Cardinals run-rule Panthers in opener

First game, first victory, first no-hitter, first run scored and first home run hit were all marked down in the book for Newton High’s new softball field on Monday.

The Cardinals opened the 2018 season with the dedication of the new field then went to work. They made quick work of visiting Knoxville, winning 13-0 in four innings.

Junior pitcher Peyton Maher was in complete command in the circle. She held the Panthers hitless.

“My rise ball was working well. We went with a lot of outside pitches to make them chase the ball,” Maher said.

The Panther batters chased the ball, which resulted in 11 strikeouts. The lone blemish on the book for Maher was a walk with one out in the top of the fourth. She came right back and got two strikeouts.

“It feels good to start fresh on the new field,” Maher said.“We’re going to come back and win on Tuesday.”

Newton is 1-0 under the direction of new head coach Casey Price. The Cardinals have three more games this week.

“We know we’ve worked very hard in the offseason. Even knowing that you still have jitters — I had them tonight,” Price said. “Having the dedication ceremonies before the game, we were all excited and nervous. I was so proud to see how many people came out for that and to support the team tonight.”

Price said she told her players they had to have the mentality of it being their 10th game of the season and they (Knoxville) had to play up to the Cardinals’ level. It’s having the mindset of going out and getting after it right way, Price said.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. With one gone, senior outfielder Karley Leiker drew a walk from Panther pitcher Reilly Finarty.

Senior first baseman Taylor Ryan reached on an error when she bunted and Karley Leiker scored the first run on the new field. A two-out single by Maher drove in Ryan.

“It was the first pitch I saw and it was right down the middle,” junior designated hitter Riley Slycord of her first-inning, two-run home run over the left center field fence.

Newton led 4-0 going into the second inning. They added three more runs in the third. Two of those runs came on blast over the right field fence by Ryan.

“It feels really good especially on my first chance to get a home run since I haven’t hit a home run since my freshman year,” Ryan said. “It was an inside pitch and I’m not usually good with those, but I tuned on it and hit it out.”

Newton had 11 hits in the game and five came in it’s six-run fourth inning. Junior Lakin Jenkins singled to start the frame and Ryan had a one-out base hit. Junior Emily Valtman delivered an RBI double to right field.

Maher drew base-on-balls to load the bases and Slycord followed suit to force in a run. Kennedy Leiker drove in two runs on a single then senior third baseman Audrey Lucas had the game-ending single which produced two runs for the run-rule win.

Ryan, Valtman and Kennedy Leiker were 2-for-3 on the night. Maher had two hits, Lucas, Jenkins and Slycord each had one hit in the game.

“It’s amazing to play on the new field and to have my senior season on this beautiful field is great,” Ryan said. “It helps us better having this great facility.”

Price had talked about the improvement the team had made coming into the season with its hitting. It showed Monday night.

“We have some good sticks, but we’re not even there yet with our hitting. It will get better,” Price said. “We had a great game tonight, but there’s a lot of things we need to improve on. That is good because we have room to grow.”

The Newton junior varsity actually played on the field Monday before the varsity and lost 8-6 to Knoxville.

Between games, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new field with the Newton Superintendent of Schools Bob Callaghan doing the honors. Callaghan and Newton High School Principal Bill Peters presented several gifts to contributors.

The Newton High Cardinal Regiment played the Newton fight song and the Star Spangled Banner. The Newton American Legion Post 111 provided the Color Guard for the ceremony.

Newton High Activities Director Scott Garvis threw out the inaugural first pitch then it was “play ball.”

The Cardinals play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Marshalltown then play at Ankenny Centennial on Thursday. Newton is home again for a 7:30 p.m. contest on Friday against Ames.

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