Panther softball rolls, 11-0

Taryn Fredrickson belted a two-run home run to support her one-hit pitching performance over four innings in Creston’s 11-0 home softball victory over Red Oak Thursday night.

The Panthers (1-1) bounced back from the 12-4 season-opening loss to Ames with a strong performance in all phases. Fredrickson was 3-of-3 at the plate with two singles in addition to her homer in the second inning that also scored Evy Marlin for one of her two runs scored. Marlin was 2-of-3, reaching base three times.

Fredrickson allowed only an infield single in her four innings in the circle with eight strikeouts. Freshman Kennedy Strider recorded two strikeouts in her scoreless fifth inning.

“Taryn was really sharp tonight and defensively we were pretty good,” Creston coach Dave Hartman said. “When they got that hit on the soft liner on one hop to the shortstop on a tough play and she lost the no-hitter, we wanted to give Kennedy a varsity inning. We got to play a lot of kids and we would have played more if we’d played longer.”

Sophie Hagle was 2-of-2 with a double and two RBIs. Leadoff batter Ava Adamson doubled and knocked in three runs.

The first inning was scoreless before Creston a 10-run second inning ignited by Fredrickson’s home run.

“It’s definitely fun to help my team at the plate if I can,” Fredrickson said. “I saw (the pitch) out and front and inside and turned on it. It’s very enjoyable to get to hit.”

After an error and hit by pitch, both Avery Staver and Hagle hustled to score on Adamson’s popup that fell safe between the pitcher and catcher. Adamson scored on another error before Mila Kuhns made a trip around the bases when her flyball to right was misplayed, and the throw to third was off target, allowing Kuhns to race home.

Fredrickson and Avery Staver each singled in a run before Hagle’s two-run double. She was called out trying to stretch it to a triple, but by then it was 10-0 entering the third inning.

Adamson’s sacrifice fly to score Sasha Wurster in the third accounted for the final 11-0 score.

“I thought our pace was pretty good. The kids played hard,” Hartman said. “Sophie Hagle scored from second on a popup to the pitcher and hustled like crazy. Mila came clear around on a flyball and ended up scoring. Our effort on the bases was really good.”

Harlan visits Creston Tuesday for a varsity doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Cyclones are off to an 0-4 start with a rugged schedule that has included losses to ranked teams Dallas Center-Grimes (13-1), ADM (15-2) and Hinton (7-0) before a 12-5 setback to host MVAOCOU on Saturday.