April 25, 2024

Newton softball sweeps Pella in LHC doubleheader

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton High junior Kennedy Leiker smokes a pitch for a hit during a game Tuesday at Sully. The Cardinals lost Tuesday on the road but swept a home doubleheader with Pella, 3-2 and 13-3, in Little Hawkeye Conference play on Wednesday. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Trailing 2-0, Newton High’s Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning. Taylor Ryan ripped a double to center field to clear the bases.

The Newton softball team, behind the pitching of Anna Coyle, claimed a 3-2 win over visiting Pella on Wednesday night in the first game of a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader. The second game was all Cardinals — a run-ruled 13-3 win in five innings.

With the sweep of the Lady Dutch, Newton improved to 5-1 in conference play and it kept Pella winless, 0-6, in the LHC. The Cardinals are 9-5 overall and the Lady Dutch are 3-12.

Ryan delivered two of the team’s four hits in the opening game. She had a single to go with her three-run double. Emily Valtman and Kennedy Leiker each had a single.

In the fifth inning, Kennedy Leiker drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Karley Leiker reached on a base-on-balls. Bailey Davis’ sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base. Valtman was hit by a pitch to load the bases then Ryan drove the runs in.

Coyle limited the Lady Dutch to four hits. She did not walk anyone and she struck out three.

Newton struck early in the second game, pushing across three runs in the first and four more in he second. The Cardinals led 8-0 after four innings.

Pella avoided a shutout by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth. Newton responded with five runs in its half of the inning to win by the run-margin rule.

Karley Leiker and Davis drew back-to-back walks with two gone in the fifth. Peyton Maher and Valtman were safe on Pella errors. Ryan and Rilee Slycord singled to drive in runs for the final margin.

Ryan led the offensive charge with two singles and a double and Valtman connected for three singles. Karley Leiker and Maher each had two singles. Hitting a single each were Davis, Kennedy Leiker and Slycord.

Maher was the winning pitcher for Newton. She allowed five hits, hit one batter and struck out four Lady Dutch batters.

Newton plays at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Norwalk in Little Hawkeye Conference action. A junior varsity game is slated for 6 p.m..

On Saturday, Newton hosts its annual softball tournament at Agnes Patterson Softball Complex. First-round games begin at 8:30 a.m. — Newton plays Des Moines North on Field No. 1, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter plays Benton on Field No. 2 and Saydel takes on South Hardin on Field No. 3.

The second round of games is at 10 a.m. CMB and Newton square off on Field No. 2. CMB is scheduled to play South Hardin at 11:30 a.m. on Field No. 1.

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