Okoboji blanked Sioux Center, 6-0, in a Siouxland Conference game in Milford, bringing their head coach two wins shy of 300 for his career. Mikkinzie Peschong struck out seven batters for the win, while the Pioneers offense tallied ten total hits. Sydney Boeckholt drove in two runs on two hits, and Abby Taylor plated one more on two base hits. The Pioneers jump to 6-5 in the conference and travel to league front-runner MOC-Floyd Valley on Friday.
Spirit Lake scored in each inning played against Clay Central-Everly on Thursday, finishing the home portion of their regular season schedule with a 13-1 win over the Mavericks in four innings. The Indians led 3-1 entering the bottom of the third when they busted the game open with four runs, and then followed it up with six more in the fourth to clinch the victory. Carly Ites had two doubles, two runs scored, and one driven in. Alissa Christoffer enjoyed three hits with two runs, while Amanda Bueltel drove in two. Hayley Roberts had an RBI and three runs scored with two hits. Cara Vale got the win allowing one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts. CCE’s lone run came in the third when Caitlin Haroldson drove in Gabby Huss with an infield single. Freshman Mattie Larson took the loss. The Mavericks, who had a three-game win streak snapped, will take an 8-15 mark to West Bend-Mallard for a doubleheader Friday. Spirit Lake owns a .500 record at 18-18, with their final conference game Friday at Storm Lake.
Click here for the postgame interview with Spirit Lake seniors Cara Vale and Amanda Bueltel.
Click here for the postgame interview with Indians coach Rachel Gerking.
A pair of bloop singles in the seventh is all tenth-ranked Emmetsburg needed to defeat sixth-ranked Estherville-Lincoln Central, 1-0, on Thursday. Scoreless through 6 ½, Jacque Carlson lobbed a single to right, and four batters later, Teegan Olson did the same to drive in Carlson for the win. Faith Schmidt did her part in the circle, no-hitting the Midgets and striking out eight batters. Kendall Bosch took the loss despite ten strikeouts. The setback ends an eleven-game win streak for ELC, who can still win the Lakes Conference title outright when they take their 11-2 league mark to LeMars Saturday. Emmetsburg, which has handed Estherville-Lincoln Central its only two losses in conference and owns a nine-game win streak, improves to 9-3 and keeps its title hopes alive. The E-Hawks play in the Storm Lake Classic on Saturday.
Click here for the postgame interview with Emmetsburg coach Travis Birkey
Spencer’s losing streak hit five consecutive following Thursday’s non-conference, 8-1, loss to Carroll. Maddie Gould and Paige Wigen each had a hit, while Kelli Kramer took the loss. The Tigers fall to 11-14 overall and host their final home game against Western Christian on Friday.
Trailing by a run and entering the bottom of the seventh, Harris-Lake Park found some late magic to rally for a 4-3 victory over Sioux Central Thursday. Mariah Gath and Emily Anderson both reached to start the inning, and then Noreen Morrow’s base hit drove in Gath to tie the contest at three. Macy Gunderson played the hero role with a game-winning single to send Anderson home for the W. Morrow finished 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, part of a ten-hit night for the Lady Wolves. Gunderson pitched to the win, surrendering the three runs on six hits with four K’s. HLP will try to end the season on a three-game winning streak when they put their 11-16 record on the line in the season finale against Trinity Christian on Friday.
In the War Eagle, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn lost for a fifth straight time, dropping a 9-3 outing to Hinton. The Hawks league record sits at 4-15 with one final game Friday at West Sioux.
