MARSHALLTOWN — Being aggressive at the plate and on the base path, Newton High’s Cardinal girls backed up a one-hit pitching performance of Peyton Maher to claim an 8-0 victory in their season opening softball game Tuesday.
The Cardinals got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning against host Marshalltown’s Bobcats. They tacked on three runs each in the third and fifth innings.
Maher limited the Bobcats to one single with her teammates providing solid defense behind her. She hit one batter and struck out nine Bobcats. Newton committed two errors in the game.
“The girls scored first and were aggressive at the plate to keep extending the lead throughout the innings,” Newton head coach Kristina McNew said. “It was great team victory.”
Sydney Jenkins led off the game with a single to left field for Newton. Karley Leiker followed with a base hit, and with one out, Taylor Ryan reached on an error. The Cardinals plated two runs in the first inning.
Karley Leiker reached safely on a one-out error by Marshalltown in the third inning. Maher, Ryan and Emily Valtman followed with singles as three runs cross the plate in the frame for Newton.
Again, it was Karley Leiker starting the scoring run in the fifth inning with a leadoff walk. She stole second base. Ryan reached on a fielder’s choice then Audrey Lucas and Kennedy Leiker delivered back-to-back base hits to help push across three runs.
Maher, Ryan and Lucas each had two singles in the game. Jenkins, Karley Leiker and Kennedy Leiker had a single apiece.
The Newton junior varsity recorded a 5-2 victory against Marshalltown.
Newton (1-0) has its home opener Wednesday against Knoxville.
A freshman game is slated for 4:30 p.m. at the Berg Middle School softball field followed by a junior varsity contest at 6 p.m. The varsity game first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com