March 29, 2024

Panthers sail 9-0 in third-place game

Creston defeated Pella 9-0 to capture third place in the Class 4A State Softball Tournament Friday afternoon.

Dallas Center-Grimes defeated Winterset 5-2 to seize its third straight 4A championship. Pitcher Paige Lowary was named captain of the all-tournament team. Danny Becker of Winterset had two hits and two RBI in the championship game for Winterset.

Representing Creston on the 4A all-tournament team were pitcher Haylee LaMasters and center fielder Josie Sickels.

Creston (28-7) pounded 13 hits in Friday's victory, including a single down the third base line by Josie Sickels on the first pitch of the game.

LaMasters was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Josie Sickels, Natalie Mostek, Brenna Baker and Lexie Little each had two hits, and Jami Sickels drove in three runs while going 1-for-3. Little had a double and drove in two runs.

Taylor Briley, Mostek and LaMasters also doubled in the Panther attack that broke open a 0-0 game with four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and four more in the sixth when the game was called on the 90-minute time limit for consolation round games.

LaMasters pitched a five-hit shutout with five strikeouts — including two in the final inning — and just one walk.

Pella (22-15) was led by leadoff batter Sara Tallman, who went 2-for-3.