April 19, 2024

Cardinals quiet Little Cyclones

By Jocelyn Sheets

A bang-bang play at first base didn’t go Newton High’s Karley Leiker’s way against Indianola in last Saturday’s Newton softball tournament. Leiker was aggressive running to first after hitting the ball, which is what the Cardinals have been doing all season — playing aggressively offensively and defensively. They defeated visiting Ames, 7-3, Thursday at Berg Middle School, and hosts Class 2A No. 2 Pella Christian Friday. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Pounding out nine hits, including three going for extra bases, Newton High’s Cardinals produced seven runs and notched a win at home Thursday.

Newton’s softball team defeated visiting Ames’ Little Cyclones, 7-3. The Cardinals were coming off a tough 3-1 loss to Class 4A seventh-ranked Norwalk on Wednesday.

“The girls played aggressively tonight. P.J. (Peyton Maher) did great on the mound,” said Kristina McNew, Newton head coach.

Peyton Maher scattered six hits across seven innings of work in the pitching circle. Maher (5-5) issued three walks and struck out six in the victory.

Team-leading hitter Sydney Jenkins cranked out two extra-base hits — a double and a triple. However, it was a walk which allowed Jenkins to score the first run of the game.

Jenkins drew a leadoff base-on-balls in the first inning and Maher was hit by a pitch with one gone. Taylor Ryan supplied the RBI single.

Newton built on to its 1-0 lead with a three-run third inning. Jenkins tripled and scored on what was a sacrifice fly by Fran Lucas, who was safe when the Ames fielder misplayed the ball. Bailey Davis doubled in Fran Lucas with one gone. Ryan walked and Audrey Lucas drove in a run with a single.

Ames manufactured a run on a double and two singles in the fourth inning. Newton responded by piling on three more runs in its half of the inning.

With one gone, Fran Lucas drew a walk and Maher singled. Davis chased home a run with a base hit and Ryan reached on an error followed by back-to-back RBI singles by Audrey Lucas and Kennedy Leiker.

The Little Cyclones (3-12) used two walks and a double by Maddie Lynch to plate two run in the fifth inning. Maher and the Cardinals retired the Little Cyclones in order in the final two innings of play.

Davis finished with a single and a double for Newton. Audrey Lucas and Kennedy Leiker each had two singles. Maher singled.

Newton is 9-9 for the season. The Cardinals host Class 2A second-ranked Pella Christian in Little Hawkeye Conference play Friday at Berg Middle School.

Newton takes a 1-3 conference mark into the 7:30 p.m. game Friday against the Eagles, who lost 5-0 to Dallas Center-Grimes in LHC action Wednesday. The Cardinals lost 2-1 to the Eagles on June 3.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com