Softball rarity sucks energy out of Creston

Creston found its stroke a little too late Tuesday night, falling to Glenwood at home in an 8-4 final.

A rally in the seventh nearly saw the Panthers pull it back, but great defense from the Rams cut down a hard hit ball and a ball in between infielders to end the ballgame.

Leading up to the seventh, it was all Glenwood when it came to offensive production. The Rams held the Panthers scoreless into the fifth inning, leading 7-0, before Creston got one back.

But before that point, the best scoring chance to break the game open came in the second inning with the bases loaded for the Panthers.

Looking to “see the line drive through,” the Panthers had 9-hole hitter Tristen Rice line one to Glenwood second baseman Haley Woods. Woods caught Halle Evans, who was on second, too far off the bag and tagged second for the double play.

Morgan Driskell, who ran on contact and had crossed the plate, was the final out of the inning as Woods threw on to third.

“There’s some things we did handle well, but mostly it was behavior and body language and attitudes and demeanor,” said head coach Mike McCabe. “I told them would prefer they compete for 21 outs, ... had that one big ‘what could have been’ inning. Had them loaded, nobody out situation, ... then triple play with your best hitter in the on-deck circle.”

One of the rarest plays in baseball or softball to complete, the play occurred when the Panthers trailed 1-0. A prime opportunity to score runs, McCabe feels it took some of the energy out of the Panthers after running themselves into two outs that could have been prevented.

“I definitely think it was something that took the energy out (of the team),” said McCabe. “... We kind of came back after that, and then the inning after that was the one where they had those two big hits that scored four runs. I think it took the energy a little.”

The Panthers, despite having the wind taken out of them in the back end of the game, had modest production at the plate with 12 hits. Sara Keeler had three hits while Peyton Rice, Gracie Hagle, Nevaeh Randall and Halle Evans each had two hits.

Hagle and Driskell had doubles while Evans, Randall, Hagle and Emma Hanson each had RBIs.

In the circle, Haylee Gillam got the start after Keely Coen was the starter a day earlier. The decision was not based on fatigue of Coen, and was instead to give Gillam a chance to compete.

“I’ve got three (pitchers). They’re that even,” said McCabe. “They’re all going to get a chance early on, I think that’s only fair. Macy (Adamson) will get her opportunity come Thursday. I have just as much confidence in Haylee as I do in Keely.”

McCabe noted the similarities in Coen to Gilliam, both being pitch-to-contact type pitchers who don’t have an ability to overpower many hitters.

“I thought Haylee pitched pretty good,” said McCabe. “... I think they had five two-out RBIs and that’s huge. They have four runs in that (third inning) after the second out, ... give credit to them for that.”

McCabe also said the timely hitting with runners on-base led to Glenwood scoring at the best chances. Some fielding chances also led to Glenwood maximizing on its chances, which did not help the cause for the pitch-to-contact pitcher.

“That’s the tough part of being a pitcher. You bust your butt and the coach tells you to put the ball in play, and you do, ... you got to make the right play and compete and finish the game,” McCabe said.

Gillam pitched all seven innings, striking out six and walking two. Of the eight runs allowed, five were earned.

UP NEXT – The Panthers will get back into it Thursday against Denison-Schleswig in Denison. First pitch of what will be a doubleheader comes at 5:30, with Game 2 coming at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Glenwood 8, Creston 4

R  H  E

GW  014  020  1  —  8  9  2

CR  000  010  3  —  4 12 6

GW: Taryn Gertini 7IP 0K 2BB and Hayllee Sell. CR: Haylee Gillam 7IP 6K 2BB and Peyton Rice. W — Gertini. L – Gillam. HR — None. 3B — CR: Sara Keeler. 2B — GW: Hayllee Sell. CR: Gracie Hagle, Morgan Driskell. RBI — GW: Braden Liddick (3), Haley Woods (2), Sell (2). CR: Hagle, Nevaeh Randall, Emma Hanson, Halle Evans. Multiple hits — GW: Kelly Embray (3), Liddick (2), Barrett (2). CR: Keeler (3), Peyton Rice (2), Hagle (2), Randall (2), Evans (2).