In a varsity conference matchup on June 9th, the 9-6 Eagle Grove Eagles made the trek to face off against the 6-4 North Iowa Bison on their home turf at the North Iowa Community School, determined to secure a win.
The game kicked off at 6:00 PM, with both teams warming up their offense but playing strong defense through the scoreless first inning. But then in the second inning the Eagles lit their fuse and exploded in a massive offensive, driving home six runs and seizing control of the game.
Nadia Kaiser kickstarted the Eagles' onslaught with a walk, followed by Lily Locke getting hit by a pitch. Celeste Figueroa added to the momentum with an infield single, loading the bases. Olivia Conaway contributed a groundout, scoring the first run of the game. Maddison Kaiser then reached on a ground ball error, bringing in another run. With two outs, Addy Jeske came through with a clutch single, driving in two more runners. Braxton Steil was hit by a pitch, and both she and Jeske crossed home plate on Tarissa Middleton's single, extending the Eagles' lead to 6-0.
While the Bison did manage to score one in the second after the Eagles' devastating storm, the third inning was fruitless for both teams, bringing the Eagles into the fourth with a 6-1 advantage, and they kept the pressure on the Bison. Chloe Steil drew a leadoff walk, setting the stage for Addy Jeske to notch her second single of the game. Braxton Steil capitalized on the opportunity, delivering a bases-clearing triple. Middleton followed up with her second single, bringing in Steil and pushed the Eagles' lead to 9-1.
The Bison struggled to find their offensive rhythm throughout the game, as pitcher Brooklyn Osborn of the Eagles kept their offense in check, allowing just one run in the fifth, to take the Eagles through to the end of the sixth still in the dominant position, leading 9-2.
In the seventh inning, Nadia Kaiser sparked one final run for the Eagles, smashing a triple to lead off the inning. Celeste Figueroa showcased her bunting skills for the second time in the game, executing a well-placed bunt to score Kaiser. With a commanding 10-2 lead, the Eagles were on the brink of victory.
But then, just when an Eagles victory seemed assured, the Bison fought back in the bottom of the seventh. Capitalizing on two walks and a single, the Bison stunned the crowd by plating two runs. All the same, their 11th hour rally wasn't enough to do more than take the sting out of what was otherwise a solid thumping by the Eagles, who emerged victorious with a final score of 10 – 4.
The final score stood at 10-4, with the Eagles emerging triumphant. The Eagles closed out the first half of the season with a solid 5-3 record in conference play and an 8-6 overall record.
The Eagles' exceptional bunting game proved to be a key factor in their victory. Their improved physical and mental play this season has propelled them to a much-improved record compared to the previous year, when they held a 2-5 conference record and a 2-9 overall record.
Leading Eagles included junior Brooklyn Osborne for an outstanding seven inning turn on the mound, and junior Nadia Kaiser as well as sophomore Tarissa Middleton at bat. Osborne struck-out 3 and allowed just four hits and no stolen bases in 81 pitches and 27 opponent at bats. Kaiser notched two hits, one run, a double, a triple, and stole one base. And Middleton hit two and snagged three RBIs.
