Clarinda upsets Creston girls, 7-4

CLARINDA — This time, the comeback never fully materialized and Clarinda ended the Creston softball team’s 10-game Hawkeye Ten winning streak Thursday night.

On June 6 in Creston, Clarinda took a 4-0 lead in the third inning. The Panthers rallied with 15 runs over four straight innings to earn a 15-5 victory.

Thursday night, Clarinda hitters got hot in a seven-run third inning and this time it was enough as the Cardinals held on for a 7-4 victory. Jersey Foote sparked what appeared to be a comeback with a three-run homer in the Panthers’ four-run fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough.

Clarinda scored in only one inning against Creston pitcher Taryn Fredrickson, but the outburst resulted in seven runs on five hits, two walks and one of Creston’s three errors in the game.

“I told you they were good hitters and they got on a roll there,” Creston coach Dave Hartman said. “I almost brought in Keely (Coen), but I thought Taryn would hold them from there, and that seven wouldn’t be enough to beat us. There were a lot of little things that didn’t go our way, but bottom line is they made a lot of plays. We hit a couple of shots to the outfield that they caught. I didn’t call a great game, relied on too many fastballs and they were hitting it tonight.”

Kaylah Degase blasted a two-run double to start the Cardinals’ rally. A single and a two-base outfield error was part of a string of five hits in six at-bats. By the time Fredrickson got the final two outs on a strikeout and groundout to Sophie Hagle at second, Clarinda had a 7-0 lead.

Nevaeh Randall, Creston’s all-time home run hitter with a Class 4A high of 16 so far this season, was walked intentionally three straight times after hitting a sharp single to start the game, including the start of the fifth inning. Daile Keeler reached base on a fielder’s choice as Randall beat the throw to second. A single by Ava Adamson loaded the bases.

Mila Kuhns drove in Creston’s first run on a fielder’s choice groundball. Then Foote delivered a three-run blast over the left field fence to close it to 7-4. Creston got two runners on again, but the rally fizzled against relief pitcher Andi Woods and that was the end of the scoring. Eighth-grader Mallory Woods was the starting pitcher and picked up the win.

For the game, Creston was outhit 9-5 and had three errors to Clarinda’s two miscues. Fredrickson, who also had one of Creston’s five hits, allowed nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Clarinda, in fourth place in the Hawkeye Ten at 10-6, improved to 17-12 overall. Creston, now with a one-game lead in the conference at 13-3, fell to 16-9 overall. Creston hadn’t lost a league game since getting swept in a June 5 doubleheader at Atlantic.

The Panthers play in the Brian Erbe Classic at Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Saturday, facing Iowa City West at noon and host Jefferson at 3:30 p.m.

Some Creston softball history will be recognized between games of the home doubleheader against Lewis Central on Monday night. All former players and coaches are invited. Ruby Stephens and the late John Stephens will be honored along with others who helped develop the softball program in 1971, which moved to the current Panther Field 48 years ago in 1975.

Those guests are asked to assemble at the picnic table behind the concession stand with activities director Scott Driskell after the first game, which will likely end between 6:30 and 7 p.m.