April 26, 2024

NHS softball rallies past PC in LHC opener

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton High senior second baseman Fran Lucas gathers in the ball to throw out a hitter at first base. The Cardinals rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday to beat visiting Pella Christian, 7-6, to open Little Hawkeye Conference play. (Jocelyn Sheets)

A third game with a seventh-inning rally turned out just like their first one this season. Newton High’s Cardinal girls came all the way back to win at home Wednesday.

The Cardinals had built a 4-0 lead against visiting Pella Christian’s Eagles in Wednesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference opener. The Eagles broke through to score three runs in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh, taking a 6-4 lead.

Senior Sydney Jenkins drew a leadoff walk to start Newton’s half of the seventh inning. She stole second base and third base for the Cardinals. With one gone, freshman pitcher Peyton Maher kept the rally alive with a single.

Down two runs and down to their final out, the Cardinals worked another walk from Pella Christian pitcher Emma Schnell as sophomore Taylor Ryan went to first base. Freshman Emily Valtman singled to put two on base for Newton.

Aubrey Lucas, Newton’s sophomore third baseman, delivered a walk-off, two-run double to push the Cardinals to a 7-6 victory. It was their third one-run game in a row, winning two of the three in walk-off fashion.

“The girls hit all of our goals in tonight’s game,” Newton head coach Kristina McNew said. “In doing so, we came across with the victory.”

Maher and the Cardinal defense had held the Eagles’ hitters at bay until the final two innings of the game. They used four hits to score three runs in the sixth and three hits in the seventh to drive three runs across the plate.

Maher got the win in the circle for Newton, allowing eight hits and walking one. She struck out eight Eagle batters.

Ryan and Lucas each had a double for Newton as Ryan drove in three runs and Lucas had two RBIs. Maher hit two singles. Hitting a single each were Jenkins, Karley Leiker and Valtman.

In the first inning, Jenkins singled, Maher hit a one-out single and Ryan drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. With two gone int eh fifth, Leiker singled and Maher reached on an error. Ryan’s double brought in two runs.

The Cardinals handed the Eagles their first loss of the season. Newton improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in LHC play while Pella Christian is 2-1 and 0-1.

Newton plays a non-conference doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Colfax-Mingo. The Cardinals compete in Saturday’s Oskaloosa Invitational.

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