by Marianne Gasaway
First-year Coach Seth Thompson and his young team jumped right into the softball season last week against some of the toughest competition they will face all year. The result was an 1-1 start.
West Fork 2, CL 1
The season opened Monday, May 22, against West Fork.
“It was not ideal to start the season with such a young lineup against one of the best pitchers we will see this season, but I thought we had some good at bats,” said Thompson.
A couple of unearned runs turned out to be the difference in the game, as the Warhawks earned a 2-1 victory.
Senior Annika Nelson had a strong night, going three-for-three at the plate and recording three stolen bases.
“Our pitching and defense I thought was overall very good for the first game. Hopefully seeing a pitcher throwing hard and locating well helps our batters learn a little about how to approach their at bats better down the road,” said Thompson.
Eighth grader Jezzie Thompson went the distance for the Lions on the mound. She gave up four hits and walked four. She struck out six.
Thompson and the Lion defense held the Warhawks scoreless until miscues in the fourth when they scored two. The Lions got one run across the plate in the fifth, but came up short in the final two innings.
Thompson also had Clear Lake’s only other hit in the game and picked up the RBI. She connected for a single to go with Nelson’s triple and two singles.
CL 8, W-SR 7
The Lions got their first win Tuesday against Waverly-Shell Rock, 8-7.
“I was very proud of how these girls battled all game long and although we had to bend on defense a few times, we never broke and kept them away from big innings,” said Coach Thompson. The coach noted there were a number of girls playing spots they aren’t used to because two of the Lions’ seniors were participating in State golf.
“I thought it was a great learning opportunity for them and the whole team defensively,” he said. “The offense did a great job against a good pitcher and a bigger school, especially since we were missing two of our better hitters.”
The Lions set off some fireworks in the game when Alivia Paine and Jezzie Thompson each hit their first varsity home runs of their career. Paine, a freshman, and Thompson, an eighth grader, each had two hits in the game. Thompson finished with four RBIs and Paine had one.
Taylor Schwenn, also an eighth grader, had three hits, two singles and a double and finished with one RBI. Cheyanne Schroeder, a sophomore, also had two hits, including a double, and was credited with two RBIs. Makella Jacobs also had two hits in the win.
Thompson was the winning pitcher. She gave up six hits and walked five. She struck out eight.
“Overall, it was great to get our first win and learn how to win close games,” said the Lion coach.
The Lions traveled to St. Ed’s on Friday before the holiday weekend. On Wednesday they were slated to host Iowa Falls-Alden. Friday, June 2, they will be at Humboldt and Saturday compete in the Lake Mills Invitational with a 10 a.m. game against Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.
