Softball
NEW SHARON – Kaylia Shipman saw the ball real well Wednesday night. The North Mahaska freshman centerfielder hit two homeruns, a triple and a single to drive in seven runs to lead North Mahaska to a 13-11 South Iowa Cedar League softball victory.
Shipman opened the game with a triple then homered in the second and sixth innings. However, the game was no runaway as the teams traded leads.
Lynnville-Sully opened the scoring in the top of the first inning thanks to three singles, an error and a walk. North Mahaska answered in their half of the first to tie the game at 3-3 on three singles and Shipman’s triple.
The see-saw battle continued in the second with the visiting Hawks regaining the lead with four runs. Ava Bunnell drove in three runs on a double. NM again tied the game at seven with Shipman’s homer tying the contest.
In the top of the fourth, Lynnville-Sully broke up the tie on a single, double and hit batsman. Jolan Fogle’s double to extend the lead to 9-7. Again, it was the long ball that aided the Warhawks when Regan Grewe homered to put NM in front 10-9.
An error and a single allowed Lynnville-Sully retook the lead in the top of the sixth to lead, 11-10. Shipman came to the rescue again in the bottom of the sixth inning when she homered to left field scoring two runs. Kayla Readshaw doubled, scoring the final run.
With two out in the seventh, Alexy Conover singled but catcher Kylie Van Weelden threaded a throw to Olivia Ridgeway on a steal to seal away the game.
“I was seeing the ball well tonight,” said Shipman. “I wasn’t doing anything special, I just wanted to hit the ball.”
NM coach Mark Schroeder was nervous up to the end. His team has fallen in five one-run games recently.
“I was nervous that’s for sure, I thought we were headed to number six,” said Schroeder. “Kaylia was seeing the ball really well tonight. We still have to fix some things on defense.”
Grewe earned the win for North Mahaska pitching in relief of starter Jocelyn Pinkerton. The junior scattered seven hits six and four runs.
Conover took the loss for Lynnville sully.
Grewe hit a single and homer to drive in two runs. Madeline Doonan hit two singles with an RBI, Readshaw had an RBI on two singles and Lydia Howell hit an RBI single.
Bunnell led the Hawks with a single, double and two RBI and Alaina Roberts hit two singles with two RBI.
Next up for North Mahaska is the final SICL game of the season against BGM on Friday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Baseball
North Mahaska stayed within striking distance of Class 1A No. 5 Lynnville-Sully for the first four innings. But the Hawks took advantage of walks and timely hits to earn a 10-1 victory and remain atop the South Iowa Cedar League standings.
Lynnville-Sully (20-3) led 3-0 after the first two innings. North Mahaska was able to cut the lead to 3-1 with a tally in the bottom of the fourth. The Hawks then put up four runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to seal the win.
Pitching was the difference in the contest. Lynnville-Sully’s Carson Maston struck out 11 and allowed just two hits and walking three while going the distance. North Mahaska (9-9) utilized three pitchers. Ryan Andersen took the loss going 4 1/3 innings. He gave up seven runs on six hits, six walks and a hit batsman. Nate Sampson tossed the next 1 2/3 giving up three runs on three hits, a pair of walks and a hit batsman. Jaxon Vander Veer finished the game.
Andersen hit a double and Sampson a single for the only hits for the Warhawks.
Corder Noun Harder hit a single and homerun with an RBI and Jaiden Richards hit three singles to drive in three runs.
North Mahaska will close out the SICL home season Friday when they host BGM for senior night. Carter Lake, Andersen, Carson Doak and Sampson will be recognized.
