Sumpter’s arm, Frehse’s bat guide Cardinals to regional win over Oskaloosa

Morgan Frehse did not appear in a varsity game until June 28. She came into Thursday’s Class 4A Region 4 quarterfinal matchup with Oskaloosa with just five at-bats on the season.

But Newton head softball coach Kory Leiker went with the hot hand and the eighth-grader came through with the biggest hit of her varsity career so far.

Frehse’s RBI single in the second inning propelled the Newton softball team to a 1-0 home win over the Indians.

The Cardinals were limited to three hits, but Hailey Sumpter shut out Oskaloosa with seven strong innings in the circle.

“It was a pitcher’s strike zone tonight more than a hitter’s,” Leiker said. “When that happens, you just have to battle. We had good contact all night and got the hit when we needed it.”

It was the fourth meeting this season between Oskaloosa and Newton. The first two games also were decided by a single run. The latest win helped the Cardinals split the season series.

Sumpter allowed five hits and hit one batter but struck out five and improved to 13-12 on the season. She lowered her earned run average to 3.79.

“It feels really good. There were a lot of nerves coming into this game,” Sumpter said. “Last week was rocky for us. Playing a conference team for the fourth time made it a bit uneasy. I just tried to compete and do my best.”

In the two wins over Oskaloosa this season, Newton’s defense committed zero errors.

The defense was key on Thursday. Sumpter retired the Indians in order in the first inning. The Indians put runners in scoring position in three straight frames, but Sumpter and the defense responded.

In the third, Oskaloosa registered a pair of singles, but the first out of the frame came on a diving catch in foul territory by Paige Benson.

In the sixth, Peyton Durr showed off her range at third base and fielded a high hop cleanly and made the out at first base.

Sloan Brodersen also made a nifty catch at second base on a line drive by Oskaloosa’s Vivian Bolibaugh. Brodersen caught the line drive near the dirt moving to her left.

Sumpter induced nine pop-outs and six groundouts. She retired the Indians in order in the seventh and got the final out of the game on a slow roller back to the circle.

“We wanted to play with no regrets, and that’s what we did,” Sumpter said. “Everyone played their hearts out. We worked on defense yesterday, and it carried over into tonight.

“I just wanted to spin the ball. That was key for me. If I was able to spin it, I felt like I could get them out a lot of different ways.”

Newton was retired in order in the fourth and sixth. The Cardinals stranded a runner on first in the first and left runners on second and third in the third and fifth, respectively.

Newton (15-17) scored the lone run of the game in the second. Durr reached base on a dropped third strike but was retired at second base after Kadance Ahn reached first on an Oskaloosa error following an attempted sacrifice bunt.

Ahn stole second and scored on Frehse’s first career varsity RBI.

Frehse started for only the second time this season, and she didn’t know she was going to be in the lineup until she arrived at the field.

“I just tried to focus and make contact,” Frehse said. “It was a good night. I’m just happy we won. We all were focused and excited.”

The Cardinals do not have a senior on their roster, and Frehse is one of only two eighth-graders who have seen varsity action this summer.

“That hit was huge for us and for her,” Sumpter said about Frehse. “We don’t play a lot of eighth graders so it’s great for her and that group to show they can do it. Morgan’s always relaxed, and she’s always having fun. She showed what she’s capable of, and she’s always been a great team player.”

Leiker’s decision to go with Frehse worked out. The only other two scoring chances for Newton came in the third after Mack Sims singled and went to second on Katelyn Lambert’s sacrifice bunt and in the fifth when Benson doubled and moved to third on a sac bunt by Brodersen.

Oskaloosa (12-24) out-hit the Cardinals 5-3, but the Indians lost the game in part because they committed three errors. Lydia Van Veldhuizen had two of the Indians’ three hits.

Sumpter’s ability to pitch around trouble and Newton’s defense committing no errors also were key factors.

“She pitched great. She fought through some adversity with runners on base in multiple innings,” Leiker said about Sumpter. “It was a team effort defensively. We made some defensive adjustments.  I was happy with how it worked out, and the team rallied around Hailey.”

The Cardinals take a two-game win streak into their 4A Region 4 semifinal matchup with No. 2 Carlisle. Newton takes on the Wildcats (28-6) at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Carlisle.

According to Bound, it’s the first meeting between the two programs.

“I’m not worried about rankings. It’s one game,” Leiker said. “One mistake can cost you a game. It doesn’t matter what you are ranked. If we play like we played tonight, with no errors, and play like we played against Grinnell, then we can beat anybody in the state.”

Notes: Oskaloosa is 23-12 against Newton since 2009, but the Cardinals have won five of the past seven meetings. … Benson has seven doubles this summer, and Lambert is 12-of-12 in stolen base attempts.