Tough losses for Central softball
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The Central softball team had a tough third week of the season, losing a single game to Springville and doubleheaders with West Central and South Winneshiek.
Springville won the June 29 match-up 7-1, bolstered by a four-run third inning. The Warriors scored their lone run in the fourth, when Kaitlyn Wiley drove in Abby Cummer. In addition to a double by Cummer, Delaney Scherf, Lexi Loan, Chelsia Larson and Grace Kuehl all had hits in the game.
Central next faced off against West Central on July 1, losing game one of a doubleheader 16-8. The Warriors boasted an 8-4 lead through the fourth inning, but the Blue Devils cranked out six runs in the top of the fifth to go up 10-8. They added three more runs in both the sixth and seventh to seal the victory.
Wiley was a perfect 3-3 in the game, driving in two runs and scoring twice for Central. Kuehl tallied two hits, an RBI and run scored, and Cummer singled, doubled and scored a run.
In the second game, the Blue Devils mounted another come-from-behind victory, eclipsing a 6-4 Central lead in the third inning with three runs in the fourth and another three in the fifth to win 10-6.
Larson produced a highlight for the Warrior offense with a grand slam home run. Wiley went 2-3 and drove in a run, while Delaney Scherf finished the game 2-3, stole two bases and scored twice.
The Warriors wrapped up the week July 2, against South Winn. In game one, South Winn was up 4-0 when Central trimmed the lead in half in the fifth inning. South Winn responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, going up 6-2, but Central again countered, scoring three times in the sixth to make the score 6-5. The Warriors could get no closer, though, eventually losing 8-5.
Cummer racked up two hits and two RBIs in the game. Maddy Wille’s stat line included two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Larson also earned two hits.
Game two of the doubleheader ended with the same 8-5 score, with South Winn doing much of its damage with a six-run third inning.
Wille had another big performance, going 2-4 with an RBI and run scored. Delaney Scherf added two hits, and Cummer and Wiley each had a hit and drove in a run. Ashlyn Scherf knocked in a run and scored once.
The losses bumped Central’s overall record down to 3-12. The team is 2-9 in the Upper Iowa Conference. The Warriors will look to close out the final games of the regular season on a high note, facing Turkey Valley on Monday, July 6 and North Fayette Valley on Wednesday, July 8.
The Warriors will host winless Starmont in the first round of Class 1A regional action on Monday, July 13. The game will start at 7 p.m.