Newton softball routs Pella Christian for first LHC win

Paige Benson clubbed her third career homer and a fast start offensively powered the Newton softball team to a 15-4 win over Pella Christian on Friday.

The Cardinals won their first Little Hawkeye Conference game of the season after scoring two in the first, six in the second and seven in the third. The game ended after 3 1/2 innings.

“It was a good win tonight with a lot of hits up and down the lineup,” Newton head softball coach Kory Leiker said. “We needed a game with some contagious hitting. It was good to see, and now we rest up to get ready for eight games next week.”

Pella Christian, which fell to 0-4 and 0-3 in the conference, scored one in the first and three in the fourth but couldn’t avoid the mercy rule. It was Newton’s seventh straight win over Pella Christian.

Benson finished with two hits, two runs, one homer, three RBIs and one walk to lead the offense, while BrookLynn Britton added three hits, two runs, one RBI and one steal.

“Benson’s homer really got us going, and (Britton) is getting her feet under her with her new slap hitting style,” Leiker said.

Benson’s homer was a three-run shot to right field in the second. She now has a team-best five RBIs through five games.

Mack Sims totaled one hit, two runs and two walks. She leads the team with five runs, five walks and a .500 batting average.

Chloe Swank totaled one hit, two runs and three RBIs, Viana Vasseau chipped in one hit, one walk and two RBIs and Sloan Brodersen and Haleigh Bozarth each finished with one hit, one run and one RBI.

Makenzly Brant walked once, Myla Sanders and Mackenzie Cupples each scored two runs and Emerson Ray scored one run.

Leileigh Hammons finished with two hits and one walk at the plate and got the pitching win.

She improved to 3-1 after allowing four earned runs on nine hits and one walk and she struck out two in four innings.

Benson’s homer was the team’s only extra-base hit as the Cardinals (3-2, 1-2 in the LHC) collected 11 singles and the Eagles committed five errors.

Newton 8, Knoxville 1

KNOXVILLE — Sims had three of the team’s six hits and a three-run first inning was more than enough for Newton during its 8-1 road win over Knoxville on Thursday.

The Cardinals posted their second straight win over Panthers. They put away the non-conference victory with a four-run seventh.

“It was a good bounce back win,” Leiker said. “The girls scored early and then added some insurance runs late in the game.”

Both teams had six hits and there were a total of seven errors in the game, but Newton drew four walks and Swank was hit by a pitch.

Sims tallied three hits, including a double, and added two runs and two RBIs and Benson doubled, scored one run, had two RBIs and walked once.

Britton registered one hit and one run, Sloan Brodersen collected one hit and one RBI and Swank, Cupples, Ray and Sanders all scored one run. Brant, Bozarth and Hammons each walked once.

Hammons earned the pitching win in the circle after allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks in seven innings. She fanned six.

Knoxville (0-2) scored its lone run in the fifth and committed four errors.

“We kept the pressure on and (Hammons) did a good job in the circle,” Leiker said. “We have some things to clean up, but we’re going in the right direction.”

Norwalk sweeps Cardinals in LHC doubleheader

NORWALK — Sims belted a two-run homer in the first inning of the nightcap, but it came after the Cardinals were no-hit in the opener against Class 4A No. 7 Norwalk on Wednesday.

Newton lost both games of the conference doubleheader as the Warriors won the opener 10-0 in four innings and completed the sweep with a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.

“It was a tough night,” Leiker said. “We came out flat in the first game but built some confidence in the second game. The girls need to understand that believing in themselves is the first key to success.”

Sims and Brant both walked and Swank was hit by a pitch in the Game 1 loss.

Lexi Frehse (0-1) took the pitching loss after allowing 10 runs — eight earned — on 12 hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. It was her season debut in the circle.

“Our young pitchers got to see some of the best hitters in the state,” Leiker said. “That experience will come in handy down the road.”

Maddie Gullion homered and had four RBIs to lead Norwalk, which posted its third shutout in its first four games this season.

Newton took a 2-0 lead on Sims’ homer in the first inning of the nightcap, but Norwalk plated three in the first and three in the third.

The Warriors (4-0, 2-0) led 7-2 before the Cardinals scored two in the fifth. Norwalk out-hit Newton 8-4 but committed two errors.

Nyah Hulbert smacked two solo homers and Bailey Birmingham added three hits, one home run and four RBIs in Norwalk’s win.

Sims added a walk to her two-run homer. It was Sims’ 11th career long ball.

Brant tallied one hit and one walk, Hammons chipped in one hit and one RBI, Ray was hit by a pitch and scored one run, Benson tallied one hit and Britton and Cupples each scored one run.

Hammons lost in the circle for the first time this season after allowing seven runs — six earned — on eight hits and three walks. She struck out one in six innings.