Cardinal girls lose to DCG in eight innings

GRIMES — Down 3-0 to Class 4A third-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes, Newton High’s Cardinal softball girls roared back in the top of the fifth inning Monday night. They forged a 3-all tie and took the hosting Fillies into extra innings.

It was one extra inning. The Fillies used a leadoff double by Madison Carpenter and a walk-off RBI single by Paige Linthicum to turn away true Cardinals, 4-3.

Newton and DCG are 1-1 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. Newton improved to 6-4 overall.

With one gone in the fifth inning, senior Fran Lucas drew a walk and senior Sydney Jenkins doubled. Sophomore Karley Leiker drove in Newton’s first run with a single. Peyton Maher reached on a base-on-balls followed by a two-run double by sophomore Taylor Ryan.

The Cardinals had loaded the bases in the third frame with one out, but had two strikeouts to end the threat. They left two on base in the seventh inning.

Dallas Center-Grimes plated three runs in the third inning.

Maher took the pitching loss for Newton. She allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out five Fillies.

Karley Leiker was 3-for-4 with three singles. Jenkins had a single and a double. Ryan’s double was the other hit for Newton.

Newton hosts Lynnville-Sully for a 6 p.m. varsity doubleheader Tuesday in non-conference action.

The Cardinals play at home in a 7:30 p.m. Little Hawkeye Conference contest Wednesday against Grinnell.

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