Indianola hot bats end Panther season

The Panthers softball season came to an end Thursday as they couldn’t recover from a seven-run first inning by visiting Indianola. The Indians won 10-0 in six innings.

Creston got the first batter of the night out with a pop fly, but the next two batters each hit solo home runs.

“They swung the bats pretty hard in the first inning,” Creston Coach Dave Hartman said. “We hung in there and kept fighting. I’m proud of our girls.”

Two singles and a bunt loaded the bases for the Indians with still only the one out on the board. The next batter drove in the third run of the inning.

Finding her groove, Creston pitcher Taryn Fredrickson struck out the next batter and worked up to a full count against the following. Instead of a strikeout, it was a three-run triple to put the Indians up 6-0.

“It’s a game of inches,” Hartman said. “A few inches or breaks here or there and it changes from 10 nothing to something we could have been in.”

Indianola scored once more before Fredrickson struck out the final batter. Despite giving up 10 runs on seven hits, Fredrickson threw six strikeouts, walking no one.

“Taryn made good pitches,” Hartman said. “After seeing them hit, we attacked them better and Taryn got more comfortable.”

After a disastrous first inning defensively, the Panthers shut down the Indians in the second inning, two fly outs and a ground out ending the inning after three plate appearances.

The Panthers had a slow start offensively, the first seven batters failing to make it on base. In the third inning, Sasha Wurster was the first to land on base with a walk.

A ground out by Kennedy Strider sent Wurster to second base. Ava Adamson had Creston’s first hit, a single advancing Wurster to third. With two outs, a strikeout ended the inning with two stranded.

In the fourth, Jersey Foote faced pitcher Ava Tichy, hitting ball after ball out of bounds. She hit several foul balls after going down 0-2 in the count. Slowly, she worked her way up to a full count. After more than a dozen pitches, Foote connected for a single down the center.

“Jersey’s at bat was symbolic of the way we hung out there,” Hartman said. “I thought that was really the story of the game. We didn’t lay down; we didn’t quit.”

Foote led the team offensively, going 2-3 at bat. She had two of the team’s four hits.

Evy Marlin followed with a single of her own. The Indians tried to pick off Foote on a lead off during senior Sophie Hagle’s at bat. Knowing they were closer to second, Foote opted to steal third, sliding safely to the base. Two consecutive fly outs ended the inning with runners once again stranded at first and third.

“We did a pretty good job against their pitcher even though we didn’t score any runs,” Hartman said. “Credit to them for coming out and hitting the ball well. I was also pleased with the way we played.”

In the top of the sixth, the Indians took a 10-0 lead, meaning the Panthers would need at least one run in the bottom of the inning to continue playing through the seventh.

Avery Staver capitalized on an error by the short stop to start the Panthers with a base runner. Foote connected for her second hit to put two on with no outs. On a wild pitch, they both stole bases. A strikeout put one out on the board.

Fredrickson was walked to load the bases, only one out. Hagle hit a line drive, but the centerfielder was able to make the catch. Caught off base, Foote moved for third. Staver already on third had to advance to home so Foote could take the base. Staver slid into home, but was called out to end the game.

The team only graduates Hagle, the senior second baseman. “She’s a high-level defender,” Hartman said. “She played second base every game. She was always an anchor for us. We never wavered in playing her there.”

Hagle had 64 put outs this season and only three errors for a .971 fielding percentage.

“Sophie was a great leader for us on and off the field,” Hartman said. “I can’t say enough about Sophie and how proud I am of her. She’s been a great player for us, and we’ll miss her.”