Panther girls drop two in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Panther girls dropped two Saturday, falling to Iowa City West (11-1) and Davenport West (12-0) in inning-shortened games due to the run-rule.

Creston was first given the task of facing an Iowa City West team that was winners of four straight games entering Saturday. Before the win streak, it was losers of 12 of its last 13 games.

Winners of four straight themselves, the Panthers and head coach Mike McCabe knew competition was going to be tough going into Saturday’s matchup.

Pitching for the Panthers struggled as a young staff handled teams that were able to not only put the ball in play, but put it in play hard.

“(In pitching) we struggled a little bit,” said McCabe. “Like I said, give credit to them. Maybe it was just one of the cases for us where it was just new experience and some young kids getting some valuable experience.”

Keely Coen and Macy Adamson were handed the ball against Iowa City. Adamson picked up the lone strikeout for Creston as Coen surrendered five hits and five walks through 2 2/3 innings of work.

“We kind of aided them a little bit,” said McCabe. “We had five walks and one hit batsman. It was kind of uncharacteristic of Keely, really. She hadn’t done that yet. When you get behind in counts and you’ve got good people hitting, its tough.”

Despite the wide run differential, Creston was able to pick up a run in the second inning, taking a brief 1-0 lead off an RBI single from Emma Hanson that scored Saige Rice.

Neveah Randall also doubled in the loss, joining Rice for the only two Panther batters to tally extra base hits. She also had a stolen base.

Four runs in the bottom of the second and six in the third for Iowa City West swung the game the other way as Creston was unable to get more runs across.

In game two of the day the bats were were limited to one hit, a single off the bat of Sara Keeler to leadoff the game for Creston in a 12-0 loss to Davenport West.

The Panthers were victim to one of the Mississippi Athletic Conference’s better pitchers in Davenport West’s Erica Ralfs.

“Erica Ralfs is a really solid pitcher,” said McCabe. “She struck out 10. Real good velocity and moved the ball around. We weren’t without good at-bats in the game. ... They’re a good ballclub.

With two losses to two quality teams, McCabe knew what the team was getting into as it took a trip north for the weekend in a different environment.

“We’ve gone up there for long enough, we know what we’re getting into. I told our team after that our two state tournament teams have gone up there and got their butts beat twice two years in a row. That’s why we go up there. To get better and see new people.”

McCabe also noted the weekend was used as a good time of the season for players to take a break from home as members of the team took time the day before to get away and relax before playing the next day.

“We had a great day Friday. A good team day. Went up and did some things in Des Moines; went out for dinner in Iowa City. Those things are important too and it sort of sets us up for that final stretch.”

UP NEXT – The Panthers (13-12) next host the Red Oak Tigers at home Tuesday night with first pitch coming at 7:30 p.m.

Iowa City West 11, Creston 1

R  H  E

Cr  010  00  —  1  3  1

ICW  046  1X  —  11  7  0

Creston: Keely Coen 5BB, Macy Adamson (3) 1K 1BB and Peyton Rice. Iowa City West: Eva Burbidge 4K and Ava Davis. W — Burbidge (6-7). L – Coen (5-3). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — Cr: Saige Rice, Neveah Randall. ICW: Eva Burbidge. RBI — Cr: Emma Hanson. ICW: Burbidge (4), Rylee Goodfellow (2), Ryleigh Mulcahey (2), Tamiah Teran, Ashley Dyson.

Davenport West 12, Creston 0

R  H  E

DPW  212  70  —  12  12  1

Cr  000  00  —  0  1  6

Davenport West: Erica Ralfs 10K 3BB and Mackenzie Harland. H: Haylee Gillam 3BB, Macy Adamson (4) and Peyton Rice. W — Ralfs (N/A). L – Gillam (3-4). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — DPW: Emma Lee. RBI — DPW: Abby Smith (3), Tayor Utterback (2), Mackenzie Harland, Kaylynn Sparks, Kaylie Caldwell, Erica Ralfs.