March 19, 2024

CMB wins home tourney again

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COLLINS — One night after hitting a game-winning home run against South Hamilton during Heart of Iowa Conference play, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter junior Abbey Kahler nearly threw a perfect game in the circle.

Kahler was perfect through 3 2/3 innings and had three hits at the plate during the Raiders’ two wins at the Collins Days Softball Tournament on Saturday.

Kahler ending up allowing just one hit in four innings, and CMB won its home tourney for the second straight season. The Raiders blew through Colo-NESCO 11-0 in five innings in the opener and then won the championship following a 3-0 win over Montezuma.

“I was definitely thinking too much,” Kahler said. “I am more relaxed right now than I was earlier this season. I am seeing the pitches better.”

Eighth-grader Mikayla Houge earned the victory against the Bravettes. She also pitched the Raiders to a 2-1 win over South Hamilton on Friday night.

Both Kahler and Houge are now 10-3 on the season.

“It’s great for me,” Kahler said of having another pitcher to count on. “Last year it was hard on my pitching every game. It’s great having her on this team, and we can count on her to win games, too.”

CMB had seven hits against Colo-NESCO. Five of those came from Kahler and senior Payge Jurgens.

Kahler singled in the first, smoked a two-run single in the second and laced a double in the third. Her courtesy runner, Gracie Cheville, scored three times.

Jurgens walked and scored on an error in the first inning, singled and scored on an error in the second inning and then drilled an RBI double in the third.

The Raiders led 3-0 after one inning. Sophomore Katie Camp recorded an RBI groundout, and the other two runs came on a Royal error. Colo-NESCO committed five errors in the game.

In the second inning, 10 batters came to the plate for CMB. Sophomore Jordynn Wesselink and junior Megan Ritter both reached on errors and Camp walked to load the bases. Kahler’s two-run single made it 5-0. Jurgens, junior Mikayla Eslinger and Houge all followed with hits. Houge’s was an RBI double that made it 9-0.

Eighth-grader Holly Jessen put the Raiders up 10-0 with an RBI groundout.

In the third, Kahler doubled with two outs and then Cheville scored on Jurgens’ RBI double.

That was more than enough support for Kahler, who struck out five and allowed one hit in four innings. Freshman Sydney Schmidt pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth.

CMB hosts 1A No. 11 Colfax-Mingo at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Collins. The Raiders host Roland-Story at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Friday

CMB 2, South Hamilton 1

Houge struck out nine in the circle and Kahler homered and had both RBIs during CMB’s 2-1 over South Hamilton on Friday night.

Ritter led off the game with a double and scored on Kahler’s RBI single. Kahler blasted the game-winning homer in the bottom of the fifth to complete CMB’s scoring.

“I was struggling with outside pitches earlier this year, but I am keeping my hands inside better,” Kahler said.

Camp, Jurgens and freshman Hannah Caple each had one hit at the plate. Houge allowed seven hits, walked two and hit one in winning her 10th game of the season.

The victory keeps CMB on top of the HOIC. The Raiders are now 12-2, while Saydel is 11-2. The two teams meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in Des Moines.