The Clear Lake Lion junior varsity softball squad split two games last week with a loss to Iowa Falls-Alden but a win over Humboldt.
The Cadets scored three runs in the first innings, before adding five in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth, while the Lions scored one in the first, one in the third and two in the fifth to fall 13-4 to the Cadets.
Madeline McLaughlin scored three runs and hit a double for the Lions while Taylor Bedford also added one run.
Against Humboldt, the Lions allowed two runs in the second and one in the fourth, but had plenty of scoring themselves with one in the first and second innings and two in the third and fourth innings.
McLaughlin singled, scored one run and had a stolen base.
Makyla Johnson scored two runs off three singles and had four stolen bases on the night, while Megan Fisher had one run off a single and Aspen Hill had two singles with a run scored.
Johnson was in the circle for the Lions, recording five strikeouts.
“Tonight was a fun night of softball,” said coach Christina Gerber. “We put the ball in play and were able to make things happen. Our defense worked together and made the plays we needed to make.”
The Lion squad picked up two wins and two losses to begin June with a victory over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows to start the month.
The Lions won 12-7 with a stolen base by Madeline McLaughlin and a run, while Makyla Johnson also had a stolen base and two runs and Megan Fisher scored two runs.
Aspen Hill stole a base and scored two while Ava Kappmeyer had a stolen base and one run.
Avery Puttmann scored a run and Paige Geitzenauer hit two singles and scored one run along with Sienna Voortmann scoring one run.
“We were disciplined at the plate tonight and drew a lot of walks and generated some runs,” said coach Gerber.
The Lions dropped a game against the Webster City Lynx on June 5 by a score of 15-3.
Madeline McLaughlin, Makyla Johnson and Ava Kappmeyer each scored a run.
Johnson pitched the first three innings for the Lions recording three strikeouts while Kappmeyer pitched the fourth inning and recorded one strike out.
On June 6, the Lions lost a second game to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura by a score of 9-3.
The Lions saw McLaughlin hit a triple and score one run, Puttmann scored and had a stolen base, Megan Fisher scored two runs, Kappmeyer scored one run and Paige Geitzenauer hit a double.
Kappmeyer pitched innings 1, 2, 3 and five recording three strike outs. Averie Braget pitched inning four.
“We struggled to adjust at the plate at tonight’s game,” said coach Gerber. “But this is an opportunity to learn and come out strong tomorrow night when we play Hampton.”
Against Hampton-Dumont-CAL on June 7, the Lions took an 11-6 victory to improve to 3-5 on the season.
“Tonight we made the adjustments at the plate,” said coach Gerber. “We learned from the Garner game and came out tonight and put the ball in play and made things happen.”
McLaughlin hit two singles, a double and scored three run, Puttmann hit a single and scored three runs, Kappmeyer scored one run, Sydney Johnstone hit a single and scored one run, Lily Moran scored one run and Braget scored two runs.
Johnson pitched the first four innings and recorded six strike outs. Kappmeyer pitched inning five and recorded one strike out.
The Lion girls fell to Algona on Monday, June 10 by a score of 10-1.
The Lion girls scored in the fifth inning with Megan Fisher, Ava Kappmeyer and Lily Moran each having singles in the game.
Makyla Johnson pitched four innings for the Lions and recorded five strikeouts.
Kappmeyer pitched the fifth and part of the sixth before the game ended.
“Tonight, we put the ball in play. Things didn’t fall for us. Algona’s pitcher only had two strikeouts on the night,” said coach Gerber. “Which means we were doing what we needed to do at the plate, but they made defensive plays they needed to and held us to only one run.”
