March 29, 2024

Ames powers past Newton softball team

AMES — Two aspects of their game didn’t play out well against host Ames Thursday night as Newton High’s Cardinals dropped an 8-2 decision in non-conference softball action.

“We didn’t hit the ball well and we made errors,” Newton head coach Kristina McNew said. “We’ll get back after it in Friday’s conference games at Pella Christian.”

Newton has used timely hitting and solid defense to win four games in a row, including knocking off two Class 4A ranked teams this week. The Cardinals had base runners against Ames Thursday, but couldn’t score until they were down 8-0 in the top of the seventh inning.

Audrey Lucas singled to lead off Newton’s seventh inning Kari Adams and Sydney Jenkins drew walks to load the bases with two gone.

Karley Leiker hit into a fielder’s choice, but all Cardinal runners were safe as Adams scored. An error by Ames on a ball hit by Taylor Ryan allowed Jenkins to cross the plate. That was all Newton scored as the game ended on a ground out.

Ryan, Emily Valtman and Peyton Maher each connected for a double for the Cardinals in the game. Newton was unable to come up with key hits to drive in runs.

Ames scored three runs in the second inning, two more in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to build its lead. The Little Cyclones had edged the Cardinals, 4-3, earlier in the season in Newton.

Anna Coyle took the loss in the circle for Newton. She gave up 10 hits, walked two and struck out one.

Newton is 13-6 overall. The Cardinals play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Pella Christian in Little Hawkeye Conference action in Pella.

The Cardinals begin the second round of games against LHC opponents Friday against Class 2A No. 11 Pella Christian. Newton goes into the game with a 4-2 LHC mark.

Newton opens Saturday’s West Marshall tournament in an 11 a.m. game against Des Moines Christian.

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