLUW 202 310 0 8 14 0

MHS 000 001 0 1 3 0

Lauren Anderson, Samantha Ubben (6) and Kate Goecke; McKaylee Dawson, Kailee Pollard (6) and Johnson. WAnderson. LDawson. 2BBCLUW: Anderson. LOBBCLUW 6, MHS 6.

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