The Indians opened up their 2018 campaign with an exciting but heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the talented Albia Lady Dees in Oskaloosa on Monday night.
Oskaloosa had the based loaded, and were down by one, with two outs in the bottom of the 7th. Josie Bunnell stepped in and hit a line drive the landed right in the glove of Albia shortstop Kennedy Schroeder, ending the game.
Oskaloosa was playing on their brand-new softball complex in their first game since finishing 3rd at the State Tournament a year ago. Both Haley Hacker and Jena Lawrence pitched well for Oskaloosa and Albia respectively.
Hacker threw a complete game, allowing just four runs on five hits. Lawrence took home the win though, allowing three runs on 10 hits in all seven innings of work.
Oskaloosa head coach Jay Harms said in the post-game interview he was relatively pleased with Hacker’s performance. He also recognized the Indians have much improving to do.
One of facets of the game Harms said the Indians need to improve was bunting. The team was unable to lay down a single bunt, despite many attempts.
“We’re going to have to manufacture runs,” said Harms. “The days of one to zero and two to zero games are over.”
This in reference to the end of the Alexis Groet era, in which Groet was a 5-time All-State selection for the Indians in the circle.
Replacing departed talent remains one of the biggest challenges Oskaloosa will face this year. But, Jay Harm’s squad boasts an abundance of young talent, the question is which Indians will see the field.
The Indians move to 0-1 on the season, while the Lady Dees start 1-0. The next game for the Oskaloosa softball team will be at home on May 22nd, with the Varsity game starting around 7:30 p.m.
The next Oskaloosa game featured on the No Coast Network will be on Friday, May 25th, when the Oskaloosa baseball team takes on the Huskies from Winterset.
Story by John Hirl
