March 28, 2024

Cardinal softball powers past Bobcats

MARSHALLTOWN — Hitting, pitching and defense are working pretty well for Newton High’s Cardinal softball team to open the season.

After opening the season on Monday at home with a victory over Knoxville, the Cardinals were on the road Tuesday and notched another run-rule victory. It took them two more innings, but the Cardinals powered past host Marshalltown 16-5 in six innings.

Leading 6-3 going into the fifth inning, the Cardinals had back-to-back solo home runs over the center field fence by juniors Riley Slycord and Madison Thayer. It was Slycord’s second homer of the season.

Newton took full advantage of inconsistent pitching by the Bobcats, especially in the sixth inning. The Cardinals put eight more runs on the scoreboard in that inning.

Junior Anna Coyle went the distance in the circle for Newton. She allowed six hits, walked six and chalked up nine strikeouts.

The Cardinals had nine hits against three Bobcat pitchers. They also drew 10 bases-on-balls. The Newton defense committed two errors in the game.

Newton head coach Casey Price said following Monday’s game that the home runs and hits were important but also the walks were important to the Cardinals. She said the Cardinal hitters were showing discipline at the plate and drawing walks allowed the team to have base runners.

It was senior Taylor Ryan who got things started for Newton on Tuesday against Marshalltown. She came through with a two-out single in the first innings which was followed by a walk issued to junior Emily Valtman. Senior Karly Leiker reached on an error allowing Ryan to score.

Senior Kennedy Leiker walked setting up Slycord for a two-run double. Slycord had four RBIs in the game.

Marshalltown produced two runs in its half of the first inning. The Bobcats took advantage of a Cardinal error, a single and double to score. Marshalltown tied the game with a run off a bases-loaded walk given up by Coyle in the second inning.

With two gone in the third inning, Valtman walked followed by singles from Karley and Kennedy Leiker to drive across the go-ahead run. Newton plated two runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth.

In the fourth, senior Mackenzie Johnson, who had two stolen bases in the game, doubled with one gone and advanced to third on a passed ball. Junior Lakin Jenkins worked a free pass to first then senior Audrey Lucas bunted and was safe on an error to score the runs.

Then in the fifth, came the home runs followed by the big sixth frame.

Jenkins, Lucas and Ryan drew walks to load the bases in the sixth and Valtman had her third base-o-balls to force in a run. Karley Leiker’s ground ball was misplayed by the Bobcats to allow a run to score. Kennedy Leiker and Slycord were issued walks.

Thayer’s pop-out foul ball produced a run so did a bunt by Johnson. Two more runs would follow.

Marshalltown had a two-out rally to produce two runs in the bottom of the sixth but it wasn’t enough to go to the seventh inning.

Slycord had a double and a home run and Johnson hit a single and a double. Thayer had her home run. Lucas, Ryan, Karley Leiker and Kennedy Leiker each had a single. Valtman scored three runs on three walks and Jenkins, who had a stolen base, came home twice after two walks.

Newton’s varsity is 2-0 and plays at home on Friday. Newton plays at 7:30 p.m. against Ames at the Newton Softball Field.

The Newton freshman and junior varsity teams play at Ankeny Centennial at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday.

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