April 24, 2024

Cardinals come up short in 4A regional play

By Jocelyn Sheets
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Not this time — earlier in the game Boone’s Lauren Calkins (13) scored when Newton High catcher Kennedy Leiker didn’t handle a throw to home plate, but in the sixth inning it was a different story. Leiker took the throw from center fielder Kari Adams and tagged Calkins out to keep the score within reach, 4-1, at Saturday’s 4A regional softball game. Unfortunately, Newton couldn’t rally and lost by the 4-1 count to end its season. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Little things take care of the big things in sports. The team doing the little things the best wins competitions.

Newton High’s Cardinal softball team had one little thing go awry in Saturday’s Class 4A Region 2 semifinal against 12th-ranked Boone. The play was just enough for the visiting Toreadors to take the lead, which they held.

Boone finished with a 4-1 victory over Newton, ending the Cardinal’s 2016 season at 21-11. That record matches the 2011-12 season’s final mark. On June 29, Boone defeated Newton, 13-8.

Boone advances to the Region 2 championship game Tuesday at No. 4 Waverly-Shell Rock. Waverly-Shell Rock got past Waterloo East, 5-4, Saturday.

“I worked with a really good group of girls. I’m very proud of these girls and the season they’ve had,” Newton head coach Kristina McNew said. “We hit the ball tonight but right at the defense. We didn’t make a lot of mistakes defensively or offensively. We just couldn’t get a hit when we needed it and they (Boone) did.”

After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, the Cardinals found themselves trying to hold off Boone in the third inning. Boone’s Lauren Calkins doubled to left field followed by a single to center field by Jordan Trowbridge, who ended up at second base on the play.

Laura Anderson hit the ball hard right to Newton senior shortstop Sydney Jenkins. Jenkins scooped the ball up and threw home to sophomore catcher Kennedy Leiker to cut down the runner trying to score.

The ball bounced away from Kennedy Leiker as Calkins slid home safely. Anderson followed to the plate as Boone took a 2-1 lead. With one out, Stefanie Davis singled off Newton starter freshman Anna Coyle.

McNew made a pitching change with freshman Peyton Maher taking over in the circle. A ground-out and a strikeout ended the Toreadors’ scoring threat.

Newton senior Fran Lucas opened the bottom of the third with a single, but was retired on a fielder’s choice by Jenkins. Sophomore Karley Leiker had an infield single to put two on with one out for the Cardinals. Maher hit into a double play.

Caitlynne Shadle reached safely when Newton sophomore third baseman Audrey Lucas couldn’t hold onto a bunt in the air. With one gone, Shadle stole second base. Calkins singled to left followed by an RBI single to center field by Trowbridge.

Newton worked out of a game with minimal damage — one run — and still was in the game down 3-1.

“Our hits just didn’t go through tonight,” Fran Lucas said. “We were hitting it but right at people.”

Valtman was denied a second hit on a sliding catch by Boone’s Stefanie Davis in left field to start the fourth. Newton went down 1-2-3.

Newton’s defense turned a double play in the top of fifth when Fran Lucas fielded the ball and flipped it to Jenkins covering second base. Jenkins made the throw to sophomore first baseman Taylor Ryan.

Senior Kari Adams drew a one-out walk for the Cardinals in their half of the fifth and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fran Lucas. Jenkins lined out to left field to end the inning.

“We definitely came into tonight’s game wanting to go far into the tournament,” Adams said. “We had a great season, but our hits didn’t fall tonight.”

In the sixth, Hunter doubled and Ellen Castle came in as a courtesy runner for Boone. Calkins singled followed by an RBI base hit by Trowbridge and a single by Anderson. With the bases loaded, Kennedy Hilsabeck hit a fly ball to left center field for the first out.

Calkins tagged up and tried to score from third base. Adams threw the ball to Kennedy Leiker, who applied the tag on Calkins for the out. Newton retired the next batter and was still within reach of Boone, 4-1.

Boone’s Hunter and the Toreadors retired the Cardinals in order in the sixth and in the seventh to win the game.

“Our defense was really solid this year, which helped us out a lot,” Fran Lucas said. “Our hitting got stronger throughout the season. We had great relationships with each other this season, which was awesome.”

Coyle took the loss, going 2 1/3 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits and two walks and had one strikeout. Maher pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits and struck out four.

Karley Leiker had two singles for Newton. Valtman doubled while Kennedy Leiker and Fran Lucas each singled.

“I’m disappointed it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but I’m not upset with how we played as a team tonight,” Jenkins said. “They hit the ball better than we did tonight. We didn’t make a ton of errors. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”

Fran Lucas, Jenkins and Adams have younger sisters on the Cardinal team. They all three talked of being excited in watching how the Cardinals do with the potential the team has for the future.

“The girls increased their wins from last year (16-17), which is what you want as a coach and players. They are learning. They are improving their individual games and their game as a team,” McNew said. “We’re going to miss our seniors. I wish them the best of luck in their futures.”

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