Newton softball slugs three homers in win over Indianola

INDIANOLA — Mack Sims showed in one game against Indianola on Friday that she belongs in the Class 4A all-state conversation.

The junior center fielder went 5-for-5 at the plate to lead the Newton softball team to a 12-3 win over the Indians during the opening game of a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader.

The Cardinals fell 13-0 in the nightcap, but Sims’ effort in the opener led the visitors to a much-needed conference split.

“This was our best game of the season,” Newton head softball coach Kory Leiker said about the opener. “All three phases were on point. Mack led the way with a lead-off home run, and the bats went crazy.”

Sims’ leadoff homer jump started the night, but Chloe Swank clubbed a three-run shot in the third inning and Leileigh Hammons belted her first career varsity dinger, too.

The Cardinals led 1-0 after two, plated five in the third and put away the win with three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the seventh.

Sims finished with five hits, five runs, four steals and two RBIs. She leads Newton and ranks second in 4A with a .676 on-base percentage.

Her .571 batting average ranks sixth in 4A, her three homers are tied for 10th and she also leads the Cardinals (5-7, 2-6 in the conference) with 15 runs, eight stolen bases and 26 total bases.

Makenzly Brant and Paige Benson had two hits each in the win. Brant walked twice and had one RBI and Benson walked once and scored one run.

Swank’s dinger was her only hit, but she finished with four RBIs and leads Newton with 12 on the season.

Hammons’ only hit was her first career varsity homer, Viana Vasseau had one hit and walked once, Sloan Brodersen doubled and Emerson Ray tallied one hit, one run, one steal and one RBI and she was hit by one pitch.

BrookLynn Britton walked once and scored one run and Mackenzie Cupples came around to score two runs.

Hammons (5-2) was the winning pitcher. She spun seven innings and allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits and two walks. She struck out one.

Sam Gripp led Indianola (4-5, 2-3) with a homer and two hits and Sully Downey added two hits and one steal.

Newton out-hit Indianola 14-7 and both teams committed three errors.

Things went completely different in the nightcap as the Indians dispatched the Cardinals in four innings. They out-hit Newton 10-1 and committed the game’s only error.

Indianola improved to 25-4 against Newton since 2010, but the Cardinals are 3-1 in the last four games.

“Indianola found its groove in the second game, and they took advantage of every situation we presented,” Leiker said. “I’m proud of the girls for getting the split.”

Brant had the only hit and Swank and Ray both drew walks.

Lexi Frehse (0-5) was the losing pitcher after allowing seven earned runs on six hits and one walk in one inning.

Hammons tossed 1 2/3 innings and surrendered three earned runs on four hits.

Britton allowed three earned runs on three walks in 1/3 of an inning in her varsity pitching debut.

Gripp had three homers and four RBIs to lead the Indians, who clubbed seven dingers in the win. Dana Blake produced two homers, three runs and three RBIs.

Cardinals go 1-1 at Oskaloosa Softball Classic

OSKALOOSA — After falling to 3A No. 6 Mount Vernon, the Cardinals bounced back to run-rule Twin Cedars during the Oskaloosa Softball Classic on Saturday.

A dominating performance at the plate led to a 12-2 victory over the Sabers, but Mount Vernon controlled the Cardinals in the early game and cruised to a 9-1 victory at the Lacey Sports Complex.

Swank, Vasseau and Brodersen all had two hits against Twin Cedars and Sims walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Twin Cedars (2-6) scored first, but Newton led 4-1 after one, 7-1 after two and 10-2 after three before ending the game with a two-run fourth.

The Cardinals out-hit the Sabers 10-3 and Twin Cedars had two of the game’s three errors.

Swank doubled, scored two runs and had four RBIs, Brodersen added two runs, two RBIs, one walk and one steal and Vasseau drove in two runs and now has an OBP of .455.

Hammons tallied one hit and one RBI and she was hit by a pitch. She also was the winning pitcher after tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

Ray finished with one hit, one run and two steals, Brant totaled one hit and Britton chipped in one hit, one run and two steals.

Sims scored three runs and stole two bases. Her two walks improve her season total to a team-best eight and she has committed no errors in 30 chances in center field.

Benson and Cupples both scored one run and stole one base and Ashlyn Wallace scored one run.

Khloe French had two hits at the plate and threw three innings of relief in the circle to lead Twin Cedars.

Mount Vernon (7-2) led Newton 1-0 after one and then plated two in the third, fourth and fifth innings before adding one more in the sixth.

The Mustangs out-hit Newton 9-4, and the Cardinals committed five errors.

Brant led the Newton offense with one double and one RBI. She leads the Cardinals with four doubles and her four caught stealings at catcher rank tied for fifth in 4A.

Sims added one hit and one steal, Ray chipped in one hit and one run, Britton posted one hit and Swank walked once.

Frehse was the losing pitcher. She surrendered nine runs — five earned — on nine hits, four walks and one hit batter in 5 1/3 innings. She struck out three.

Olivia Haverback led Mount Vernon with a homer, two doubles, three runs and four RBIs.

Hayden Gookin tossed six innings in the circle and allowed one earned run on four hits.