The Okoboji Softball Invitational Tournament completed its
first day of competition Thursday. The host Pioneers picked up a win and a
loss. In a preview of next month’s regional playoff opener, Okoboji lost 2-0
against Sioux Central, but did recover to defeat Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn by a
5-1 final in the last game of the day. The Hawks were also beaten by
Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 12-2 in six innings. Clay Central-Everly went 1-1
after sneaking past Sheldon, 7-6, while also falling to the Nighthawks, 6-1.
Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire found themselves in a close game with the
Orabs, as well, winning 8-7. GTRA did lose in five innings to ninth-ranked MOC-Floyd Valley, 11-1. Sibley-Ocheyedan went to
an extra inning before succumbing to a 7-6 setback against South O’Brien. The
Generals also lost 11-4 to Spalding Catholic. And in the remaining games of the
day, Spalding Catholic topped the Wolverines, 13-10, and MOC-Floyd Valley
earned a 5-4 decision over Sioux Central.
In a game that saw 37 runs cross home plate, Spirit Lake
out-slugged Algona 24-13 for a six-inning, non-conference win Thursday. The
Bulldogs plated ten runs in the fourth, tying the game at ten, however, the
Indians exploded with a ten-spot of their own in sixth to seal the victory.
Paige Krause cracked her eighth home run of the season, to go along with a
triple on a four-hit night. The junior drove in six runs and scored five more.
Alissa Christoffer racked up five hits and scored four times. Cara Vale
enjoyed four hits and four RBI. In all, Spirit Lake
pounded out 26 hits in winning their fourth straight. The Indians will take a
15-12 mark into the Spencer Tournament on Friday, where they will take on
top-ranked North Union and undefeated Sioux City Bishop Heelan.
Also in the Lakes, ninth-ranked Emmetsburg grabbed a
low-scoring, but significant win over 14th-ranked LeMars, beating
the Bulldogs, 1-0. Faith Schmidt was the star of the game, striking out
thirteen batters and scattering six hits as the winning pitcher. The senior
also had three hits and drove in the game’s only run. The loss drops LeMars out
of a tie for first place in the league standings, while the E-Hawks improve to
5-3 in conference. Emmetsburg travels to the Garner-Hayfield Tournament on
Saturday.
The loss by LeMars allowed Estherville-Lincoln Central to
claim the top spot all by themselves after a lopsided 16-4 victory over Storm Lake
yesterday. The game ended after three innings, as the Midgets racked up
thirteen runs in the first, and three more in the second. ELC is 9-1 in the
league and opens play at the Spencer Tournament on Friday.
Harris-Lake Park’s run of three straight wins came to
a close Thursday at Pocahontas Area/Pomeroy-Palmer, with the Lady Wolves
falling in a close, 13-12, ballgame. HLP rallied in the seventh inning
with seven runs to tie the game, but the Indians won on a walkoff,
solo homer. Mariah Gath went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Emily Anderson drove in two runs on two hits and Katherin
Ihnen finished with a pair of RBI. Harris-Lake Park
is 8-13 and host their annual tournament on Saturday with games against
Unity Christian and Laurens-Marathon.
