Varsity softball team still tied for conference lead

By SUE RIEDER
sports@beeherald.com

Greene County’s varsity softball team kept a share of the conference lead this week by winning two of their three conference games and avenging their earlier loss to league leading PCM.

After winning nine out of their last ten games, Greene County’s varsity softball team lost a road game to Roland-Story 2-1 on June 18. “It was just a bad night for us,” said coach Tom Kennedy. “Our team likes to be aggressive at the plate, so we swung at some pitches that weren’t in the strike zone and only got four solid hits.” The Rams left seven runners on base including three in the seventh inning. Marissa Promes took her third pitching loss of the season, giving up one earned run on three hits. Promes struck out one batter and walked four.

Greene County hosted PCM on June 20 and got a little help from Mother Nature to get the 2-0 win. In softball, if a game gets through five complete innings, and it cannot be resumed due to weather conditions, it is considered a complete game. After the fifth inning, lightning was spotted, and the umpires halted action. The teams waited in the dugouts for 45 minutes, but the lightning was getting closer and showing no signs of ending, so the game was called. Prior to this game, the Mustangs had only lost one conference game and were alone in first place in the league. This Ram victory put both teams at 10-2 and tied for the top position.  

Runs were hard to get in this game. Greene County scored their first run in the second inning when Sydney Koch got a one out single, Carleigh Paup hit a single, and Bailey Godwin walked to load the bases. Emma Saddoris got an RBI when she drew a bases loaded walk. The second run scored in the fifth inning when Kayla Mobley singled, and Emily Christensen belted a double that hit the centerfield fence and drove Mobley in.

Promes had another stellar performance on the mound, striking out five and walking one batter, while giving up five hits and no runs. “The umpire had a tight zone, but was consistent for both teams,” said coach Tom Kennedy. “We were more patient at the plate and played better defensively.”

Greene County won another close conference game 1-0 at Colfax on June 23. Although the Rams had got on base several times, the Tigerhawks played some good defense, turning three double plays and not allowing any of the Greene County players past third base. In the top of the seventh, Koch hit a triple, and Carleigh Paup followed with a single that drove in the only run of the game. Promes again proved why she is one of the top pitchers in the Heart of Iowa Conference as she allowed two hits, struck out nine, and walked no batters. This victory was especially sweet as the Rams have not won in their last seven trips to the Colfax softball diamond.

The varsity squad finished their week with a 10-1 victory over non-conference opponent Manson Northwest Webster on June 24. MacKenzie Dennhardt was the winning pitcher giving up five hits, while striking out three batters and walking none. The Rams backed up Dennhardt with excellent defense and 11 solid hits. Sydney Koch got her first home run of the season. Saddoris and Tressa Rasmussen each got a double and a triple, Paup and Promes each had a single and a double, and Mobley and Christensen both connected for one double. “MacKenzie pitched well. We hit the ball very well and played good defense behind her,” said coach Kennedy.

              1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E
Rams     0    0    0    0    0    0    1    1    4    0
R-S        0    0    2    0    0    0    X    2    3    1

              1    2    3    4    5            R    H    E
PCM       0    0    0    0    0            0    5    1
Rams     0    1    0    0    1            2    6    0

              1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E
Rams     0    0    0    0    0    0    1    1    8    1
CM        0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    1

                1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E
Rams       0    0    1    2    5    0    2   10   11   0
MNWW     0    0    0    0    0    1    0    1     5    3